Magic under the stars:

From Friday, 8 June at 8:45pm and lasting all weekend: Valletta Film Festival – various venues around Valletta

Malta’s biggest cinematic event is hitting our shores for the fourth edition and it promises to be another corker! International films will be screened under the stars, in the open-air venue of Pjazza Teatru Rjal, and in indoor venues dotted around the capital. The films' makers will be in Malta to meet audiences and chat about their work and this year’s special guest is world-renowned film director and artist Peter Greenaway. He will be present for the screening of The Greenaway Alphabet, a film about his work and life, directed by his wife Saskia Bodekke. The festival launches on Friday with the opening ceremony and film The St Bernard’s Syndicate, followed by the official opening party. The weekend will be jam-packed with social events, aperitif hours in some of Valletta’s most fashionable watering holes and, of course, red-carpet photo opportunities. For tickets, click here.

Saturday, 9 June from 7pm – 00:30am: Crossroads – Zabbar

The sky filled with umbrellas stunned this week when the images popped up all over social media. And, on Saturday you will get to see what the fuss is all about. Crossroads, a street party being held across three venues in the southern town of Zabbar, will be canopied by the colourful installation, which was set up specifically for the event. Ira Losco and Band will be playing, as will the Versatile Brass Band and Corazon. Those attending will be guided from one venue to another by the vibrant props. 

Friday, 8 June from 9pm: RockAstra 2018 – Rabat, Gozo

The main street in Rabat, Gozo, is getting its groove on tomorrow with Rockastra 2018, the island’s main springtime music event, featuring Victoria’s La Stella Band and a selection of top local artists under the direction of Mro Sigmund Mifsud. They will be playing classic rock songs by Queen, Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi and the Blues Brother. So, get your air guitar out and sharpen your singing voice!

Saturday, 9 June starting from 10pm: Move It Summer at Rooftop Gianpula – Gianpula Village, Zebbug

Gianpula Village is the location for a host of parties over the weekend and, this Saturday, they are adding another to their already-full slate. Raggaeton, urban Latin music and the best of world styles will be getting you moving on the dancefloor – or in the pool. And, the entry price is one of the best deals this weekend: the 15 euro entrance ticket also buys you transport and a drink!

Game, set, match:

Saturday, 9 June at 7:30pm: The Cawnpore Cup 2018 Polo Match - Malta Polo Club, Marsa Sports Grounds, Marsa

Have you ever wanted to watch a polo match live? You may not be in Argentina but one of the world’s classiest sports is set to play a match this Saturday. Malta’s best polo players will get onto horseback and compete for the Cawnpore Cup – the highest achievement on the local circuit. Try and get invited (if you can!) or else buy day tickets at the door for 10 euros. 

A night out without the kids:

Friday 8 June – Sunday 10 June from 8pm: Sleeping Beauty: The Adult Panto - Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta

Sleeping Beauty – just not the way you know her. The Adult Panto has been a regular on the theatre scene for a few years now and this year’s promises to be as joyfully risqué and impolitically correct as the past four editions. Based on the traditional Christmas panto, this has all the tame bits cut out and lots of fun added in! And, as the packaging says on the box: for adults only! For tickets, click here. 

Breeding sophistication:

Saturday, 9 June from 9pm – 11pm: Tehillim - 20th Century Masterworks - Teatru Manoel, Valletta

The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Pavel Šnajdr, will be performing some of the 20th century’s greatest and most powerful musical works, which are being showcased in Malta for the first time. The concert will include Octandre by Edgard Varèse, Chamber Concerto for 13 Instruments by György Ligeti, Sinfonietta Op.1 by Benjamin Britten, and Tehillim by Steve Reich and musicians from the Brno Contemporary Orchestra in the Czech Republic will be joining MPO’s own. Click here for tickets. 

Saturday, 10 June from 9am – 5pm: National Museum of Natural History - National Museum of Natural History, Mdina

The National Museum of Natural History, situated in Mdina, in an eighteenth-century palace, is responsible for the acquisition, collection, conservation and study of natural history specimens, especially those originating from the Maltese Islands. And, on Sunday, Heritage Malta is opening the museum’s doors to the public for free. You would be able to view the displays of fossils, flora and fauna, and there will even be guided tours at 10am, 1pm and 3pm.