More of this please!:

Saturday, 14th July from 5pm & Sunday, 15th July from 3pm: Cocktails & Chocolate Pairing - Malta Chocolate Factory, Bugibba.

Have you ever popped a chocolate truffle in your mouth and thought “this would go well with a gin and tonic”? Well, we have! And, it seems, so have the nice people at the Malta Chocolate Factory in Bugibba, who are organising a one-hour bonanza of beautifully mixed drinks paired with moreish choccie delights for an evening of ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’.

Over three weekends, starting tomorrow. Friday, 13th July - Saturday, 14th July from 8:30pm: Shakespeare in the Park: William Shakespeare's As You Like It - San Anton Gardens, Attard.

The annual Shakespeare in the Park is a firm staple in the cultural calendar, and a highlight of the summer artistic season. This year, MADC is putting up the comedy As You like It, a coming-of-age story about love and family, taking place in the bucolic San Anton Gardens – a stunning setting, also doubling as the Forest of Arden. The story centres on young Rosalind, who, dressed as a boy, seeks out her exiled father when she is banished from court after falling in love with the young courtier, Orlando. Directed by Philip Leone-Ganado and featuring many of Malta’s most talented players, this is one not to miss!

Finishing off in style:

All weekend: Malta International Arts Festival – various locations.

These are the last few days of the Malta International Arts Festival and it’s been quite an experience! Try to catch the events this weekend, which include the critically praised work Political Mother by the acclaimed Israeli dancer and composer Hofesh Shechter, taking place tomorrow at Fort St Elmo. Blending live music, ensemble choreography and audio-visual work, this rhythmic performance will have you talking long after the curtain has been raised. And on Saturday, the Mediterranean Conference Centre is hosting La Mer with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the 33-year old Hungarian Gergely Madaras, which will be giving a rendition of work by Claude Debussy, Benjamin Britten and Charles Camilleri. 

Make a song and dance of these:

Friday, 13th July from 11pm – 4am: Vibe on Tour Summer Edition at G7 Fridays ft. Joe Stone - Gianpula Main Room, Zebbug; Saturday, 14th July from 10pm – 2am: The Elements Open Bar - MinusOne Lounge, Bugibba.

The Vibe FM crew may have accompanied you through many a harried journey to work, but, this weekend, they also want to make sure your nights are stress-free. Tomorrow night, hit the dancefloor at Gianpula where the Vibe crew, together with G7 Events, will be getting people moving. If you need (quite) a few drinks to get going, perhaps Saturday is your night and Bugibba is your town with the Elements Open Bar at Minus One. Once again – and we must insist – grab a taxi home!

The magic of the silver screen – for adults and kids!

Saturday, 14th July from 8:30pm – 10:15pm: Wizard of Goz - Ta' Ghammar Hill, Ghasri, Gozo.

Often, this hot weather means only one thing – retreating to the safety and comfort of an air-conditioned cinema! For a more intimate experience, head to Gozo on Saturday night with the little ones for Kinemastik’s Wizard of Goz. The gang which brings you the short film festival every year at the end of July has curated and created this bewitching one-night only cinematic experience for kids between 3 and 12 (and their parents). Short films, on the themes of magic and modern wizardry will be screened to, in the organiser’s words, “prove that magic is all around us every day – you just have to look”. We’re keeping our eyes wide open!

And, for the grand finale:

Sunday, 15th July from 2pm: Winners - The Football Concert - Aria Complex, Iklin.

France or Croatia? Croatia or France? Who are going to be the big winners this World Cup? If staying at home yelling at the screen is not your idea of fun, Aria Complex has a solution: a mega party celebrating the closing of the world’s largest footballing event. There will be music, drinks, and a pool (in case you break out in a sweat) – but stick around for the celebrations afterwards. The atmosphere is bound to be kicking (ha, sorry!)