For the second consecutive year, Valletta Waterfront will be hosting the Epoka Festival that will feature exhibitions of traditional musical instruments and quarrying tools, as well as mediaeval games, traditional food and entertainment. The festival is taking place between Wednesday, 23 August and Sunday, 27 August and is an original creation and concept of Viset Malta plc.
The Malta Independent interviewed Ray Tabone, director of Synergix Events Group, the organisers of the Valletta Waterfront Epoka Festival, about the whole event.
Who is Ray Tabone?
I am a team member of Synergix Events Group, the company entrusted by Viset Malta plc with the organisation and promotion of this year’s Valletta Waterfront Epoka Festival. Synergix has a solid reputation for conference and incentive market entertainment organisation and it is also the pioneer in this market in Malta.
How did you come to be involved in Epoka?
We were one of the major suppliers for last year’s Epoka at the Valletta Waterfront and this year we were invited by Viset Malta plc to handle the event for the next three years.
How long have you been preparing for it and what type of work does this event involve?
We’ve been preparing for it since April. The amount of work is huge and includes the logistics, which play a crucial part in organising outdoor events in magnificent areas like Grand Harbour that, unfortunately, lack all commodities. It is important to collate a lot of information to see what fits with the theme. Then there are the artists involved and the audio-visual and staging equipment, that is being sponsored by our sister company, AV warehouse. This year’s innovation, the Young Singers’ Festival interpreting old Maltese songs, was a challenge, but thanks to YTC and Noel D’Amato it will be quite a novelty. Then there are the sponsorships to gather – and I take this opportunity to thank them all, especially our main sponsors, MK leisure, 1565 Spectacular and Monte Kristo Vineyards for their enormous support.
How many people are involved in the organisation?
The team is composed of my colleagues, co-executive producer Mark Vella, our marketing guru Horace Micallef, Danica Briffa, who is responsible for the games and some of the production, our production secretary, Isabelle Scicluna, Nicholas Mangion, who takes care of organising the games and is our Games Marshall, our chief organiser Paul Azzopardi and our chief technician for all the AV equipment, Paul Falzon.
Why was Valletta Waterfront chosen for this event?
It was an automatic choice as it offers a beautiful setting and ample space for different activities. We are following last year’s success when Epoka was organised by Viset Malta plc and it has served as a role model for all the events to follow.
What was the outcome of last year’s festival?
Last year, it was received well, with over 12,000 people attending Epoka.
What is the main aim of this event and what are your general expectations for it?
The aim is simple. We would like the Maltese to be proud of our traditional heritage and our language. We are proud to invite the participation of artistes like Walter Micallef, a great composer of Modern Blues who uses our mother tongue for all his lyrics. All the invited artistes cherish the Maltese language. It will be worth popping down to the Valletta Waterfront and taking a look. And all ZOO fans are invited to the new show entitled ZOO Goes Epoka, to spend two hours of endless laughs
Will there be an entrance fee?
Yes, the fee is Lm1.50 for everyone over the age of 10. Each ticket also includes free admission to Limestone Heritage and a free pizza at the Barcelo Riviera. Of course, access to the Valletta Waterfront promenade will still be free of charge.
Throughout the festival, all outlets along the Valletta Waterfront will remain open to the public, offering late night shopping as well as the opportunity to enjoy a meal or drink at one of the outlets along the water’s edge.
Who should attend the
festival?
All the family should attend! There is something for everyone: games for children and adults, music and dancing for all and a lot of edutainment from the artisans and the exhibition of traditional instruments.
Will there be any specific programmes for children?
Absolutely. On 23 August, the Epoka festival will begin with the Young Singer’ Festival, which will be compered by Pauline Micallef (from NET TV’s Teen Trouble). The novelty is that these children are going to sing old Maltese songs and they will be introduced to the public by the original singer of the song. There will also be some special games which I am sure they will never have played.
As everyone knows, the Maltese love to eat. Will there be a great selection for them to choose from?
Wonderful, mouth watering, take away food is being prepared by the Razzett l-Antik. We will have a selection of Maltese food, to be in tune with the Theme Epoka. Of course, there will also be a selection of drinks by Monte Kristo Vineyards and MK Leisure.
