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Festa San Lawrenz 2025 – Full Schedule & Travel Guide to Birgu’s Most Iconic Celebration


Entrance to Birgu at Couvre Port dressed in festa flags and decorations for St Lawrence Feast in August, a key event in Vittoriosa Malta
Entrance to Birgu at Couvre Port dressed in festa flags and decorations for St Lawrence Feast in August, a key event in Vittoriosa Malta.

If you’re visiting Malta this summer, you’re in for a spectacular cultural experience. Every August, the historical city of Birgu (Vittoriosa) comes alive with colour, music, and fireworks for Festa San Lawrenz – the grand celebration in honour of the city’s patron saint, St Lawrence.

This year, Sunday, 10 August 2025 marks the peak of the feast. But the build-up begins over a week earlier, with events like Ħruġ Minn Niċċa, the Te Deum, and the Marċ ta' Filgħodu capturing the heart of tradition and faith.

Here’s your full 2025 guide, with the complete schedule, must-see events, and tips on where to stay.

Statue of St Lawrence carried during the traditional August procession in Birgu, Malta’s historic celebration known as Festa San Lawrenz
Statue of St Lawrence carried during the traditional August procession in Birgu, Malta’s historic celebration known as Festa San Lawrenz.

🗓️ Festa San Lawrenz 2025 Schedule – Updated for Birgu St Lawrence Feast 2025


📍 Thursday, 31 July – Ħruġ Minn Niċċa

  • 8:00 AM–12:00 PM: Morning fireworks (murtali tal-bomba) light up Birgu’s skies

  • 8:00 PM: Festa officially begins with the first pyrotechnic night display, including ground-based shows and Spanish-style colour shells from the St Lawrence Church area


📍 Sunday, 3 August – Youth March & Fireworks

  • 8:00 PM: Żgħażagħ march through Birgu’s core

  • 11:30 PM: Fireworks show synchronised to music from San Gwann Tower – a dazzling nighttime spectacle


Interior of St Lawrence Church in Birgu Malta during the August San Lawrenz Feast, with traditional red festa drapes and baroque ceiling art
Interior of St Lawrence Church in Birgu Malta during the August San Lawrenz Feast, with traditional red festa drapes and baroque ceiling art.

📍 Thursday, 7 August – Band Concert Night

  • 8:30 PM: St Lawrence Band musical program with fireworks throughout the evening


📍 Friday, 8 August – L-Antivigilja (Eve of the Eve)

  • 9:00 PM: Statue of St Lawrence illuminated and carried in a moving display of devotion, accompanied by fireworks and lantern-lit streets

  • 12:00 AM: Midnight fireworks (kaxxa infernali) light up the sky above the San Gwann Tower


📍 Saturday, 9 August – Lejlet il-Festa (Eve of the Feast)

  • 9:45 AM – Te Deum & Marċ ta’ Filgħodu: A joyful morning march with brass bands, religious salutes, and the celebratory Te Deum hymn through the historic streets of Birgu – a local favourite full of energy and festa spirit

  • 12:00 PM: Loud noonday fireworks echo across the Grand Harbour

  • 7:00 PM: Religious procession of the St Lawrence relics to the Collegiate Church

  • 10:00 PM: "Notte di San Lorenzo" fireworks display over Birgu’s skyline – the most vibrant night of the week

  • Street celebrations, confetti, rooftop pyrotechnics, and dancing continue into the early hours


📍 Sunday, 10 August 2025 – Jum il-Festa (Feast Day)

  • 8:00 AM: Early morning festa salutes and traditional bomb salvos

  • 11:00 AM: Solemn Pontifical Mass at St Lawrence Church

  • 12:00 PM: Powerful midday fireworks (murtaletti)

  • 7:15 PM: Procession with the statue of St Lawrence, followed by the main firework spectacle of the festa – musical fireworks, tower salutes, and dramatic rooftop bursts

  • 9:00 PM: Grand finale: synchronised display from San Gwann Tower with coordinated colours and sound.

Spectacular fireworks show over Birgu’s Grand Harbour during Notte di San Lawrenz in August, part of the St Lawrence Feast celebrations in Malta
Spectacular fireworks show over Birgu’s Grand Harbour during Notte di San Lawrenz in August, part of the St Lawrence Feast celebrations in Malta.

🎇 Watch Notte di San Lawrenz Fireworks from Your Stay

Both Seagull Studio and Seagull Waterfront Home offer direct views of the spectacular Notte di San Lawrenz fireworks over Birgu’s Grand Harbour. Thanks to its elevated patio, Seagull Waterfront Home provides an even more panoramic vantage point — perfect for enjoying the show in comfort, above the crowds. Experience the magic of Malta’s most iconic festa right from your doorstep.


🏡 Where to Stay in Birgu for the San Lawrenz Feast?

Birgu’s streets are alive during the festa week — and where you stay can define your experience. Whether you prefer a modern hideaway or a traditional waterfront home, we’ve got you covered:


🌊 Seagull Studio – Waterfront Petite Retreat for Two


Perfect for couples or solo travellers, Seagull Studio offers a front-row view of the festa fireworks with unbeatable privacy.


✅ Sea views, private entrance✅ Air-conditioned, high-speed Wi-Fi✅ Compact kitchen, washer/dryer, Nespresso📍 Just steps from St Lawrence Church and the heart of the action

🔗 Enquire or book via: www.seagullbirgu.com



🏠 Seagull Waterfront Home – Traditional Maltese Home for Groups or Families


Looking for more space, comfort, or a family-friendly option? Seagull Waterfront Home is ideal for small groups or families wanting to experience the festa from a traditional Maltese home.


✅ Spacious rooms with historic features✅ Fully equipped kitchen and living area✅ Multiple balconies overlooking Birgu’s iconic marina✅ Perfect spot to watch fireworks from home

Whether it’s enjoying coffee with church bells in the background, or watching the procession from your balcony, this home gives you a local experience you won’t forget.

📍 Enquire or book via: www.seagullbirgu.com




🎯 Why You Shouldn’t Miss Festa San Lawrenz


  • 🇲🇹 Authentic Malta: This festa is an emotional celebration of Birgu’s history, identity, and spirituality

  • 🎆 World-Class Fireworks: Synced musical shows, rooftop towers, and colourful barrages

  • 🕯️ Spiritual Traditions: Join in the Te Deum, morning marches, and processions

  • 🏛️ History All Around You: Festa unfolds against a backdrop of bastions, churches, and cobbled alleys


🧭 Travel Tips

  • Book accommodation by mid-July – Birgu fills up early

  • Stay from 30 July to 11 August to experience the full week

  • Dress light, bring earplugs for fireworks, and walk as much as possible to soak in the festa energy

  • Don’t miss the Marċ ta’ Filgħodu on 9 August – it’s a local highlight


📍 Whether you want music, heritage, community, or the best fireworks in Malta – Festa San Lawrenz 2025 is unmissable. Stay at Seagull Studio or Seagull Waterfront Home and experience it the local way.


🎇 Book your Birgu stay now:🌐 www.seagullbirgu.com



 
 
 

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