The annual Għanafest traditional song festival will this year be extended to several localities in an attempt to attract greater audiences, Culture Minister Owen Bonnici announced on Wednesday.

Addressing the press outside the San Girgor Church in Żejtun, Dr Bonnici said that the festival should not be something that only the few who purchase tickets for one event get to enjoy.

“This year we do not want people to just buy tickets and sit in an audience. We want something that goes down on the street,” the culture minister explained.

The festival will therefore be held at the Argotti, as in previous editions, as well as in Qrendi, Buskett and Birżebbuġa.

Unveiling the programme on this day, the minister went on, was significant because the people of Żejtun and Marsaxlokk were celebrating the feast of  San Girgor, which is synonymous with the first swim of the season and with traditional singing.

“When I was young, everyone would say that from today onwards, swimming was allowed. We launched the Għanafest today for a reason because we wanted to make sure that we continue to cherish our traditions. Without these, we are nothing but robots,” Dr Bonnici went on.

The festivals will be held on May 27 in Qrendi, on June 22 and 23 at Argotti as well as on June 28 and 29 at Buskett. On June 29, the event will also be held at Birżebbuġa.

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