Residents and visitors to Gozo will be spoilt for choice over the next two weekends when the Gozo Ministry is hosting Lejlet Lapsi Notte Gozitana for the fourth year. Victoria is expected to be a hub of activity with exhibitions, cultural activities, commemorative lectures, artistic animators, public performances and events that are intended to appeal to the public of all ages.
Tomorrow, there are several tours for children in primary and secondary schools to exhibitions at the Gozo Ministry, the Banca Giuratale and the Cittadella Centre for Culture and the Arts. in the evening a lecture on the 20 years Bishop Michael Gonzi will be held at the Bishop’s Curia, followed by the inauguration of a commemorative exhibition.
On Saturday, in the morning three squares – Independence, St George’s and Cathedral – are hosting ‘Art in the Squares’, including ‘Hands-on Art’ in collaboration with the Wistin Camilleri Gozo Centre for Art and Crafts. Jacob Portelli and Christian Tanti will gave a lunchtime concert at the Cittadella Centre for Culture and Arts. In the evening an exhibition on Gozo Lace – Heritage and Identity, will be inaugurated at the Cittadella Centre for Culture and the Arts.
On Sunday, from 9 to 11.30am the Gozo College is putting on a varied programme on Independence Square celebrating Europe Day. A Mother’s Day activity is being held on the hill leading to the Citadel, with an information point and sale of plants and flowers by the Dar Ġużeppa Debono who are commemorating the 25th anniversary of their establishment.
Art Café is the theme of an event on Independence Square from 10am to 12.30pm, with Gozitan artists painting the atmosphere of people having coffee in the square. At 8pm there will be a rock concert with a religious theme – Footprints – in the same square.
Apart from the exhibitions, in memory of Mgr Gonzi and on Gozo lace, there are also other exhibitions. One is being held at the exhibition hall of the ministry and the Banca Giuratale. It is dedicated to three generations of the Busuttil family of artists – the first time their works have been brought together in a single exhibition.
Other exhibitions include Gentes II - collective works, by artists from Armenia, Italy, France, Gozo and Malta, along with Gentes Youths, with artists from Sicily and Gozo which is also being held at the Cittadella Centre for Culture and the Arts. ‘7-Days’ is an exhibition by artist Vince Caruana at the Maji Restaurant and ‘La Matera’ is an exhibition of sculptures in bronze and ceramics by Victor Agius will be exhibited at Art...e gallery. Another Gozitan family are collectively showing their works in ‘The Sagona family of Artists’ in Narrow Street. The programme gives more details on other exhibitions being held for this occasion.
Friday 14 May
The Lejlet Lapsi Notte Gozitana programme officially kicks off on Friday 14 May in the morning with a Multicultural Festival for schoolchildren, organised by the Gozo College, in Independence Square
An Eco-Gozo programme includes a Spring Plant Fair at the Citadel all day on Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15, and in the morning on Sunday, May 16. There will be e-learning sessions at St Francis School, Main Gate Street, Victoria, on Friday and Saturday from 9am to 1pm and from 6-10pm and on Sunday from 9am to 1pm. Members of the Santa Marta Day Centre are holding a fitness class on Friday at 11.30 on St John’s Demi-Bastions at the Citadel.
There will be chill-out zones with live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evening complemented with wine, food, culture, heritage and traditions with an ecological and Gozitan theme. Hands-on Farming, with animals, plants, experiments and other demonstrations will be held near the entrance to the Citadel on Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
At the same time there will be entertainment at the Citadel entrance with fun, games, face paintings and balloons for children.
Saturday 15 May
From 9.30 to 11.30am there will be Skolasport activities at the Citadel parking and main entrance, including gymnastics, martial arts, basketball, break dance, hip-hop, football skills, kidz blitz, table tennis and cycling. At the same time on Cathedral Square at the Citadel, the Institute of Tourism Studies will be promoting healthy eating and fun cooking.
Three lectures are being held at St Ursula Hall in the Cittadella Centre for Culture and the Arts: The benefits of Eco-living by the Malta Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Association at 10am and registered nutritionist Eileen Vella on Benefits of living a healthy lifestyle at 11.30am. At 6pm chiropractor Tanweer Rayast will talk about solutions to headaches, back pain, neck pain and sciatica. There will be Eco-Gozo projections on the Citadel bastions after 9pm.
One of the main attractions of this year’s event is that prepared for Friday evening. The Gruppo Sbandieratori e Musici ‘Maestri’ from Sicily will hold a display from Savina Square to Pope John Paul II Street, Victoria. This will introduce the spectacular show ‘Music in the Air’ starting at 7.30pm. The Armed Forces of Malta band conducted by Mro. Ivan Borg, will give a musical performance whilst choreographer Dorian Mallia will present a dance show by ‘Moveo’ dance company featuring Italian dancers. An exhilarating air display by the Italian Pioneer Team will bring the show to an end.
At another location in Victoria, within the Citadel, Castle Gardens – An Eco-Cultural Festival is also being held on Friday and Saturday. The locations, each with a musical theme, include St Michael Bastion (pop music), St Martin Bastion (classical), St John Bastion (chill-out) and Triq il-Foss (folk), with the participation of Emmanuel Delicata Winemaker and the Gozo Tourism Association.
Popular Maltese songs with the theme ‘Dejjem Tagħna’, interpreted by Claudette Pace, Renato, Olivia Lewis, Debbie Scerri, Ludwig Galea and Georgina, with a band conducted by Mro Dominic Galea, will entertain on Independence Square from 10pm onwards.
