Your cultural choices:

Various times on Wednesday 24 October – Sunday, 28 October: Gozo Opera Month – Teatru Astra and Teatru Aurora, Victoria; Thursday, 25 October & Saturday, 27 October from 7.30pm – 10pm: La Traviata – Teatru Astra; Various times on Wednesday 24 October – Saturday, 27 October: Festival Mediterranea 2018 - Republic Street, Victoria, Gozo

Gozo’s opera month continues right up until the end of the week, with the centre of activities in and around the capital, Victoria. Teatru Astra and Teatru Aurora have a high-pitch programme of events, which will have you safe and inside if the weather continues to play up. A definite highlight is La Traviata, to be performed on Thursday and Saturday at Teatru Astra, a production which will also celebrate the theatre’s 50-year anniversary and a worthy follow up on Teatru Aurora’s La Tosca. But Victoria, and surrounding areas, will also see talks and lectures taking place as well as exhibitions and musical concerts, as part of the Festival Mediterranea 2018 – a true celebration of this corner of the med. For a full programme of events, click here.

Tuesday, 23 October from 12pm – 12.45pm: Sounds of America - St Augustine's Monastery, Old Bakery Street, Valletta; All weekend: Amadeus by Peter Shaffer - Teatru Manoel, Valletta; All weekend from 8pm: De-terminated: The Abortion Diaries - Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta; All weekend from 8pm: Tebut Isfar ta' Clare Azzopardi - Valletta Campus Theatre, Valletta

If you work in Valletta and you’re in need of a zing during your break, why not head to St Augustine's Monastery in Old Bakery Street on Tuesday at noon for a performance by Italian pianist Vincenzo Delli Noci? An offering of compositions by American and Latin-American composers is being promised for lunchtime, and might give you some steam to forge ahead. And as the weekend approaches, select your choice of theatrical outing: the spectacular Amadeus continues its run at Teatru Manoel, as does the topical De-terminated: The Abortion Diaries (at Spazju Kreattiv) and the Maltese play Tebut Isfar by Clare Azzopardi at Valletta Campus Theatre. 

Thursday 25 October at 8pm: Cinema Poster Exhibition – The Cinebar by Citylights, Valletta; Friday, 26 October from 7.30pm: The End of the Chain (Estonian Film Days season) - Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta

Cinema comes into focus this week with the Cinema Poster exhibition at The Cinebar by Citlights in the heart of Valletta, aiming to tell the story of the infamous theatre upstairs through the recollection of its most popular outings. And, a cinematic tradition which is not much known in Malta – that of Estonia – also comes out of the shadows at Spazju Kreattiv, with a series of films from the country’s sector. This Friday, The End of the Chain is screening, with the director of the film, Mr Priit Pääsuke, at the theatre to take questions and thoughts.

Or Halloween ones:

Friday, 26 October from 10pm – 4am: Trick or Treat, G7 Halloween Edition - Gianpula Village, Zebbug; Saturday, 27 October and Sunday, 28 October from 7.30pm – 10.30pm: Halloween Trick-or-Treat 2018 - Vault 1 Upper Floor, Pinto Wharf, Floriana; Saturday, 27 October from 10pm – 4am: Sound Salon Presents Halloween Spectacular - Aria Complex, San Gwann; Sunday, 28 October from 10am – 4.30pm: Halloween Pop-up Café at Palazzo Falson - Palazzo Falson, Mdina

Halloween celebrations come early this year, it being mid-week when the feast does officially hit! And how can you make the most out of this spookfest? Well, by trying all flavours, from wild night parties lasting till 4am, such as Gianpula’s special G7 edition and Sound Salon’s Halloween Spectacular, to the traditional trick-or-treat at Pinto Wharf and the more restorative option at Palazzo Falson, which has a Halloween pop-up café planned. Watch out for goodies to make your hair stand on end. 

And festival outings:

From Friday, 26 October at 4pm – Sunday, 28 October at 7pm: Consciousness Festival 2018 - Vincent's Eco-Farm, Mgarr; Saturday, 27 October from 7pm – 11pm: Hamrun Chocolate Festival 2018 - St Joseph High Street, Hamrun

What is a consciousness festival I hear you say? We also had to check this one, out but upon learning of its eco-philosophy, our curiosity was definitely piqued. In a world which seems to be forever throwing us into chaotic, stress-ridden situations, this weekend might prove healing. The Consciousness Festival at Vincent’s Eco-Farm in Mgarr promises to foster a relationship with the land and the community, allowing us to stop and think – even if it is just for a few days. Healthy fare is on the menu, which is more than could be said of the Hamrun Chocolate Festival (the hint is in the name), though there’s bound to be tons of people so be prepared! 

Inject your week with some heritage and nature:

Sunday, 28 October from 9am – 4pm: Fort Manoel Open Day – Fort Manoel, Gzira; Wednesday, 24 October from 6pm: Heritage Malta’s Phoenician, Roman, and Medieval sites: a backstage preview - National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta; Sunday, 28 October from 10am – 6pm: Reserves Open Day - Għadira Nature Reserve and Foresta 2000, Mellieha

Take the heritage trail and visit the Museum of Archaeology in Valletta on Wednesday for a discussion by senior curator David Cardona on the different facets of a curatorial role in this sector. And to experience the benefits of a site which has been safeguarded, head to Fort Manoel – a lynchpin in Malta’s maritime history - on Sunday for its open day organised by Heritage Malta. Further north, the Ghadira Nature Reserve and Foresta 2000 in Mellieha will also be throwing the doors of its reserves open, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the closest thing we have to wild life on the islands.