As halloween is celebrated the world over today, including in Malta, the tiny village of Manikata paid a special tribute to the humble pumpkin, a nutritious and versatile plant that, when carved and filled with a lantern, goes hand in hand with this holiday.

The Manikata Pumpkin Fair, organised for the third year running by the Koperattiva Rurali Manikata, along the streets of the village, boasted stands with typical local foods made with pumpkin and prepared by volunteers.

There was pumpkin soup and risotto, prepared by students of the Institute of Tourism Studies and a bar set up by volunteers.

Other activities included a fair trade stand, traditional Maltese music, a children's corner, a classic car show, exhibitions of restored antique water pumps and agricultural implements and farm animals.