An evening of folklore with the participation of four groups from Gozo, Italy, Portugal and the Czech Republic will bring to a close the ninth edition of Festival Mediterranea, organised by volunteers at the Astra Theatre to celebrate local culture.

Saturday’s folk evening, entitled L-Ghabex, starts at 7.30pm for a two-hour performance by the four participating folk groups at the theatre. Entrance is free of charge but donations to the Malta Community Chest Fund will be appreciated. The four groups participating are Astra Folk Group (Gozo), I Salviani (Italy), Grupo Etnográfico de Danças e Cantares do Minho (Portugal), and Dylen Folk Group (Czech Republic).

Besides closing this year’s edition of Festival Mediterranea, the evening is a highlight of a five-day international folklore festival being held by Astra Folk Group to commemorate its 40th anniversary.

The folk festival, being held in collaboration with Victoria local council, starts today and runs until Sunday. The first day includes two performances for the elderly in Gozo, at the Gozo Day Centre for the Elderly and at the Gozo General Hospital. Tomorrow morning the four groups will parade in the streets of Valletta, and in the evening participate in an evening performance, starting at 7.30pm, at Zejtun.

Friday morning sees the four participating groups take part in a flag hoisting ceremony in St Francis Square in Victoria, a folk show at the Gozo Sports Complex for school children, and an evening gala dinner and wine festival at St George’s Square in Victoria. In case of inclement weather, the evening activity will be transferred to the Astra Theatre.

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