As a starting point, all villages are more than ever eager to host their traditional feasts dedicated to their patron saints. It’s time to have the streets decorated with banners and streamers and saints on pedestals. Joyful band marches, confetti and merrymaking will ensure that the crowds will be pleased. The celebrations and decorations inside the churches will be a panoply, tuned to full splendour and regalia. Hearing the sacred music intoned or belted out by the choirs and soloists, accompanied once again by full orchestras will be truly evocative. As the fireworks light up the sky this year, the passionate, enthusiastic volunteers that are the backbone of the traditional festa organization will feel accomplished and the audience will be left mesmerized.
Feasts are usually a weekend event, but by no way are the rest of the days boring. There’s a stage for every day of the week in Gozo summer. Mondays will bring back ‘Marsalforn Mondays’, where live performances will be held in various spots along the Marsalforn promenade every Monday. On Tuesdays, it’s time to head to Victoria. ‘City Tuesdays’ will feature artists performing live in various squares and it will be the perfect time to enjoy a glass of wine while mingling with the locals. ‘Qala Wednesdays’ and ‘Xagħra Thursdays’ will be another treat for music lovers in the ambience of the local village square. Friday’s the call of the Mġarr Harbour and the village of Għarb in the weekly appointment of Gozo events.
A variety of music events, covering a broad spectrum of genres will be on stage at ‘Mġarr Fridays’ and the Visitation Square in Għarb will be the stage for other musical performances. ‘I love Xlendi’ Saturdays return along with the atmosphere of the summer-long fire torches along the cliffs of the bay. Band performances and other events like the International Food Festival return as ‘Summer in the Square’ in Xewkija with the famous Rotunda acting as the unique backdrop. The stage on Sunday is at Nadur’s main square.
Summer in Gozo is not only about music. Summer Nights on Saturdays and Sundays at the Għajnsielem square will host activities such as traditional games, quizzes, tombola or bingo, walking tours, and open-air cinema nights among others.
While the above events will be ongoing throughout July, August and September, Gozo is still offering more. Concerts by established artists and musicians, wine festivals, carpets of flowers at the infiorata and the fireworks displays have all once again found themselves in Gozo’s summer 2022 calendar. The Gozo Film Festival, The Xlendi Sunset Festival, The Qala Folk Festival and the Victoria International Arts Festival are thankfully back as typical Gozo events.
There is no doubt that we have had enough of being away from all that gives life to our souls. Rest assured that Gozitans are intent on making up for the lost opportunities and this summer events, festivals, events and feasts testify to this.
Summer 2022 is about Gozo’s promise that everywhere you go something is happening. It’s good to join this crowd that’s all whetted to have a renaissance of celebrations in the middle of the Mediterranean.
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