Carnival 17th February 2012 - 21st February 2012 Like many other countries around the world, Malta celebrates Carnival, a time when our ancestors were allowed to let their hair down and party in the streets till the break of dawn. Not much has changed since then in Malta, as can be seen through the brightly-coloured costumes and floats which parade vibrantly through the streets of the capital Valletta for one whole weekend. While the Carnival celebrations in Valletta are geared towards families, those who are looking for a more…interesting…experience should not miss the celebrations in Nadur, Gozo, where locals and visitors alike go crazy in creative costumes.

                                            

		Holy Week 5th April 2012 - 8th April 2012 A sombre atmosphere descends on Malta at the start of Holy Week, the most important time in the Roman Catholic calendar. On the eve of Good Friday, around 18 parishes in Malta organise a procession with life-size statues showing the Passion of the Christ. On Easter Sunday the atmosphere changes to a happier one as church bells ring out and people eat traditional Maltese Easter sweets like ‘figolla’ and ‘quaresimal.’
		Medieval Mdina 14th April 2012 - 15th April 2012, Mdina Imdina is a beautiful example of a medieval fortified town. Despite the speed of modern life it has managed to keep its charm. While it is known as the Silent City due to its peaceful atmosphere, Mdina comes to life during the Medieval Mdina festival. Visitors are taken back in time through displays of pageantry, re-enactments and traditional music, while all of Mdina’s many museums, churches and other historical places are open to the public.
		Strawberry Fair 15th April 2012, Mgarr The people of the small rural village of Mgarr really love their strawberries. Every spring, thousands of the juicy red fruit are brought to the village square after being freshly picked from the surrounding fields, and made into delicious cakes, milkshakes, ice-cream waffles, pancakes, jam and even wine. Maltese folk bands provide live entertainment throughout the day.
		Malta International Fireworks Festival 23rd April 2012 - 1st May 2012 The magnificent Grand Harbour provides the perfect setting for this annual fireworks show in which competitors from all over the world put on a spectacular pyrotechnic show in an attempt to outdo each other and be crowned as the fireworks champion of the world. The MIFF is now recognised as one of the main events in Europe’s pyrotechnic calendar.

                                      

Malta International Fireworks Festival 23rd April 2012 - 1st May 2012 The magnificent Grand Harbour provides the perfect setting for this annual fireworks show in which competitors from all over the world put on a spectacular pyrotechnic show in an attempt to outdo each other and be crowned as the fireworks champion of the world. The MIFF is now recognised as one of the main events in Europe’s pyrotechnic calendar.

		Village Feasts June 2012 - September 2012 Religious celebrations are a very important part of Maltese culture. Throughout summer, each town and village celebrates its patron saint with colourful street decorations and marching bands. The festivities reach a peak with a procession with the statue of the saint, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.
		Isle of MTV Malta Special 26th June 2012, Granaries, Floriana Isle of MTV is a massive, completely free outdoor concert that attracts a crowd of thousands of young Maltese and tourists. Every summer the concert features top international live acts, like the Black Eyed Peas, LMFAO, Lady Gaga, and Snoop Dogg.
		L-Imnarja: Summer Folk Festival 29th June 2012, Buskett, Rabat ‘L-Imnarja’ is the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul which falls on June 29. Traditional celebrations, which go back hundreds of years, take place in Buskett, a wooded area close to Rabat, which hosts a folk music festival and an agricultural market. Here one may try typical Maltese dishes like fried rabbit. A horse race is also held nearby.

		Village Feasts June 2012 - September 2012 Religious celebrations are a very important part of Maltese culture. Throughout summer, each town and village celebrates its patron saint with colourful street decorations and marching bands. The festivities reach a peak with a procession with the statue of the saint, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.
		The Malta International Jazz Festival 19th July 2012 - 21st July 2012, Ta' Liese inside the Grand Harbour The Malta Jazz Festival is one of the most important events on the Maltese music calendar. An eclectic mix of jazz styles is played over three nights in July at Ta’ Liese inside the Grand Harbour. World-renowned artists who have played at the Jazz Festival in the past include John Scofield, Al Di Meola, Chick Corea, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cubanismo, Michel Petrucciani, Betty Carter, Joe Zawinul, Richard Bona and Esperanza Spalding.
		The Farsons Great Beer Festival 27th July 2012 - 5th August 2012, Ta' Qali The Farsons Beer Fest is an outdoor festival that is held every year in Ta’ Qali, and is suitable for all the family. A wide variety of Maltese musical acts play an eclectic range of styles on several different stages, while beer both local and foreign is served to the thousands of people who visit. The food court at the festival offers a mix of dishes from all over the world.

		Village Feasts June 2012 - September 2012 Religious celebrations are a very important part of Maltese culture. Throughout summer, each town and village celebrates its patron saint with colourful street decorations and marching bands. The festivities reach a peak with a procession with the statue of the saint, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.
		The Farsons Great Beer Festival 27th July - 5th August, Ta' Qali The Farsons Beer Fest is an outdoor festival that is held every year in Ta’ Qali, and is suitable for all the family. A wide variety of Maltese musical acts play an eclectic range of styles on several different stages, while beer both local and foreign is served to the thousands of people who visit. The food court at the festival offers a mix of dishes from all over the world.

		Village Feasts June 2012 - September 2012 Religious celebrations are a very important part of Maltese culture. Throughout summer, each town and village celebrates its patron saint with colourful street decorations and marching bands. The festivities reach a peak with a procession with the statue of the saint, accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.
		Bread Festival 14th September 2012 - 15th September 2012, Qormi The town of Qormi is famous for its tradition of bread-making. Residents of the town often boast of making the best ‘hobz tal-Malti’ (Maltese bread) on the island. During the Bread Festival visitors can take tours around Qormi’s many bakeries. The air is filled with the smell of freshly-baked bread and the sound of traditional Maltese folk music.
		Notte Bianca 29th September 2012, Valletta Streets, Valletta Notte Bianca is an all-night event held in Malta’s capital city. The event captures the spirit of an ‘open city’ where, for one whole night, Valletta’s monuments and important buildings are open and accessible to all until the early hours, all for free. Concerts, guided tours, and theatrical performances among others are organised throughout the night, while shops stay open till late and restaurants serve food all night long. Tens of thousands of locals and visitors alike flock to the capital for this much awaited event.
		Malta International Airshow [Adults: €12, Children Under 14: Free] 29-30th September 2012, Malta International Airport, Luqa Held annually each September at the Malta International Airport, the Malta International Airshow is one of Malta’s biggest outdoor events. Military jets belonging to air forces from all around the world roar through the sky as people on the ground mingle with friendly pilots at the static display featuring both military and commercial aircraft. Aerobatics teams who have visited in recent years include the British Red Arrows, the Italian Frecce Tricolori and the Swiss PC-7 aerobatic team.