The Menhir Qala Folk Group, accompanied by the Mayor of Qala, Mr. Paul Buttigieg, participated in the Lefkas International Folklore Festival, that was held between the 15th and the 23rd of August 2009. The group, made up of 22 adults, held high the Maltese flag on the Greek island after receiving an invitation from the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Lefkas.
Folk dance groups from the five continents reinforced through their performances the message of friendship, communication and cooperation. A total of 800 dancers, choreographers, musicians and singers participated in the folk festival.
The Lefkas International Folklore Festival is an opportunity for thousands of native and foreign visitors of the Greek island to get acquainted with and appreciate and enjoy the folk art and cultural heritage of other countries.
Lefkas is an island in the Ionian Sea on the west coast of Greece, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge.
The Gozitan group spent a day sightseeing in Athens before returning to Malta. The group paid a visit to the Embassy of Malta where it was welcomed by Ambassador Vella Laurenti. Mayor Buttigieg told Dr Vella Laurenti that the Gozitan group has extended an invitation for a folk group from Lefkada to visit Gozo in October this year.