Sicilian drummers and flag throwers will give an extra boost of colour and activity to the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Saviour in Lija this weekend.

The drummers and sbandieratori form part of a 150-strong contingent from the Sicilian village of Militello who will be in Malta until Monday within the framework of a twinning programme with Lija’s St Pio X Musical Society, the external festivities committee and the parish.

The drummers and flag throwers will hold a parade from the Lija tower to the church tonight at 7.15pm. Another parade from the St Pio X band club to the site where the ground fireworks display is held will be held later in the evening.

The visitors will perform again on Sunday morning at 11.15am and will hold a display outside the church at 6.30pm and then accompany the statue inside the church at 10pm.

A 237-strong contingent, including 50 bandsmen and Archbishop Charles Scicluna, will visit Militello on August 17 to participate in the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Saviour.

Militello’s main road will be decorated with the banners used during the Lija feast. The St Pio X band will give a concert in the main square, followed by a concert by Italian pop singer Marco Masini.

Archbishop Scicluna will concelebrate Mass on the feast day. The Lija band will take part in both the Mass and the procession.

The twinning of the two villages was made possible through the help of Ray Bondin and former tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis.