Malta makes it a point to celebrate its accession to the European Union with a bang or, rather, colourful bangs as this week’s Malta International Fireworks Festival at Grand Harbour will prove.
Organised by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, Environment and Culture and the Malta Tourism Authority, the 10th edition of the festival will be held on Friday and Saturday with the participation of a number of Maltese fireworks factories. Three foreign firework firms hailing from Austria, Italy and Venezuela will give the event an international flavour.
The event will feature firework displays synchronised to music and also a series of competitive displays by Maltese firework factories. The festival starts at 9 p.m. on both days.
Stage performances follow the fireworks displays, commencing at about 10.30 p.m. with William Mangion and Claudia Faniello on Friday and Chasing Pandora and Red Electrik on Saturday.
Barriera Wharf on the Valletta seafront just inside Grand Harbour will be the best place to view all the action. Traffic will be diverted from Crucifix Hill towards Marsa and motorists driving along the Valletta ring road will not be allowed access beyond the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
Public transport will be operating from City Gate to all outlying stations until midnight on both evenings. The fare will be €1.16.
Running order
Venefuegos (Venezuela), Santa Marija Fireworks (Mqabba) and Pyrovision (Austria) will light up the skies on the first night and Tal-Ġilju Fireworks (Mqabba), Mount Carmel Fireworks (Żurrieq) and Parente Fireworks (Italy) on the second night.
The five competing Maltese factories will present a 6-7 minute display offering a wide variety of traditional Maltese fireworks on a choreographed basis. Effects include multi-break colour and cracker shells, spherical shells, shapes and batteries.
St Nicholas Fireworks (Siġġiewi) and Our Lady of Consolation Fireworks (Gudja) will present their displays on the first night and Lourdes Fireworks (Qrendi), St Mary Fireworks (Mġarr, Malta) and La Stella Fireworks (Gudja) on the second night.
A three member foreign jury with a Maltese chairman will determine the winners, awarding points on originality, colour, choreography and quality of shells used.
In conjunction with the adjudication by the jury, the public can also vote for their favourite display by sending an SMS as follows: 5061 5025 – St Nicholas Fireworks Factory; 5061 5026 – Our Lady of Consolation Fireworks Factory; 5061 5027 – Lourdes Fireworks Factory; 5061 5028 – St Mary Fireworks Factory; and 5061 5029 – La Stella Fireworks Factory.