After three years lacking, the Vittoriosafest will be once again held this year, at the end of this month. The Vittoriosafest is a spectacular family event spread over three days and held at the Vittoriosa Marina. 

Vittoriosafest 2009 kicks off on Tuesday 28^th July at 20 hrs, where all information stands, games and food stalls are opened to the general public. 

This year the childrens area will be in the good hands of Curtain Raiser and Leisure and Animation Enterprises. Over here, children will meet there beloved cartoon characters face to face and can enjoy themselves within different games and rides.  But that’s not all for children… They can have a pony ride around the Marina or else a boat trip around the Grand Harbour. 

And their will be also fun and games even for the adults, games through which wonderful prizes can be won.  Obviously, there will be a large selection of Maltese traditional food with which Birgu events are so much associated.  One can choose to stay at a the Wine Tavern area or else at the Beer Garden Area, while having a nice platter of Maltese food and drinking whatever he prefers to drink. 

The Vittoriosafest 2009 will be spread over three days from Tuesday 28^th till Thursday 30^th July and it will be definetly the best prelude for the Maritime City’s local Festa which wil kick off on Friday 31^st and reaching its climax on August 10^th – St. Lawrence Day. 

The highlight of each evening will be definetly the main stage where there will be fabulous shows by mostly all local entertainers such as Owen Bonnici ( ZOO), Carlos Choir, Stingers Dancers, Breezes, Cristian Arding, Vogue Dancers, Moving Bodies, Noel D’Amato, Eku Tambur, Shaun Sullivan, Donna Marie Ellul, Crystal Ellul, Dario Mifsud Bonnici, Laura Bruno, Louanne Caruana, Maria Mallia, THEA, Cristabelle Borg, CCK Dancers, Rita Pace, Pamela Bezzina, Marilena Gauci, Exotique Dancers, Kylie Coleiro, Tony Camilleri, Joe & Veronica Farrugia, Dancing Angels, Michael Jackson Impersonator, Eleonor Cassar, Keith & Adonelle Dancers, Klinsmann Coleiro, Olivia Lewis, Ronald Briffa, Malcolm Pisani, Romina Vella Choir, Angel Sky Dancers, Petra Zammit, Godwin Lucas, Artemocion Dance Company, Claudette Pace, Jeffrey Buhagiar, Benny & Tonia, Mike Spiteri, Charlene & Natasha Grima, J Anvil, Shake Dancers, Fabrizio Faniello, Joe Demicoli, Philip Vella, Debbie Scerri, Mystic Dancers, Freddie Portelli, Claudia Faniello & Chiara. 

To reduce parking problems, there will be also boats from Senglea to Vittoriosa.  Entrance is totally free of charge.  So, no one should miss to attend such three magical evenings at such a unique venue at the hearth of the Grand Harbour and at the peak of the Summer season.

“LA NOTTE DI SAN LORENZO” –  A FIREWORKS SHOW WITH A DIFFERENCE!!!

Another unique event organised by the same Organisers of the Vittoriosafest is going to be a fireworks show so called “ La Notte Di San Lorenzo”, which is scheduled for Sunday 9^th August at 21.45 hrs near to the Vittoriosa Regatta Club at Kalkara Creek. 

The night of the 9^th August is so called by the Italians and is very popular in Italy  due to the famous shooting stars which are associated with St. Lawrence martyrdom, which according to history was held on this particular night in the year 258 at Rome. 

After the opening of the Vittoriosa Marina three years ago, this particular fireworks show was shifted from the Marina creek to Kalkara Creek and this shifting,  unfortunately had a little bit of negative return for the Organisers which used to organise successfully such a show annually at the Marina and for which there used to be a very good return by fireworks enthusiasts and the general public. 

To enhance once again what was so popular in the recent past years, the Organisers thought to create something totally different from what is normally presented during similar shows in other towns and villages.  Infact, the fireworks shows will not only be syncronised to music but also to a stage show with the participation of various dance companies. 

The evening will kick off at 21.45 hrs.  The Organisers are encouraging all those who are willing to attend to reach the stage area and avoid to stay at other points around the Grand Harbour, so that they will enjoy the full package prepared.  Near the Vittoriosa Regatta Club there will be a stage fully equipped with lights, sound systems, etc…… but with one unique backdrop….. the Grand Harbour lit with fireworks. 

The comperes of the night will be Dorian Cassar and Janet Debrincat.  The show will kick off with the participation of a large childrens choir from the 25^th March Association, Tarxien who will sing St. Lawrence popular hyme accompanied by the traditional fireworks bomb salute as a signal of the beginning of the pyro show. 

Soon after, the stage show will be continuous and accompanied by fireworks.  Stage participants will be singer Anabelle Debono, Mystic Folk Group presenting Maltese folk dances, the group Veninmalte with rich Venetian costumes presenting dances from the popular Rondo Veneziano, contemporary dances by Moving Bodies and the famous waltzes and ballet music with the participation of Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet… and ……….. let the fireworks dance also to the music!!! 
 
 Apart from this, the Stella Maris Band of Sliema will also entertain the public by playing band marches around the venue.  The climax of the evening will be reached by the end, where there will be a pyro musical show – fireworks syncronised perfectly to music as we are used to enjoy during the Malta International Fireworks Festivals which are held exactly at the same place of the Grand Harbour. The show will be fired from barges by the Fire One technological computerized system. 

All those attending for this unique evening are urged to reach the venue through Kalkara main gate and then via the first turning on their left.  The Fortini Football ground – a large paking area, is only a few metres away from the venue itself. 

The Organisers are sure that “ La Notte di San Lorenzo” will not just be another fireworks show for the fireworks enthusiasts,  but a magical night for all those who admire the Maltese unique culture and arts. 

These two events are being organised by the 10^th August Pyrothecnic Group and the St. Lawrence External Festivities Committee on the occasion of the St. Lawrence Feast 2009.