So much to see, so little time. How often have you wondered what activities you could participate in with your kids, but do not have enough time to research everything that is happening at that particular moment in time?
BuzyMummy to the rescue! We have come up with a regular feature that details all the events and activities that are happening in Malta and Gozo, saving you some serious research time. From events and shows to sports events and activities, we will give you the low-down on what’s hot and upcoming, and more importantly, on what is suitable for your little stars. And what better time to launch than the month of December, when every parent is inundated with things to do, places to go and people to see?! So, here goes…
1) Christmas Season at Valletta Waterfront – 3rd – 31st December 2016 – Valletta Waterfront – Suitable for all ages – FREE Entrance.
The Valletta Waterfront takes on a Christmas Village feel with a mix of décor, music, food, and activities related to this magical time. A Christmas tree, over 35 feet tall, overlooks the central part of the promenade. Band music, choirs, cribs, market stalls and more. Children can visit Santa in his workshop and take photos with him and his helpers.
On weekends and public holidays, children can enjoy balloon modeling, face painting, crafts, games, colouring-ins, meet and greets with favourite characters, puppet shows, bouncy castles, and more. Season’s specials are planned with a baubles balancing display, a giant gift tetris, a ligh-up Rudolph’s nose challenge and a fun candy cane blowing machine!
The activities end with a bang on New Year’s Eve with live bands and roaming children’s animation. At the stroke of midnight, there will be an aerial fireworks display, with confetti on the promenade, overlooking our historic port and fortifications. Click here for more information
2) Christmas Magic at Popeye Village – 3rd December 2016 – 4th January 2017- Popeye Village – Suitable for all ages – Tickets are €10.50 for Adults and €8.50 for children.
Popeye Village turns into a Christmas Wonderland where the young and young at heart can enjoy a day of activities including the ever so magical Santa’s Toy Town – a whole village where children can witness first-hand how elves produce toys for all the children around the world to be delivered on Christmas Eve. Those visiting have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus together with all their fluffy mascots who will be performing their yearly Christmas parade. Everyone attending can join the Christmas-themed animation programme and children will be entertained by a special animation show and craft-making ventures.
3) Natalis Notabilis – 9th & 10th December 2016 (17:00-21:30); 11th December 2016 (09:00-12:30) – Rabat Town Square – Suitable for all ages – Free Entrance.
Natalis Notabilis is an annual event held in the heart of Rabat, Malta, transforming the town’s centre into a Christmas Wonderland. Over 60 stalls shall be participating during the Christmas Market, including ones with traditional German food, drinks, sweets and an array of artisan works, amongst others. Natalis Notabilis also boasts a Nativity trail, Santa Claus House, a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Fireworks, Puppet Shows, A spotlight performance by violinist Mario Ciantar, an evening of Music and Literature by Għaqda Poeti Maltin, The Malta Christmas Carol Festival, and Entertainment by L’Isle Adam Band. Click here for more information.
4) The Magical Christmas Concert – 9th December 2016 @ 19:30; 10th December @ 19:00; 11th December @16:00 – City Theatre Valletta – Suitable for all ages – Tickets – all at €10.
This Christmas, the City Theatre will turn into a winter wonderland with an energetic concert by the National Children’s Choir. The most beautiful Christmas and Disney songs will be performed to make the young and old sing and dance.
5) Jollywood Winter Fair – 10th December 2016 @ 12:00 – 17:00; 11th December @16:00 – QSI International School – Suitable for all ages – Free Entrance.
Bring out your best Christmas jumper and get ready for some serious Winter Cheer! There will be a huge variety of stallholders, artists and artisans, food trucks, a barbecue, family entertainment, pony rides, bouncy castles, and sumo suits, ice cream, candy floss, popcorn and American candy, Maltese Santa claus, crafts, decorations and second hand toys and books. Click here for more information.
6) Party with Mickey & Friends – 10th December 2016 @ 20:30-22:00; City Theatre, Valletta – Suitable for all ages – €10 child, 1 parent FREE
Meet your favourite Disney characters, Mickey and Minnie, and enjoy enchanting fun and games as joyful music fills the air as we sing along to some of the most beautiful Christmas songs while we play some games with Santa’s elves. Tickets are limited. Book yours today and if you’re also going to the Magical Christmas Concert, you’ll get a 50% discount on your EUR10 entrance.
7) Betlehem f’Għajnsielem 2016 – 11th December 2016 to 8th January 2017; Ghajnsielem Gozo – Suitable for all ages – FREE Entrance.
This life-sized animated village has enchanted thousands of visitors over the past 2 years. The nativity village is situated adjacent to the Għajnsielem main square, on the island of Gozo, just 5 mins walk from Mġarr Harbour. Appropriately called “Betlehem f’Għajnsielem”, this life-size crib, constructed over 20,000 square metre of fields on a stretch of land known as Ta’ Passi, comes to life during the month of December, with about 150 actors taking visitors back in time to Judeo of 2000 years ago. The atmosphere is simply unique…horses turn mills, villagers go about their jobs, shepherds inhabit caves, animals roam in enclosed spaces and a poor unknown couple tend their newly-born in a grotto… it promises to bring the timeless Christmas story to life as never before. Click here for more information.
8) Xmas Village @ Sunflower Pony Club – 17th December 2016 @ 10:00; Sunflower Pony Club, Maghtab – Suitable for all ages
A Christmas Village in aid of RMJ’s Horse Rescue. This charity helps horses in need and gives them a second change! Help to help! The event boasts pony rides, toy stalls, face painting, cart rides, wagon rides, food stalls, a bouncy castle and of course Santa!
