Feast of fireworks lights up the night sky next week

The island's annual summer love affair with fireworks officially began last Sunday.

This year, preparations for the Malta International Fireworks Festival will be given an added boost, as Malta will be hosting the 13th International Symposium on Fireworks, starting from today (see programme).

The symposium will boast around 300 delegates from the world over, from Italy to far flung Hong Kong and Guatemala.

On the evenings of the symposium - until April 28 - there are displays every night except tonight (April 24).

The seminar was launched at the Excelsior on Sunday night, and the other days are all open to the public, which is encouraged to attend and enjoy the spectacles at Mellieha (April 25), St Paul's Bay/Bugibba (April 26), Valletta (April 27) and Gharb, Gozo (April 28).

In Mellieha, 16 firework factories are working together to put on a spectacular display. In addition, the Local Council is organising an event in the main village square, and is creating the festive atmosphere with the traditional decorations, festoon lights and ground fireworks to complement the evening.

There will also be traditional food stalls with typical food, sweets and delicacies associated with the village 'festa'.

To facilitate attendance to the event, a system of park and ride is being organised for free by the council. Parking will be near Belleview and transport will be available to the village core.

For the display along the St Paul's Bay/Bugibba promenade, another eight local factories are taking part in a ground fireworks display, showing the chronological development of this art, from the traditional Catherine wheels to the more complex mechanised pieces we so often see today.

Then, in Valletta, two Italian companies are presenting their fireworks shows in the Grand Harbour followed by a grand finale by Lourdes Fireworks of Qrendi, winners of Malta International Fireworks Festival in 2011.

In Gozo, the fireworks display will be put on by Gozitan manufacturers and will be in conjunction with the annual event 'Seher il-Punent' organised by the Gharb local council.

The Fireworks Festival - organised by the Ministry for Tourism and Culture - will run for three days between April 29 and May 1, and will also have an international element.

In fact, five of the competing factories taking part in the MIFF over April 29 and 30 at the Grand Harbour are foreign, hailing from the UK, Canada, Poland, Croatia and Austria.

The sixth is St Michael's Fireworks Factory of Lija, the only Maltese factory pitting its skills against the rest of the world.

On May 1, the winners will be announced in a closing ceremony held once again at the Grand Harbour Valletta followed by musical fireworks by an Italian company.

Entrance for the MIFF is at €2.50. Bookings can be made via email through [email protected] or by calling 22 915445. More information: www.maltafireworksfestival.com.

Fireworks Symposium And Festival Programme

Fireworks Symposium

APRIL 25          

18:30 - 23:00

Mellieha - A variety of traditional and unique Maltese fireworks (including daylight and night multi-break fireworks and mechanised ground fireworks held amidst a Maltese festa ambience). Different Maltese fireworks factories are participating.

APRIL 26           

21:00 - 22:30

St Paul's Bay/Bugibba Promenade -  A variety of Maltese Ground Fireworks that relate to the chronological development of this form of pyrotechnic display from traditional Catherine wheels to mechanised pieces.

Different Maltese fireworks factories are participating.

APRIL 27           

22:00 - 23:00

Valletta Grand Harbour -  Pyro-musical and traditional displays

Pirico Fireworks (Italy),

Ugo Lieto Fireworks (Italy),

Grand finale by Lourdes Fireworks Factory of Qrendi Malta, (winners of the Malta International Fireworks Festival 2011)

APRIL 28           

19:00 - 22:00 

Gharb, Gozo  - Traditional Maltese aerial and ground firework displays by Gozitan pyrotechnic factories.

FIREWORKS FESTIVAL

DAY ONE

APRIL 29   

21:00

Pyro-musical display by Apogee Fireworks of Canada

21:30

Pyro-musical display by Phoenix Fireworks of the UK.

22:00

Pyro-musical display by Jost Fireworks of Austria.

DAY TWO

APRIL 30    

21:00

Pyro-musical display by St Michael's Fireworks Factory of (Lija) Malta.

21:30 

Pyro-musical display by Mirnovek Fireworks of Croatia.

22:00

Pyro-musical display by Surex Fireworks of Poland.

DAY THREE

MAY 1

21:00

Opening pyro-musical display

21:10 

Prize Giving Ceremony.

21:30

Final Grand pyro-musical display by Parente Fireworks of Italy (Non competitive).