Carols will waft through the cold Valletta air this Christmas thanks to the series of Yuletide concerts being organised by the Malta Council for Culture and Arts.

Today, at 9.30 and 11 a.m., children of all ages can savour the sounds of traditional Maltese carols in what the council is calling a "hands-on experience for children with various artistes" near St Barbara Church in Republic Street. This will also take place on Monday and Tuesday at the same times.

In parallel, in Merchants' Street, EnKor Choir will fill St James's Church with their repertoire of gospel music, with performances at 1 and 3 p.m. There will also be a nativity trail in various churches and museums around the capital, led by art historian Bernadine Scicluna, which leaves from near the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at 1.30 p.m.

Tomorrow, the Versatile Brass Ensemble will be giving a concert in St George's Square at 1.30 p.m., while on the following day the Malta Police Force Big Band will be giving its annual Christmas concert in the same square.

In the following days, there will be concerts by the Armed Forces Band, Claire Massa and Caroline Calleja, Schola Cantorum Jubilate and Anon String Quartet. The National Philharmonic Orchestra will bring the activities to a close with a New Year's orchestral concert on January 3.