Birgufest 2022

Birgu Fest 2023 | What's on at this year's Birgu By Candlelight?

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 Google Maps pin 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
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Xarulu` - Birgu Fest 2023
8pm onwards
Xarulu`

Wine Festival - Birgu Fest 2023
8pm onwards
Wine Festival
 
 


Annunciation Church - Main Gate Street
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7:15pm onwards
Mro. Stephen Camilleri
Gabriel Farrugia


St. Lawrence Parish Church

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7:30pm onwards
Organist Noel Gallo

 

 

Saturday 14th October 

The Streets Of Birgu

 In Guardia Parade - Birgu Fest 2023

10am - 12pm
In Guardia Parade
A historical re-enactment

 

Birgu By Candlelight

The Streets Of Birgu

 Birgu Fest - Birgu By Candlelight 2022

4pm - Midnight
For one night only (Saturday), the street lights will be switched off and the city will be lit up by candlelight, creating a magical and memorable experience!


Main Stage - Victory Square

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Lindsay Pace Acoustic Duo - Birgu Fest 2023

6:30pm - 8:45pm
Lindsay Pace Acoustic Duo

 

Kultura Brass Band - Birgu Fest 2023

9pm - Midnight
Kultura Brass Band

 

 

 

St. John's Tower
Torri ta’ San Ġwann

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Bongailas Band - Birgu Fest 2022
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Bongailas Band



Sterjotipi - Birgu Fest 2023
10pm - Midnight
Geo Debono Band

 

Couvre Porte

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Artisan Market - Birgu Fest 2023 

4pm onwards
Artisan Market

 

 Wine Festival - Birgu Fest 2023

8pm onwards
Wine Festival

 

Bernie & Pod - Birgu Fest 2023

8:30pm
Bernie & Pod

  

 

 

Mandraġġ Area

 

Fuse Band - Birgu Fest 2023

7:30pm - 9pm
Fuse

 

 Vintage Band - Birgu Fest 2023

10pm - Midnight
Vintage Band

 

 

 

La Valette Street Belvedere

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Allegra Accordion Group - Birgu Fest 2023

7:30pm - 10pm
Allegra Accordion Group

 

 

 

Poste of Castille

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South Garden Band - Birgu Fest 2023

7:30pm - 9:30pm
South Garden Band

 

Gilbert Gauci - Birgu Fest 2023

10pm - Midnight
Gilbert Gauci

 

 

 

St. Lawrence Conventual and Collegiate Church

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7:30pm
A concert by Joy Gospel Singers 

 

 

Annunciation Church - Main Gate Street

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7:30pm
String Quartet


8:30pm
Jacob Harp and Singer
 

 

 

St. Scholastics Church

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8pm - 9pm
La Barokka


9pm - 11pm
Emotional Brass Quintet

 

 

 

 

St. James Bastion

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7:30pm - 10:30pm
Legio X Fretensis Malta Re-enactment

Display of Birds Of Prey by Jason Friggieri

 

 

Fosse Street

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8pm - 11pm
Birgu Fest 2023 Short Film Festival

 

 

 

Oratory Of The Holy Crucifix

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Good Friday Vestment Exhibition

 

 

 

The Prince Bar & Lounge

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9pm onwards
Music By Drakard

 

 

 

Birgu's Ditch (Il-Foss tal-Birgu)

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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

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    Fortini Football Ground

     

    Park & Ride

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    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

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    Operating as usual

     

    From Cospicua To Valletta

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    Friday operating until Midnight

    Saturday operating until 2am

     

     

    First Aid Service

    First Aid 

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    Desain Street, next to the Police Station 



    More Info

    For further information (What, you need more?) please contact:

    Birgu Local Council

    Birgu Local Council

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    Address
    : Auberge de France, Hilda Tabone Street, Birgu. BRG1252

    Telephone: 2166 2166 / 2180 7008 / 7966 2166
    E-mailbirgu.lc@gov.mt
    Office Hours
    Monday to Friday: 08:00 - 12:30 & 13:15 - 16:45
    Saturday: 08:00 - 12:00

    Thank You to Birgu Local Council for making all of this possible


    One more thing...

    Did somebody mention candles?

     Birgu Candlelight Company, Malta

     

    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


    Candles, Reed Diffusers and Wax Melts on the shelves in Birgu Candles Studio Shop in Malta

    If you're not sure where we're located, look out for the beautiful church near the waterfront in Birgu, right next to the Freedom Monument roundabout. Failing that, use the map below...or just follow your nose...

    See You There!



    All information sourced from third parties, correct at time of publication, subject to change or modification.