Mġarr turned into a sea of red yesterday during the annual Festa Frawli, a celebration of everything that is made of or inspired by strawberries.

This year’s edition, the 13th, had to be moved by a few weeks after it was postponed due to inclement weather. But yesterday’s weather turned out to be glorious, attracting droves to the village synonymous with strawberries to taste a variety of goods all made with the fresh, summery fruit.

People thronged the picturesque parish square in the agricultural village of Mġarr as farmers and local volunteers got together in the celebration of the spring strawberry harvest.

The Strawberry Festival continues to preserve and enhance the agricultural and historical legacy of the renowned local strawberry and the Mġarr agriculture.

Preserve and enhance the agricultural and historical legacy

Thousands of strawberries are picked, prepared and packed. Due to the high demand for strawberries on the day, native farmers continued to hand pick fresh strawberries during the day so that a steady fresh supply of strawberries was available throughout.

Fresh strawberries were not the only thing on sale yesterday as these were joined by several strawberry-inspired desserts such as jam, ice cream, cheesecakes, pastries, cakes, lemonade, smoothies and milkshakes.

Strawberry wine, liquors, and strawberry cocktails were also up for grabs.

Tourists and locals were also entertained by typical Maltese dance and music with folk groups playing traditional Maltese instruments, such as iż-żaqq, Maltese bagpipes, it-tambur, the Maltese tambourine and il-flejguta – the Maltese folk flute.