The Żejtun local council is hosting the 11th edition of Żejt iż-Żejtun, an event which celebrates the olive-picking season and olive pressing for oil.

The festival will kick off today at 7.30pm with the Bandu announcing the event. This will be followed by a defilé of village folk and farmers on carts carrying the olive harvest for pressing. There will also be drummers and flag bearers in medieval costumes as well as folk singers and dancers. Agricultural tools, typical agricultural products and folk art will be on display.

The olive tree will, of course, take centre stage. Maltese ftajjar and bread dressed in freshly pressed olive oil will be distributed for free tasting while olive trees and associated products will be on sale. An audiovisual presentation will feature olive tree varieties and their proper cultivation.

This evening, historical and civic sites will be open to the public. A sacred art exhibition by Antonio Mifsud is on at the Beland band club; a photography exhibition entitled Lenti by Angelo Caruana and Joseph Lungaro and an exhibition on the locality’s streets entitled Il-Muxrafija, organised by the Żejtun Organisation to Empower You are set up at the Arts and Crafts Centre in St Gregory Street. Admission to these exhibitions is free.

There will also be a concert by organist Joe Caruana in the parish church between 8.15 and 9.15pm. He will interpret works by Bach, Gigout, Mendelssohn, Buxtehude, Brahms and Mulet.

Tomorrow morning, at 8am, there will be the traditional blessing of animals near the old parish church of St Gregory, which will include a defilé of horses and pets.

Żejt iż-Żejtun is being held this evening from 7.30pm onwards and tomorrow from 8am until noon. For more information, call on 2166 3866 or visit www.zejtunlocalcouncil.com.