Floriana will be welcoming the new year with a big party in St Anne’s Street, being held for the second time this year.

Mayor Nigel Holland said that this year's party will be bigger and better than last year's.

Activities will start at 6 p.m. and will continue until 2 a.m. on Saturday.

The road will be closed to traffic throughout the day and the public have been requested to use il-Vittmi tal-Gwerra Furjanizi, Sa Maison and Sarria streets.

The event will include a Christmas Parade by the Big Friends Guggen Musik, Maltese singers and dancers, Big Band Brothers orchestra, street animators, a fireworks display and confetti. The night will be compered by John Bundy.

Another NYE party is being held by the Valletta council in St George’s Square.

Asked why had the Floriana and Valletta council not united to organise one big common event, mayor Nigel Holland opted not to answer but Local Councils Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said said the two activities being held by the different councils complemented each other and included a mixture of different activities.

Dr Said said that this party last year, together with the Fireworks’ Festival which the Floriana council had also organised, had benefitted from funding through the Local Councils’ Cultural Scheme.

Tourism parliamentary secretary Mario de Marco said the scheme encouraged councils to promote their heritage.

He pointed out that 50,000 to 60,000 tourists are in Malta in December, half of them in the last week. These people were already exposed to similar events overseas.

An appeal was made to party goers not to drink and drive.