New Year’s Eve There are many ways you could spend New Year’s Eve in Malta, with the islands catering for anything from a large public party or small private gathering to a quiet meal with your significant other or friends. The options are endless and include pub crawls and parties held at clubs and other venues. Ultimately, you’ve just got to choose the one that works best for you. Date 31 Dec.
JANUARY 2016 Valletta International Baroque Festival For two weeks in January, the city of Valletta resounds with music composed at the time it was built – in the late 16th century and at the height of the baroque period, both of which gave it its architectural identity. Valletta (www. vallettabaroquefestival.com. mt). Date 16-30 Jan.
FEBRUARY Carnival Dating back to the time of the Knights, the celebration of Carnival is still a big affair in both Malta and Gozo. Kids and adults flock to Valletta and Floriana, where large floats parade through the streets accompanied by loud music and cheering enthusiasts. Others head to Nadur in Gozo, where young people dressed in strange and satirical costumes take over the village square for a weekend of merrymaking. Valletta, Floriana, Gozo, other villages (www.visitmalta. com). Date 5-9 Feb.
MARCH Good Friday As one of the Roman Catholic Church’s most solemn feasts, Good Friday is commemorated in many towns and villages across
the islands, with processions depicting the last hours of Christ’s life. Those in Valletta, Zejtun and Mosta in Malta and Xaghra in Gozo are some of the most popular among devotees. Date 25 Mar.
APRIL Malta International Fireworks Festival A number of Maltese and foreign fireworks factories will be participating in this competitive event, presenting spectacular pyrotechnic displays synchronised to music to commemorate Malta’s accession to the European Union. The spectacle is free. Various towns and villages across Malta (www.maltafireworksfestival. com). Date to be confirmed.
MAY Malta Fashion Week & Awards Showcasing Malta’s best talent in the fashion industry – from designers to catwalk models, stylists and photographers – alongside foreign names and brands, Malta Fashion Week has established itself as the biggest fashion event on the island. The week-long fashion bonanza culminates with the Malta Fashion Awards on the Saturday. Venues to be confirmed (www.fashionweek.com. mt). Date to be confirmed.
L-lmnarja Commemorating Malta’s patron saint, St Paul, and the apostle St Peter, L-Imnarja is one of the country’s oldest traditional festivities. During the day, many people flock to Buskett Gardens to make the most of the openair dancing and singing, the agrarian fair and the displays of produce by local farmers. Horse and donkey races are held just below neighbouring Mdina. Buskett Gardens. Date 29 June.
JULY The Marsovin Wine Festival The real stars of the night at this festival are the wines, and with over 30 different D.O.K and I.G.T. wines on offer, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Entrance costs €15, and will get you the same amount worth in wine tokens and a free wine glass. Hastings Gardens, Valletta (www.marsovinwinefestival. com). Date to be confirmed.
Public holidays The Assumption of Our Lady (Santa Marija) 15 Aug 2015
Republic Day 13 Dec 2015
Good Friday 25 March 2016
Christmas Day 25 Dec 2015
Freedom Day 31 Mar 2016
New Year’s Day 1 Jan 2016
Labour Day 1 May 2016
Independence Day 21 Sept 2015
St Paul’s Shipwreck 10 Feb 2016
Sette Giugno 7 June 2016
Immaculate Conception 8 Dec 2015
The Feast of St Joseph 19 Mar 2016
St Peter and St Paul (L-Imnarja) 29 June 2016
Our Lady of Victories 8 Sept 2015
JUNE Isle of MTV Over the past 10 years, this music event has attracted some of the biggest names in music, with Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, Enrique Iglesias, the Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, Jess Glynne and Jason Derulo all having performed to an audience of over 30,000 locals and foreigners. Entrance is free and on a first-come-first-served basis. The Granaries, Floriana (www. isleofmtv.com). Date 28 June.
When to go
Oct-Dec. Swimming is possible in October though temperatures begin to dip, with an average day-time temperature of 17.5°C in December. The highest levels of rainfall are recorded in November and December. Jan-Mar. Although these are the coldest months, with average daytime temperatures of 16°C-18°C, they become progressively drier, with just 37mm of average rainfall in March. Apr-May. The countryside is at its greenest during these months, with a relatively low possibility of rain and between 10 to 11 hours of sunshine. Average temperatures hover between 20°C and 24°C.
14 Time Out Malta & Gozo for Visitors 2015/16
viewingmalta.com/Stefan Stafrace
June-Sept. This is the time to visit if you’re after a beach holiday. Be aware though that the temperature in July and August sometimes rises to above 35°C, with around 12 hours of sunshine.
Mdina Grand Prix. See p12.