In Guardia Parade - All year round
The IN GUARDIA PARADE is a historical re-enactment that portrays an authentic historical event set in the late 16th – early 17th century. The re-enactment depicts the inspection of the fort and its garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St. John who was in charge of military affairs. During the re-enactment the fort's garrison is dressed in uniforms to demonstrate its military prowess. The show starts at 11:00hrs and lasts 40 minutes.
7th , 21st , 28th March
18th 25th April
2nd, 16th, 23rd,30th May
6th, 13th, 20th, 27th June
4th, July
26th September
3th, 10th, 17th, 24th October
7th November
26th December
Alarme Re-Enactments
ALARME is a military re-enactment that portrays the historic and turbulent tenure of Malta by French troops, following Napoleon’s landing and conquest of the islands in 1798. The re-enactment gives an account of the French troops’ arrival in Malta, the subsequent attempt to administer the
Maltese Islands by the new Republican government, the rebellion of the Maltese that led to the blockade of the French troops inside the harbour towns, as well as the French troops’ surrender to the British in 1800. The re-enactment starts at 11.00 hrs lasts 50 minutes.
Dates of the Alarme Re-enactment:
February 20,
March 20,
April 17,
October 16,
November 20,
Tickets at the Gate: Adults : Euros 7
Children (6 – 12 years) & Students : Euros 3
One may be able to visit part of the fort only prior to the re-enactment. Therefore it is advisable to enter the fort well before the show starts. The re-enactments are held according to schedule as above. However, in case of inclement weather or else due to some unforeseen circumstance the event may be cancelled without prior notice. When in doubt it is best to contact the Tourist Information Office at Auberge D’Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta on tel: 00356 22915440/1/2.
CARNIVAL IN MALTA & GOZO - 17/02/2012 to 21/02/2012
Discover Malta's Carnival, which goes back hundreds of years. We find that already in the 16th century a jousting tournament was held as part of the celebrations.
Maltese folk used to celebrate Carnival as did the
Knights of St. John as from one week prior and up to Ash Wednesday. The origin of the name Carnival derives from the Italian phrase ‘Carne vale', which means literally ‘meat is allowed' due to the fact that during the forty days of lent, the consumption of meat was forbidden according to Roman Catholic religion. Therefore, Carnival was to be celebrated just prior to the fasting period in Roman Catholic countries.
Nowadays, Carnival is celebrated in numerous towns and villages but especially in
Valletta, Floriana and Nadur Gozo. It is indeed a kind of explosion of colour in the way of decorated floats and costumes. Carnival serves also as means of merriment and a time when individuals also dress up in all sorts of weird or funny costume and just go out in the streets to join the fray.
The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts organise the official Carnival festivities that take place in Valletta from Friday until the following Tuesday. Some of the events are held inside an enclosure and may be attended against a nominal fee. On the last day, a big Carnival defile ends in the
main street of Floriana with a fireworks display.
In Gozo, the
Nadur Local Council organises what originally started out as an exclusively individualistic and spontaneously acted Carnival celebration that verged on the weird, hilarious and the macabre. Even though today the Nadur Carnival has become more structured, it is still true to its origins. The individual spontaneity which is still alive and kicking runs parallel to other organised events such as local band performances on stage that are held in the town's square. These events are free of charge.
All the above vie with numerous private programmes organised by promoters indoors.
Carnival is definitely worth participating in when in Malta and Gozo.
Malta International Fireworks Festival - 29.04.2012 - 30.04.2012
The Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism,
Environment and Culture and the Malta Tourism Authority, will be organizing the 11th edition of the
Malta International Fireworks Festival on the 29th and
30th April 2012. The Grand Harbour will once again provide the perfect setting for this event. The festival forms part of the 8th anniversary celebrations of Malta's accession to the European Union. (2004).
Numerous Maltese fireworks factories are expected to participate in the event and two foreign fireworks companies will provide the international flavour. The event will feature fireworks displays synchronized to music as well as a series of competitive displays by Maltese fireworks factories.
Barriera Wharf on the Valletta sea front inside the
Grand Harbour will be the best place to view all the action.