Let’s Get Loud in Malta

While the Mediterranean island of Malta can be heaven for peace and quiet, there is no better opportunity to mingle with the locals and enjoy a heavy dose of traditional customs than at a rowdy festa, or village festival. Each village church has an annual celebration of its patron saint and in bigger localities, there will be several such festivals depending on the number of churches. The village bands and members of the parish are tasked with the festa’s organization, leading to fierce competitions as each tries to outdo the others with fireworks and music, hurling insults at their rivals.

These festivals date back centuries, but the 2022 festivities are expected to be some of the most rambunctious in Malta's history after two years of canceled parties due to Covid and lots of pent-up energy.

Though the vast majority of these festi take place between May and September, a handful are held during the rest of the year, including some in winter. July and August are your safest bet with celebrations every weekend. In the weeks and days leading up to the main events, you’ll find yourself in villages where celebrations slowly gather steam, starting with street decorations of flags and flower arrangements, then stalls opening and selling traditional sweets, and tiny galaxies of colored lights appearing around churches.

On the eve of the patron saint's day for each festa, the Marċ il-Kbir, or the big march, takes place, typically accompanied by a thundering display of fireworks. The main event involves a procession carrying a wooden statue of the patron saint around the village and when it returns to the church, a massive, homemade fireworks display is set alight.

In 2022, a total number of 102 of these festi are held in Malta and neighboring Gozo. So, which one to pick? Some are more family-oriented, like the one in Mosta, held on August 15. If you want to experience the fireworks in full force, bring earplugs and head to the Mqabba festa, held on the same date, or the even bigger one in Lija the week before on August 6.

A braver set of grown-ups may opt for one of the two festas in Żurrieq, where the rivalry between bands gets especially heated—expect to add some colorful Maltese insults to your vocabulary—on July 17 and September 4. On August 28, you’ll be spoiled for choice as there are 12 different festi held in villages around the island. If that’s too overwhelming, you might hop over to Gozo for a smaller, more intimate celebration of Our Lady of Loreto in Għajnsielem on the same date. But really, if you can’t escape the noise, be the noise. The Maltese will love you for it like a patron saint.

Chat with one of our Travel Curators via the link below and Origin can help to find the Maltese festa most suited to you.