VISET, in collaboration with the Ministry for Tourism and Culture, has launched its Christmas and New Year traditional Maltese festive season activities to be held at the Valletta Waterfront. The historic setting of Pinto Wharf will be transformed into a magical place full of Christmas spirit, offering a new and unique way to enjoy and experience the festive season.

On Tuesday, a concert for the elderly will be organised at the Chapel of the Flight to Egypt by the Holy Family. The audience will be the residents of St Vincent De Paule Home and Parliamentary Secretary Helen D'Amato will also attend the concert. After Mass, the ethnic group Nafra and soprano Marita Bezzina accompanied by Ramona Zammit Formosa on the piano will sing Neapolitan songs and Christmas carols.

On Thursday, Barocca Cultural Events will be organising another exclusive concert for persons with disabilities from Dar il-Kaptan and San Miguel School in Pembroke at the same venue. Soprano Marita Bezzina accompanied by Ramona Zammit Formosa will sing Christmas carols.

On Sunday 24 December, the Waterfront will have traditional Christmas carols and songs interpreted by the well-known Versatile Brass Band. This band has grown in size and success since 2000 when it represented Malta in the Expo 2000 in Germany. Its vast repertoire makes this ensemble renowned for playing different kinds of music from pop to jazz and also classical numbers. A number of local singers such as Augusto Cardinale, Natasha and Charlene, and Ludwig Galea will also perform during the night.

After the performance, Midnight Mass will be celebrated at the Chapel of the Flight to Egypt by the Holy Family.

On Sunday 31 December, Ta’ Ciangura Folk Group will entertain with their folklore dancing together with the Versatile Brass Band. This folklore group consists of around 20 dancers aged between 14 and 50, whose dancing together with Maltese traditional music, will take the audience back to times gone by. A number of local singers such as J Anvil, Hooligan, Augusto Cardinale and Ludwig Galea will once again entertain the audience until the final countdown to the year 2007.

Throughout the festive season, Santa Claus will also be distributing gifts to all the children who visit the Valletta Waterfront on Thursday 21 December from 1 to 5pm, Friday 22 December from 8 to 10pm, Saturday 23 December from 6 to 10pm and Sunday 24 December from 8pm to midnight.