The ever-popular four-day activity taking place in and around Vittoriosa is back until Sunday.

The 2016 edition of BirguFest kicks off tomorrow and Friday with activities aimed at schoolchildren. The festival opens to the public on Friday from 6.30pm onwards, with several activities and live entertainment.

Saturday’s activities are concentrated in the evening, apart for a band parade at 10am, and include free guided tours, live holy music and a short film festival.

Sunday’s activities focus mainly on free guided tours with a different band parade at 10am. Exhibitions that visitors may wish to take in include The Art of the Candle by Stephen Cordina, Għajn il-Baħar by Bernice Buhagiar and Pensieri by Miray’s Arts and Culture.

Perhaps the main highlight of this festival is the much-loved and spectacular Birgu by Candlelight taking place on Saturday, when this centuries-old town is bathed throughout by a suffused glow.

Apart from the specific events organised around the festival, the public is spoilt for choice in this area of the island. Places of interest include several churches and convents, auberges dating back to the time of the Knights of St John in Malta and the War Museum. Norman House in North Street, one of the oldest houses in Vittoriosa featuring unique Siculo-Norman features, will also be open to the public.

All places of historical and cultural interest, museums and exhibitions will be open from 9am till late in the evening throughout BirguFest.

The Maritime Museum and the Inquisitor’s Palace (which also includes the National Museum of Ethnography) will be open until midnight on both Friday and Saturday at a reduced entrance of €2. Fort St Angelo will be open on Saturday.

BirguFest is organised by the Vittoriosa Local Council together with the Malta Tourism Authority with the aim of promoting and generating interest in the historical heritage of Vittoriosa. More detailed information on daily events will feature in Friday and Saturday’s What’s On pages.

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