The second edition of the Valletta Pageant of the Seas, a unique, large-scale spectacle providing entertainment for the whole family will be back on the 7th June at 5.30pm in the Grand Harbour as part of the Valletta 2018 Cultural Programme.
This year’s edition of the Valletta Pageant of the Seas will include a number of competitive races, swimming challenges, a regatta, powerboat and sailing boat shows, audio-visual projections, music, fireworks and much more. The programme spans throughout the afternoon and evening of the public holiday, hosting fun sport activities by day, and colourful celebrations by night.
One of the highlights of the day is the Grand Entry, an epic pageant during which the character of the Grandmaster will enter the Grand Harbour on the Fernandes, accompanied by a number of boats, disembarking at Pinto 5. Private boat owners are encouraged to take part in this pageant. After the Grand Entry, private boat owners will have the opportunity to anchor their boats in a designated area in the harbour, from where they can enjoy the rest of the show.
Other activities include Għawma Toni Bajada – a fun swimming challenge in which swimmers can register to swim from Fort St Angelo to Valletta – and Tellieqa Toni Bajada – a 2km long aquatic race in the form of a triangle, starting and finishing at the Barriera Wharf slipway. Around two hundred swimmers will be taking part in this race.
Participants may also use their creativity to create their own rafts which they can race during Tellieqa Telliqun. The participating rafts may be created using various materials, however, they cannot include motors or oars.
Regatta boats, pertaining to both Maltese regatta clubs as well as international guests, will race from the Old Customs House down to Ras Hanżir and back, while twelve Chaudron boats and twenty-eight sailing boats will also be entertaining those present with their respective choreographies in the Grand Harbour.
Celebrations go on till the late evening. After sundown, the Grand Harbour will be animated with projections on a water curtain, a show by La Fura Dels Baus, as well as a large-scale pyrotechnic show for the grand finale, which includes aerial fireworks from various floats rigged in the water, as well as from Fort Ricasoli.
Valletta 2018 Chairman Jason Micallef said “With the Valletta Pageant of the Seas, our majestic Grand Harbour will act as a theatre stage. This is a special edition which will take up to six hours. This is a highlight of the Valletta 2018 Cultural Programme. I would like to thank all those particiapting and encourage the public to join us in the Grand Harbour.”
“The Valletta Pageant of the Seas is the relationship between Valletta and the Sea which surrounds it, from the formation of the city, to the fact the throughout the ages, these same seas were Valletta’s entire being. This event will celebrate a number of Maltese characteristics in a site which we are very well known for the Grand Harbour,” said Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Protection and Valletta 2018 Deo Debattista.
Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici said that “Malta has achieved numerous accomplishments in the culture sector during the past few years and Valletta 2018 celebrations are a clear example of the successes this country has seen in this sector. The Valletta Pageant of the Seas has something to offer for everyone including competitive races, a visual spectacle on the sea, music and even fireworks. This event brings together many aspects of Maltese culture. This will yet again be a great feast which will become part of the huge successful celebrations of our country and our capital. This is definitely a spectacle which is not worth missing.”
This event is being organised by the Valletta 2018 Foundation, in collaboration with In Guardia Parade, the Malta Tourism Authority, Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club, the Malta Rowing Association, Chaudron Powerboats, Surfside Charter Company Ltd, Mad About Video Ltd, La Fura Dels Baus, St Catherine’s V.M. Musical Society Żurrieq, St George’s Fireworks Factory and Independent Fireworks Factory Qrendi. Supported by the Armed Forces of Malta, the Malta Police Force, the Civil Protection Department, Red Cross, the respective Valletta, Floriana, Senglea and Kalkara local councils, Arts Council Malta and Heritage Malta.
For full programme of events and more information visit valletta2018.org.
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
The Valletta Pageant of the Seas 2018
Thursday, 7th June, 2018
TELLIEQA TONI BAJADA
A 2km aquatic race, starting and finishing at the Barriera Wharf Slipway. Around two hundred trained swimmers will be participating in this triangle-shaped race.
Organised by: Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club
Supported by: Red Cross, the Civil Protection Department and ALE rafts
Time: 4.30pm
THE GRAND ENTRY
The Grandmaster, accompanied by In Guardia, enters the Grand Harbour on the Fernandes – which will be decorated for the occasion – accompanied by a group of privately owned boats. The Fernandes sails to Pinto 5, where the Grandmaster and In Guardia members disembark. Private boat owners are instructed to either leave the harbour or anchor their boats in the designated area in the harbour.
Time: 5.30pm
REGATTA
Eight Maltese regatta boats and eight international ones race from Old Customs House to Ras Hanżir and back.
Time: 6.15pm
TELLIEQA TELLIQUN
A fun race around the harbour on hand-made rafts without the use of motors or rowing. All rafts are manufactured by participants from recycled material.
Time: 6.45pm
GĦAWMA TONI BAJADA
A straight-line swim between Fort St Angelo and Barriera Wharf slipway. All swimmers will embark the Atlantis boat alongside the Old Fisheries and disembark by Fort St Angelo, where the race begins.
Organised by: Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club
Supported by: Red Cross, ALE and the Civil Protection Department
Time: 7.00pm
CHAUDRON POWERBOAT SHOW
Twelve Chaudron boats enter the Grand Harbour to produce a 15-minute choreography
Time: 7.45pm
AWARDS CEREMONY
The handing over of the Palju from the 2016 winners to the new 2018 winners. Includes band performances.
8.00pm – 9.00pm
SAILING BOAT SHOW
Twenty-eight sailing boats, decorated with flags and fairy lights, enter the harbour from Kalkara yacht marina to perform a 20-minute choreography.
Time: 9.00pm
CHOIR
Choir perform a piece from the new opera, Aħna Refugjati
Time: 9.20pm
ANIMATED PROJECTIONS
The Grand Harbour is animated with audio-visual projections on a water curtain
Time: 9.45pm
LA FURA DELS BAUS
A show by Spanish theatrical group, La Fura Dels Baus
Time: 10.05pm
GRAND FINALE
A special pyrotechnic show in the Grand Harbour, involving fireworks on a number of floats rigged in the harbour, as well as aerial fireworks from Fort Ricasoli
Time: 11.00pm