Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech announced the participants during a press conference at St James Cavalier yesterday.

He said this was the third Fireworks Festival and it had become an event on the Malta Tourism Authority’s calendar.

“On Saturday, the festival kicks off with a salvo of fireworks, band marches, live music and laser shows to accompany the firework display,” said Dr Zammit Dimech. There will be various forms of fireworks let off from barges in Grand Harbour as well as the Maltese ground-based fireworks, giggifogu.

The Sunday display begins with marches from two bands and a procession which is part of the feast of Madonna ta’ Liesse. The Civil Protection Department will present a water jet display and there will also be fireworks synchronised to music, waterfall fireworks and a finale where fireworks are let off from all around Grand Harbour.

The minister said that special transport arrangements had also been made for boat trips between Senglea and Vittoriosa to Valletta. There will also be ferries from Sliema to Valletta and all public transport will operate until 1am.

He thanked everyone involved for their contribution to the festival, especially the MTA’s Product Planning and Development Unit.

Asked by this newspaper whether there was any specific advertising about the festival overseas, an MTA representative said video clips were recorded of the festival every year and posted on their website to encourage tourists to come to Malta to see for themselves. The MTA also keeps tour operators informed of current events in Malta and pushes the festival with the aim of attracting late bookings.

The Festival kicks off on Saturday at 7.30pm and 7pm on Sunday. It is understood that the budget for the festival was about Lm20,000, plus costs.