The main celebrations marking the changeover to the European single currency will be held around Grand Harbour, where membership of the European Union was celebrated as well, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said yesterday.

Other celebrations will be held as well in Marsascala and at Victoria, to enable as many Maltese as possible to take part in this historic moment.

The activities will be held on Monday-Tuesday night and will be transmitted live on TVM, Net TV and One TV. They start at around 8.30pm.

Along the waterfront in Valletta there will be four activities, and another will be held at the Upper Barrakka. The local band Nafra will perform near the old Customs house, together with a band from Cyprus, which is switching to the euro with Malta.

Near the Environment ministry, the fish market, there will be the local bands Scream Daisy, Wintermoods and Ray and the Characters. At the former power station there will be a party for young people by G7 while there will be pop music at the Valletta Waterfront.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Central Bank governor Michael C. Bonello will at midnight draw euro notes from an ATM at the Valletta Waterfront. A lights countdown will be held at Fort St Angelo and Grand Harbour will be lit with fireworks.

There will be activities for children at Marsascala and a lights show, and at Victoria there will be various performers.