This long weekend in the heart of Victoria, festivities will be taking place for the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, also known as Santa Marija.

With thousands of visitors expected to attend the celebrations, the Leone Philharmonic Society, together with Ghaqda Zghazagh Iljuni, are organising a variety of events which will be held throughout the city of Victoria, including solemn celebrations, band marches, street festivities, audio-visual and firework shows, to name but a few.

The programme of external activities for this weekend is as follows:

Saturday 13th August

9:30pm – The Leone Band (Victoria) and the Santa Marija Band (Zebbug) in Republic Street, salute the Santa Marija statue (1956).

10.00pm The bands march in a demonstration as the statue is carried shoulder high along Republic Street and to Independence Square.

The evening ends as the statue ascends on the grand plinth with the singing of Marian hymns at midnight in the city’s main square, with fireworks from the rooftops surrounding the square.Sunday 14th August

The traditional Santa Marija agricultural show is open at 10.30am for thousands of visitors at the Villa Rundle public gardens in lower Republic Street.

11:00am – Children’s Parade with the grand flag that flies on the Leone Band Club from the Gozo Cittadella to the Leone Band Club in Republic Street.

12.00pm – Party for the children in the Band Club.

5:30pm – Band march by the Leone Band from the main square to the Gozo Cittadella as a spectacle of daylight fireworks is let off from Gelmus Hill.

9:30pm – A grand triumphal march by the Leone Band (Victoria) and St Sebastian Band (Qormi) as thousands of revellers party from the Leone Band Club, with rooftop fireworks display, along Republic Street to traditional and festive chants ending in Sabina Square at 12.30am with a celebration that includes a spectacular firework shows synchronised to music organised by Gizaqda Zgliataez.Monday 15th August

Throughout the morning the traditional Santa Marija agricultural fair is open at the Villa Rundle public gardens in lower Republic Street. The prize giving ceremony takes place at 11.30am.

9:00am – Solemn high Mass presided by The Bishop of Gozo Mgr Anton Teuma at the Gozo Cathedral with the participation of choir and orchestra

11:00am – Traditional and popular band march in the historic centre of Victoria, passing through Victoria’s narrow streets. 12th May (Haz-Zebbug) and St Joseph (Hal-Ghaxaq) bands will participate.

2.15pm – The traditional and popular band march will finish in Savina Square with a spectacular fireworks show synchronised to music, organised by Ghaqda Zghazagh Iljuni

2:30pm – According to the current official programme the national and traditional street horse races will be held at this time in Republic Street, known by one and all as racecourse street.

6:45pm – Solemn procession, which will be led by Bishop Giovanni Cefai, with the Santa Marija statue (1896). The Leone Band performs the much-acclaimed cantata in honour of Our Lady “Per La Festa Di Maria Assunta In Cielo” (1913) in an emotional start of the procession which makes its way through the old streets of the city’s historic centre. Spectacular coloured fireworks are let off during the 4-hour procession during which the Leone Band performs.

8.00pm: Musical programme by the Victory Band (Xaghra) in Independence Square.

9:00pm – The Santa Marija statue is welcomed in lower Palm Street by the Franciscan Nuns who sing a cappella the Salve Regina in Gregorian plainchant from the terraces of their monastery.

Thousands of people join to witness the devotional scene of the procession before it starts its way up towards the Gozo Cittadella.

10:00pm – Spectacular and resounding fireworks spectacle lit from Gelmus Hill, visible from the Gozo Cittadella, coordinated by Vampa Organisations.

10:30pm – Solemn entrance of the Santa Marija statue inside the Gozo Cathedral with an aux flambaux gathering in the Cittadella’s main square and access road.

File Photographs by Alain Salvary

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