Events
What's on 20-22 July: the best events this weekend
To go, or not to go: that is the question

Rebecca Anastasi

Guzzle, guzzle, boil and bubbles:

All weekend from 6pm: Malta International Food Festival 2018 – Mdina Ditch; all weekend from 8pm: The Marsovin Summer Wine Festival 2018 - Hastings Gardens, Valletta

What

Malta International Food Festival / Facebook

This could be your ‘sin’ weekend if you’re watching what you eat and opting for healthy options, especially since temptation will be served up on a plate – or in a glass – with the Malta International Food Festival, taking place in Mdina, and the Marsovin Summer Wine Festival, at Hastings Gardens in Valletta. The word ‘festival’ has definitely become a by-word for quantity, so you won’t feel short changed at either of these events, if you’re looking for a way to break your rules. 

If music be the food of love play on:

Saturday, 21 July from 8:30pm: Joseph Calleja in Concert 2018 - The Granaries, Floriana

What

Joseph Calleja / Facebook

If you’ve passed by the Granaries at any point this week, you couldn’t have failed to notice the gargantuan stage, night-black speakers and web of scaffolding which have made an appearance, all in preparation for the Joseph Calleja concert. Malta’s home-grown tenor will take to the stage on Saturday in a performance also featuring Italian favourite Eros Ramazotti. Tickets don’t come cheap – they start from 80 euros and go up to 140 for gold standard – so you’ll need more than some spare change, but it’s being touted as one of the key events of the summer and you might not want to miss out.

Friday, 20 July and Saturday, 21 July from 8pm: Malta Jazz Festival – various locations around Valletta

What

Malta Jazz Festival / Facebook

There used to be a time when jazz in Malta was considered niche, relegated to the smokey rooms of bars like BJs in Paceville (sadly long gone and replaced by the stripped down generic aesthetic of contemporary clubrooms). The Malta Jazz Festival changed all that, and it has been bringing the music out in the open for the past 27 years. This year it continues to do so with stellars of the music world, such as Chick Corea, Christian McBride, Nasheet Waits and John Patitucci – a real opportunity to really feel that it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing. 

All the world’s a stage:

All weekend from 8:30pm: William Shakespeare's: As You Like It - San Anton Gardens, Attard; Friday, 20 July – Sunday, 22 July from 9pm – 10:15pm: Baxx Baxx: Produzzjoni ta' Teatru Manoel u Grokk Teatru - Teatru Manoel, Valletta

What

MADC / Facebook

This is your last chance to catch the popular Shakespeare in the Park production for this year: As You Like It. Join Rosalind on her adventures in the Forest of Arden to find her exiled father – and in the process meet a cast of characters who become familiar friends (and have, indeed, become so for audiences around the world). For something a little more local, Baxx Baxx at Teatru Manoel has been inspired by the characters in Clare Azzopardi's book Kulħadd Ħalla Isem Warajh, winner of the National Book Prize.

Get thee to the dancefloor:

Saturday, 21 July from 7:30pm: Red Sunset Party 2018 - Café Del Mar Malta, St Paul's Bay; Sunday, 22 July from 7:30pm – 1am: Oliver Heldens at Café del Mar - Café Del Mar Malta, St Paul's Bay; Saturday, 21 July from 10pm: FatFunk - 009 feat. Sweely Live Set - MuteMalta Aria Complex, Iklin

What

Cafe del Mar / Facebook

Café del Mar has focused much attention on bringing some wild parties to the shore, with the deckchairs and umbrellas cleared early in preparation for the evenings ahead (which can sting if you’ve gone there for the day). And, this weekend is no exception: on Friday, they’re kicking off the next few days with the Red Sunset Party, starting at 7:30pm, with a knock-out night on Saturday featuring a special guest – Dutch DJ and music producer Oliver Heldens, who has played such high-profile festivals such as Glastonbury, and Tomorrowland. Further inland, Aria complex in Iklin is hosting another international DJ – Sweely – who will be on the decks until very late (or early, depending on your perspective).

Is this a market I see before me?:

Sunday, 22 July from 6pm – 10:30pm: Summer Nights, July Market - Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar; Sunday, 22 July from 6:30pm – 21:30pm: Wasp. Night Markets! – Wasp, Hamrun

What

Malta Artisan Markets / Facebook

Don’t you just hate it when two things you want to attend are happening at the same time? This Sunday, there might, indeed, be that conundrum: two markets, one night, some undecided people. The first – and longer one – is taking place at Palazzo Parisio and this promises to be corker, with stalls featuring the best of local artisanal wares. We’re particularly looking forward to Glen Calleja’s handmade books called Kotba Calleja. And, right in the town of Hamrun, another market is happening: Wasp Night market selling homewares, jewellery and – best of all – vegan sweet treats!


Rebecca Anastasi
Written by
Rebecca Anastasi
Rebecca has dedicated her career to writing and filmmaking, and is committed to telling stories from this little rock in the Mediterranean.

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