The open space within the Victoria Bus Terminus will host two events presented by Dynamic Promotions, The Free Rock Festival on Friday and The Free Dance Festival on Saturday from 10.30pm. Special guests include Ira Losco live in concert, supported by Red Electrik. For the first time Gozo will host a live digital concert, presented by top radio DJs with a number of top Maltese artists including Tenishia, Bengy, Duncan F, Luc Adams, Mykill & Kevin the Bongo man, Miss Roberta and Carl Bee, supported by live instruments including bongo players, guitars, percussions and drums.
Two re-enactments are being held on Saturday morning: the Xagħra Historical Re-enactment Organisation will demonstrate the raising of the flag of the Order of St John on the Citadel bastions at 9 a.m. (and the flags lowered at 7 p.m.) and from 9.45 a.m. the Qala Dramatic Society will re-enact a traditional Maltese wedding along the streets of the Citadel and in Cathedral square.
Two guided tours are being held, one from 10am to 1pm of the monasteries in Victoria: the Capuchins’, and St Augustine’s, ending with lunch (against a fee); and the second of the towers in Gozo and Comino by boat from the Mġarr ferry terminal, in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa, starts with Comino and proceeds to Dwejra. Tickets can be obtained by phoning 2215-6700.
At around 11am a Wings on Gozo air display is being held, with the ideal viewing point being the Citadel. A parade by the Police Band accompanied by policemen on horseback leaves St Francis Square at 11.30am passing through Palm Street, Republic Street and Cathedral Square. A lunchtime concert at the Gozo Cathedral with the participation of the Chorus Urbanus and Gaulitanus choirs starts at 12.30pm.
From 8 to 11pm an event with the theme ‘Il-Pjazza tal-Leġġendi’ includes animation built on Gozo’s legends, directed by Gorg Mizzi, and, from 9.30pm, highlights from the musical Il-Ħolma ta’ Ġużeppi, put on by the Don Bosco Oratory. A concert of sacred music with the participation of the Laudate Pueri choir is being held at St George’s Basilica at 9pm.
Throughout the evening, along Republic Street, Victoria, the Gozo Experience is being held, consisting of 14 stands representing each of the local councils in Gozo, with presentations of photography, art, gastronomy and local talent. From 8 p.m. to midnight there will also be the ‘The Borgo Experience’, with animation along the narrow streets of Victoria, including San Ġorġ tal-Ħaġar and Carmel Street, by Tama Tnabar and the Gruppo Sbandieratori e Musici ‘Maestri’ from Sicily.
The main attraction will be in Independence Square starting with the Central Dance Academy presenting highlights of The Unforgettable Dance Show at 8.30pm From 9.30-11.30pm an entertaining programme by Favourite Channel, presented by Karl and Romina, consisting of a live band conducted by Mro Paul Abela, six singers – Chiara, Georgina, Ludwig Galea, Leontine, Jade and Amber, fire-eating by Mario, Latin dancing by Pro Touch, illusions by Brian Role and Lola, and appearances by Gozitan artistes Miriam Christine and Francesca & Michaela.
A chill-out area in St George’s Square will see a performance by Chasing Pandora at 1am.
Sunday 16 May
As part of the Eco-Gozo programme, on Sunday there will be a nature walk at Għasri. The meeting place is at the Bus Terminus in Victoria at 9.30am, where transport will be provided. The walk starts at 10am from Għasri Square, going up to Ta’ Ġordan Light House, Wied l-Għasri, the Knisja tal-Patroċinju (Patronage Church) and Wied Sara, ending in Victoria.
The Notte Gozitana weekend ends with a Gozo Musical Tattoo on Sunday, 16 May, from 10.30am to 12.30pm Boy Scouts and Boys’ Brigades Bands from Scout Groups from Hamrun, St Venera, Marsa, Mosta, Naxxar, Msida, Cospicua will leave from a number of different locations in Victoria, including St Francis and St Augustine squares, the Capuchins, Pope John Paul II Street, Taċ-Ċawla and Fortunato Mizzi Street, and will proceed to Savina Square. From there, there will be a march past along Republic Street, ending with a fall out in Kennedy Square.
Meanwhile, the Federicus Rex Society are putting on a display of falconry and other birds of prey on St Michael Bastion at the Citadel. Charles Bezzina will give a lecture on Wartime Gozo in the shelter in Castle Hill at 11 a.m., when the Gruppo Sbandieratori e Musici ‘Maestri’ will parade from Savina Square through St Mary Street, Alfons Maria Hili Street, Palm Street, Republic Street and Cathedral Square.
Other attractions outside Victoria include: ‘IDEA’ a display of mosaic by Mary Portelli at Nadur Council; an open day at the Wistin Camilleri School of Art in Għajnsielem; and the opening of three towers. Din l-Art Ħelwa are opening Isopu Tower in Nadur and Dwejra Tower in San Lawrenz whilst Wirt Għawdex are opening Mġarr ix-Xini Tower in Xewkija.
The weekend will come to an end with an official concluding concert at 8pm at Independence Square by the Gozo Youth Wind Band and Orchestra directed by Mro. Joseph Grech.
All these activities are open to the public and are free of charge. For more information phone 2215-6700, e-mail [email protected], visit the website www.gozoculture.com or join the Facebook group gozoculture.com.
Lejlet Lapsi, Notte Gozitana featuring Gozo’s past, present and future. Don’t miss out.