Latest News: Festa Frawli 2010 - 11th April - 10:00 to 17:00 - Imgarr Parish Square
Now in it's fourth edition, this year Festa Frawli (Strawberry Festival) will be held on the 11th of April, starting from 10:00am, in the Imgarr parish square. The fragrant smell of Strawberries, their sweet, juicy taste, the lush colours of the Imgarr valley and the joyous sounds of live Maltese folk music will envelope your senses! The Imgarr square will be buzzing with activity for the Festa Frawli 2010!
Programme
Freshly picked strawberries on sale throughout the whole day
Smoothies, Milk Shakes, Desserts, Gourmet Dishes, and Childrens' Snacks all prepared on the spot with fresh strawberries by qualified chefs.
Strawberry Jams, preserves, Wine and other home made products for sale.
Typical Maltese Dishes and Snacks, including pasta, meat, salads and more.
Live Folk themed entertainment; ethnic music, dances and a variety of local acts.
Handmade artistic souvenirs specially designed for the Festival on sale.
Horse riding, games with animators, childrens' show and large playground.
Free Park and Ride: Ample parking area with transport to/from square.
Several stalls will be selling freshly picked strawberries, ferried to the square hourly by the farmers themselves. Qualified chefs will be preparing gourmet dishes such as strawberry risotto and soup. Also, strawberries with novel dressings such as balsamic vinegar can be savored at the chef's stalls. Drinks will include a variety of refreshing smoothies, milk shakes as well as strawberry wine.
The on-site kitchen will be serving mouth watering desserts including cakes, gateaux, ice creams (in edible chocolate cups!) as well as waffles, pancakes, tarts, fruit salads and of course chocolate dipped strawberries. And for the little ones, how about strawberries decorated with chocolates and sweets in the shape of cute mice and other fun animals! Regular snacks (sandwiches, rolls, salads etc), and also typical Maltese dishes will also be on sale.
Established Maltese ethnic music groups as well as folk dance troups and singers will be entertaining the public throughout the day. Many special moments and other surprised will also be unveiled during the event!
Children can enjoy the large playground right beside the parish square, take horse and pony rides, enjoy the talent show by local children as well as take part in the exciting games by the many animators. The Mgarr carftsmen have designed and made beutiful themed souvenirs, in a cosy country style, but with a few original touches. These handmade collectibles will be on sale at the crafters' stalls.
With Festa Frawli now firmly established as the agri-tourism event of the year, the enthusiastic organisers haven't rested on their laurels for this edition! The event has been expanded further, and beside the parish square, will be spread throughout the whole of Imgarr church area. Building on the numerous features which made the previous year's festival an unquestionable success, many surprises and additions await this years' visitors! Festa Frawli is a unique, fun filled day for the whole family, definitely not to be missed!
Transport
ADT Bus No.47 (which passes through Valletta, Floriana, Pieta, Msida, B'Kara, Mosta) stops right at the Mgarr Parish Square, right at heart of the event. To encourage the use of Public Transport, a raffle will be held with the bus tickets, so remember to keep yours!
If using your own transport, this map might come in usefull (use the arrows on your left). Remember, free Park and Ride will be available, with ample parking area and regular shuttle service to and from the parish square.
View Larger Map
Festa Frawli is organised exclusively by the 'Lejla Mgarrija' committee with support from the Mgarr local council, MRAE and the 'Naturalment Malti' campaign. It is a non profit event, put up volunteers with the sole intent of promoting the Maltese culture and Maltese products. All stalls and activities are put up and vetted by the organisers themselves, ensuring they meet a high quality standard. A multitude of established companies and organisations also contribute significantly, many of whom have been behind the event since it's inception, donating material, manpower and lending the necessary equipment. Farmers also donate freely their produce, including the strawberries, as well as their valuable time, helping throughout the day.
For More information contact us on: mgarrlc@gov.mt or telephone 21520011 / 27520011
http://www.lejlamgarrja.com
About Malta
| Capital
|
Valletta |
| Government
|
republic
|
| Currency |
Maltese
lira (MTL) |
| Area |
316 sq km |
| Population |
400,214
(July 2006 est.) |
| Language |
Maltese
(official), English (official) |
| Religion |
Roman
Catholic 98% |
| Electricity |
230V/50Hz
(UKplug) |
| Calling
Code |
+356
|
| Internet
TLD |
.mt
|
| Time
Zone |
UTC
+1 |
Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean
Sea that lies south of the island of Sicily, Italy. The
country is an archipelago, with only the three largest
islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino)
being inhabited.
History
Although small, Malta has a long and rich history, with
evidence for habitation going back to the Neolithic era
(4th millennium B.C.). The country boasts some of the
world's most ancient standing buildings (the Neolithic
temples), and its strategic location and good harbors
in the middle of the Mediterannean have attracted Phoenicians,
Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Crusaders, the French
and finally the British, with the colonial period lasting
until 1964.
The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also
known as the Knights Hospitallers, took over sovereign
control of Malta in 1530, and by 1533 the Order had built
a hospital at Birgu (one of the three cities) to care
for the sick. In 1565, Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan
of the Ottoman Empire, mounted a great siege of Malta
with a fleet of 180 ships and a landing force of 30,000
men. In response the Order, with only 8,000 defenders,
drove the Ottoman Turks away after a hard siege of several
months. After this siege, the Order founded the city of
Valletta on a peninsula, and fortified it with a massive
stone wall, which even withstood heavy bombing during
the Second World War. By 1575 the Order had built a large
hospital known as the Grand Hospital or Sacred Infirmary
in order to continue with its primary mission of caring
for the sick.
In 1798, the French under Napoleon took the island on
12 June, without resistance, when the Grand Master of
the Order capitulated after deciding that the island could
not be defended against the opposing French naval force.
French rule lasted a little over 2 years, until they surrendered
to the British Royal Navy, under Admiral Nelson's command,
in September 1800.
Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in
1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both
World Wars.
The island was awarded the George Cross for its heroic
resistance during the Second World War. An image of the
cross is displayed on the flag. The colors on the flag
are red and white, colors related to the Order of St.
John.
Independence
21 September 1964 (from UK)
National holidays
Freedom Day, 31 March (1979); Sette Giugno, 7 June (1919);
Feast of Our Lady of Victories, 8 September (1565); Independence
Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974).
Malta remained in the Commonwealth of Nations when it
became independent from Great Britain in 1964.
A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the
mid-1980s, the island has become a freight trans-shipment
point, financial center and tourist destination.
Malta gained European Union membership in May 2004.
Climate
Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers.
few rain
Terrain
Mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains, with a
coastline that has many coastal cliffs and numerous bays
that provide good harbors.
Highest point
Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