9) Masha & The Bear: The Happiness Chest – 17th & 18th December 2016 – Hilton Hotel, St. Julians – Suitable for 2 years & over – Tickets cost between €10 and €30.
Feeling down on her luck one fine day, Masha sets off on musical adventure, in an attempt to fill her chest with happiness! The only problem is that she did not know where to find happiness – and therefore decided to venture into the forest to look for it there. This is where she meets a new bunch of animal friends who were also looking for their own happiness! Join Masha and help her make her and all her animal friends’ wishes come true during this musical adventure.
10) Circus Malta – Manoel Island – 8th December 2016 – 8th January 2017; Manoel Island, Gzira
Great fun for all the family! Click here for more information
11) Christmas by the Dock – 18th December 2016 @14:00 – 21:00 – Dock 1, Cospicua – FREE Entrance
An event promising some sound entertainment for all ages. Bands meet jugglers, Father Christmas, Dancers, Chefs, and animators to bring you quizzes, recipes, cooking fests and much more! Click here for more information.
12) Un-Believe It! – The Panto – 22nd December 2016 – 4th January 2017 – MFCC Ta’ Qali – Kids over 2 years – Tickets from €10.00
This year’s panto will see the return of Alan Montanaro as the Dame, and Nanette Brimmer as Director. Alan Montanaro is also the script writer, and the title #UNBELIEVEIT! was chosen from a phrase he had coined in Scrooge and which has since become a popular expression on social media. This pantomime will forever cement it into daily conversations! Alan Montanaro’s Dame, with her most unusual diction, expressions and mannerisms, is bound to entertain in the style which is unique to this actor. #UNBELIEVEIT! promises to live to the MADC guarantee for entertainment, providing gags and laughs, a large singing and dancing cast, spectacular costumes and set designs and… a flying car! Do not miss it!
13) A Trolls Event! – 30th December 2016 – Chateau Buskett @ 12:00 – 16:00 – Suitable for all ages – Tickets from €15.00
Upon entrance kids will be greeted by Colorful Trolls and asked to take a photo with our Trolls Themed Photo Stop. The Venue will then be all yours to explore ! We will have Trolls themed stations all around the venue that both Kids and Adults can participate in at their Leisure, including:
-Scrapbooking Station
-Glitter Tattoo Station
-Face Painting Station
-Painting/Messy Finger Station
-Balloon Pit
-GIANT trolls themed Games for all the Family
-Ride on Trolls Creatures
-& more…
Goody Bags and Treats will be handed out to every child upon departure. Click here for more information.
14) Ahoy Animation Kids Christmas Party – 29th December 2016 -@ 18:00 – 20:30 – Beachclub Hall, Marsaskala – Suitable for all ages – Tickets from €15.00, parents invited for free.
Ahoy Animation Team invites all Kids Aged 3 to 8 Years Old to come for a fun filled party with Paw Patrol Marshall , Minnie & Mickey Santa Claus & his Elf, SuperMan , Snow white & Elsa. 2 hours 30 minutes of great atmosphere, lot’s of games, singing and dancing in our fairytale castle. Click here for more information.
15) Breakfast with Santa! 23rd December 2016 – Inspire, Marsaskala – Suitable for all ages – Tickets:€7.00/ €12.00
Ho! Ho! Ho! Inspire’s annual breakfast with Santa will be held on the 23rd December at Inspire malta, in Marsascala. Children’s tickets include participation in all activities, a free gift for every child, full cooked breakfast and drink. Adults are also welcome to join – adult tickets include full cooked breakfast and coffee. Click here for more information.
16) Puss in Boots – A Traditional Christmas Pantomime – 23rd December 2016 – 3rd January 2017; Manoel Theatre, Valletta – 3 years and over – Tickets from €18.50.
This Christmas season, Masquerade Theatre Company returns with another action-packed laugh-out-loud Christmas Pantomime. Following past panto successes such as Little Red and You Know Who and The Curse of Snow White, this year’s audiences will be treated to the story of Puss in Boots. Written by Malcolm Galea, who will also be making a return in ther ole of dame following 2014’s unforgettable Auntie Patka, the show will be directed by Anthony Bezzine, with musical direction in the hands of Kris Spiteri, Vocal Coaching by Tina Gatt Frendo and choreography by Elena Zammit. The cast lists Stephen Oliver, Joseph Zammit, Tina Rizzo, Anton Saliba, Analise Cassar, Gianni Selvaggi, Michela Farrugia, Michela Mifsud, Joe Depasquale, and Katherine Brown in the title role. Puss in Boots will also delight audiences with its fabulous all-singing, all-dancing chorus. Click here for more information.
More events!:
H’Attard Christmas Fest – 18th December 2016 @08:00 – 20:30 – Attard – Suitable for all ages – €10 child, 1 parent FREE.
Għaqda Armar Mastru Karm Debono is hosting a Christmas Festival in Attard. They promise an unforgettable day jam packed with entertainment for all the family. The event promises magical corners for kids, market stalls, food and drink, live performances and raffles all day long. Click here for more information.
Ludi Xmas Party – 14th -16th December 2016 @08:00 – 20:30 – Attard – ages indicated below – €12/ child, parents FREE.
Activities, games, crafts, music, face-painting and fun, all very Christmas-style. But not only…we’re also preparing shows, surprises and a little present coming directly from Santa. The party will end, as always, with a very special vegetarian home made buffet, specially thought for the little ones. Book here: https://v1.bookwhen.com/
We hope you find this feature useful. Click here to follow the BuzyMummy Malta page on Facebook and keep up to date with future child-friendly events in Malta and Gozo. If you wish to suggest any additional activities or events please contact us on hello@buzymee.com.
We wish you health and happiness this festive season.