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Celebrating our roots
Valletta Waterfront has officially announced the five-day Epoka festival programme to be held from Wednesday 23 August to Sunday 27 August from 7:30pm onwards. Held along the laguna’s edge, the Valletta Waterfront Epoka Festival blends traditional Maltese items together in the historic and unique setting of Grand Harbour. Epoka is being organised by Synergix Events Group.
Each night, the Valletta Waterfront Epoka will feature lace-making, basket-making and weaving, together with other Maltese skills such as stone sculptures, filigree work and pottery. Maltese folklore will be featured in performances by the Paul Curmi Dancers, Walter Micallef u l-hbieb, and excerpts from Gensna with Georgina, Renato and Paul Abela’s Band, among others.
Reuben Zahra, in collaboration with the University of Malta, will be holding an exhibition of traditional musical instruments, and Manuel Baldacchino from the Limestone Heritage will feature an exhibition of traditional quarrying tools. The Valletta Waterfront will also have a demonstration of work-in-progress by the Resources and Infrastructure Ministry of the building of a traditional girna.
Every evening of the Valletta Waterfront Epoka festival will feature a unique mix and variety of games for the general public, including archery, pole-jousting, horse-shoe tossing and entrapment.
Maltese gastronomy, with its fascinating blend of influences that reflect Malta’s location and history, will be a main feature of the Valletta Waterfront Epoka festival. Visitors may avail themselves of the delicious dishes and beverages at the various al fresco food and beverage stands offered by Razzett l-Antik, Monte Kristo Vineyards and MK Leisure. will also be able to taste or buy locally produced honey, ice cream and other food delicacies.
This year’s innovation in the Valletta Waterfront Epoka festival is the children’s programme that is being organised for the first time. On Wednesday, 23 August, Epoka will begin with a Young Singers Festival that starts at 8pm, organised in collaboration with YTC, in which children will interpret popular Maltese songs of bygone days. This will be followed by a show by the Paul Curmi Dancing School and a performance by Carlo’s Choir.
On Thursday, 24 August, the festival will include a passage from Gensna with Renato and Georgina and Paul Abela’s Band at 8.30pm. This is followed at 9.45pm by the Versatile Brass Band meets Greenfields.
On Friday, 25 August, the Paul Curmi Dancers will perform It-Tieg at 8.30pm, featuring a traditional Maltese wedding. All the visitors on this night will be able to enjoy some humour by the ZOO team, as they dress in period costumes to put on a completely new great show, Zoo Goes Epoka. The show starts at 9pm.
This year’s Epoka will also offer visitors to the Valletta Waterfront the chance to take part in a mediaeval banquet, complete with knights, organised by Knights Spectacular and MK Leisure. This banquet will only be held on Thursday and Friday and is available on booking.
On Saturday, 26 August, Epoka will feature Joe Demicoli with some of his best Maltese parodies at 8.30pm. Walter Micallef u l-Hbieb will then follow at 9pm with a special concert with his original, everlasting Maltese tunes.
The Epoka festival will come to an end on Sunday, 27 August with performances from the Paul Curmi Dancers and the Cameo Folk Dancers starting at 8pm. A repeat show of ZOO Goes Epoka will begin at 9pm.
The admission fee for Epoka is Lm1.50, with children under the age of 10 free of charge. Every ticket includes an entrance ticket to Limestone Heritage and a free pizza at the Barcelo Riviera. Of course, this ticket includes admission to all the shows during Epoka except for ZOO Goes Epoka. Tickets for this show are priced at Lm4.50 and also include access to all areas. Shows start at 9pm on both Friday and Sunday.
Throughout the festival, all outlets along Valletta Waterfront will remain open to the public, offering late night shopping as well as the opportunity to enjoy a meal or drink at one of the outlets along the water’s edge.
“In a global world, where most things commonly used today are the same to many nations, then our heritage and traditions stand out as an important factor. This festival, organised at the majestic setting of Grand Harbour, will highlight that richness and give the public a taste of all these traditions, products, exhibitions, music and dance performances and a novelty children’s festival. This year, there is something for adults and children alike, and we are sure that all those attending won’t be disappointed,” said Chris Paris, general manager of VISET Malta plc, operators of Valletta Waterfront.
Bookings for the ZOO Goes Epoka show and The Banquet with the Knights can be made by calling 7938 0488 or at ticket booths during EPOKA.
More information about this year’s Epoka
festival is also available on the website www.Epokafestival.com