The candle festival to top them all happens during Birgu Fest 2023, one of the prettiest and most photographed events in Malta's calendar, all organised by Birgu Local Council.
Birgu Fest and Birgu by Candlelight return to the streets of Vittoriosa this weekend and quite frankly we can't wait for candles, candles and more candles! Anyone who knows us or has visited our studio shop in Birgu, will know that we have a passion for candles!
The festival of light that illuminates Birgu's winding medieval streets with the gentle glow of thousands of candles will have a few changes for this year with excavations currently taking place in the main square, with the majority of entertainment taking place elsewhere around Birgu. The local council and the people of Birgu open their streets and their doors to all, to create a magical and memorable experience!
You can see below, as well as the streets of Birgu glowing with candles on the Saturday night, everyone has been catered for with events, music and acts for all tastes. They'll be peppered around the city, here, there and everywhere...but we've included Google Maps pins to help with directions, it's just up to you how you indulge!
Please Note: There's some really important information about travel and parking near the bottom of the page, it doesn't make sense for anyone to try and drive into Birgu this weekend, so if you travel by ferry, park and ride, or even park and walk, it will make your visit a much happier experience!
So what’s happening during the two days of Birgu Fest 2023?
Hint: Erm, quite a lot actually!
Programme Of Events
Friday 13th October
Couvre Porte
Xarulu`
Wine Festival
Mro. Stephen Camilleri
St. Lawrence Parish Church
7:30pm onwards
Organist Noel Gallo
Saturday 14th October
The Streets Of Birgu
Birgu By Candlelight
The Streets Of Birgu
Main Stage - Victory Square
6:30pm - 8:45pm
Lindsay Pace Acoustic Duo
9pm - Midnight
Kultura Brass Band
St. John's Tower
Torri ta’ San Ġwann
Bongailas Band
Geo Debono Band
Couvre Porte
4pm onwards
Artisan Market
Wine Festival
8:30pm
Bernie & Pod
Mandraġġ Area
7:30pm - 9pm
Fuse
10pm - Midnight
Vintage Band
La Valette Street Belvedere
7:30pm - 10pm
Allegra Accordion Group
Poste of Castille
7:30pm - 9:30pm
South Garden Band
10pm - Midnight
Gilbert Gauci
St. Lawrence Conventual and Collegiate Church
7:30pm
A concert by Joy Gospel Singers
Annunciation Church - Main Gate Street
7:30pm
String Quartet
Jacob Harp and Singer
St. Scholastics Church
8pm - 9pm
La Barokka
Emotional Brass Quintet
St. James Bastion
7:30pm - 10:30pm
Legio X Fretensis Malta Re-enactment
Display of Birds Of Prey by Jason Friggieri
Fosse Street
8pm - 11pm
Birgu Fest 2023 Short Film Festival
Oratory Of The Holy Crucifix
Good Friday Vestment Exhibition
The Prince Bar & Lounge
9pm onwards
Music By Drakard
Birgu's Ditch (Il-Foss tal-Birgu)
Birgu Ditch will be open to the public, entrance down steps near Malta At War Museum
But wait! There's more!
Places of Interest
- The St. Lawrence Conventual and Collegiate Church - St Lawrence Street
- The Annunciation Church - Main Gate Street
-
The Church of St. Anne annexed to the Benedictine Nuns Monastery - St.
Scholastica Street - The Oratory of the Crucifix, adjacent to the Church of St. Lawrence
- The Convent and Cloister of the Dominican Friars - Main Gate Street
- The St. Lawrence Band Club - Victory Square
- The Prince of Wales Own Band Club - Main Gate Street
- Auberge De France - Hilda Tabone Street
- Auberge d'Angleterre - Mistral Street
-
The Norman House - North Street
One of the oldest houses in Birgu, which has unique Siculo-Norman features.
Museums
- The Inquisitor's Palace - Main Gate Street
- The Parish Museum - access from Vittoriosa Main Square
- Malta at War Museum - Couvre Porte
- Fort St. Angelo and The Inquisitor's Palace which also includes the National Museum of Ethnography, will be open till midnight on both Friday and Saturday with a reduced entrance of €3
- During Birgu Fest, Malta at War Museum will extend its regular opening hours
Food
The Birgu Fest organisers have allowed traditional Maltese food and drinks stalls to be set up at St. John's Tower Street, and other various places.
Important Information
Travel
As previously said, it doesn't make sense for anyone to try and drive into Birgu this weekend, so if you can travel by bus, ferry, park and ride, or even park and walk, it will make your visit a much happier experience!
Parking
Fortini Football Ground
Park & Ride
Birgu Local Council have reached an agreement with the Koperattiva Coop Services to have the Park & Ride service between 6pm and 12:30am starting from Kordin, near the Hibs Football ground; continuing onto Kalkara Triq il-Missjoni Taljna Birgu, next to the bus terminus and back.
Valletta Ferry Service
From Valletta to Cospicua
Operating as usual
From Cospicua To Valletta
Friday operating until Midnight
Saturday operating until 2am
First Aid Service
Desain Street, next to the Police Station
More Info
For further information (What, you need more?) please contact:
Birgu Local Council
Address: Auberge de France, Hilda Tabone Street, Birgu. BRG1252
Thank You to Birgu Local Council for making all of this possible
One more thing...
Did somebody mention candles?
No trip to Birgu is complete without a visit to what has to be the cutest little candle shop in Malta. Step back in time and enjoy our scented candles, reed diffusers and wax melts, all hand made in-store.
As this is such a special event, please note the extended opening hours of our studio shop:
Friday 13th October - 10am - 8pm
Saturday 14th October - Midday - 11pm
Sunday 15th October - Closed
See You There!
All information sourced from third parties, correct at time of publication, subject to change or modification.