Spring will be in the air in Qormi on Sunday when the historical centre will be converted into a car-free zone to make way for a festival of culture and tradition.

The first Malta Springfest will see flowers, plants, fruit, vegetables and animals on display in a celebratory atmosphere for the family in the stretch between St George's church and St Francis Square.

Falcons, pigeons, goats, rabbits, fish, reptiles, birds, fancy poultry, horses, dogs, cats and other animals reared at the Għammieri farm will be the main attraction and a specific children's area will be set up to include pony rides, games, a bouncing castle and other attractions.

Qormi's philharmonic bands, the San Ġorġ Martri Band and the Anici band, will add to the festive mood.

Besides being set in streets that date back some 600 years, people will be able to visit old chapels that will open for the occasion a typical bakery that still uses traditional methods of bread-making. The local police whose station used to be an armoury during the time of the Knights of St John will be making accessible a WWII shelter that one can get to through a cellar adjoining the station itself. Apart from artefacts and scenes recalling WWII, a section of the shelter shows episodes dealing with the plague that hit the island during the 14th, 15th and the early 20th centuries. Qormi was one of the towns that were first hit by this pestilence because of its closeness to Grand Harbour. The shelter will be open between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The overall event, which will run between 10.30 a.m. and 7 p.m., is organised by the Kumitat Festi Esterni San Ġorġ Martri in collaboration with the local council and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Public Dialogue.