Event Details
L-Imnarja: Malta's Oldest and Most Beloved Folk Festival
L-Imnarja (pronounced lim-NAR-ya) is Malta's most important traditional festival and one of the oldest continuously celebrated events in the Mediterranean. It takes place every year on 28 and 29 June at Buskett Gardens, near the medieval walled city of Rabat. The festival uniquely combines a religious harvest feast, Malta's agricultural heritage, traditional folk music and a vibrant open-air community celebration. The 29th of June is a public holiday in Malta.
The name derives from the Latin word luminaria (illumination), recalling the fires and torches that once lit the rooftops of Mdina Cathedral and the city bastions to honour Saints Peter and Paul. The feast predates the arrival of the Knights of St John in 1530 and remains one of the few events that weaves together Malta's pre-Christian, chivalric and modern history into a single living tradition.
Program
Celebrations begin on 28 June from 6:00 PM at Buskett Gardens with the opening of the exhibitions and continue into the early hours of the following morning. On 29 June from 7:00 AM, the programme resumes until around midday. The festivities are traditionally opened by the reading of the Bandu, an official government proclamation that has been read annually in the streets of Valletta, Mdina and Rabat since the 16th century.
- 28 June from 6:00 PM: Opening of exhibitions for fruit, vegetables and rabbits at Buskett Gardens
- Traditional parade of Karrettuni and Karozzini (historic horse-drawn carts and carriages) from Saqqajja Hill to Buskett
- Equine Show with horse displays
- Traditional għana folk music, dancing and local food throughout the evening
- 29 June from 7:00 AM: Continuation of livestock exhibitions and horse and donkey races on the road between Rabat and Siggiewi
- Maltese Breeds Canine Show
- Presentation of the Palji, traditional embroidered victory banners, to race winners
Highlights
- Malta's oldest folk festival with over 500 years of unbroken history
- Traditional għana folk music, Malta's unique style of improvised sung poetry
- Historic horse and donkey races with presentation of the Palji victory banners
- Large agricultural show with livestock, fruit, vegetables and local produce
- Traditional Fenkata, Maltese rabbit stew, served with local wine
- Night picnic under the ancient trees of Buskett Gardens
- Atmospheric evening setting in Malta's only significant woodland area
- Free entry for all visitors
Fenkata: The Taste of L-Imnarja
The Fenkata, a slow-cooked rabbit stew with red wine, garlic, tomatoes and Maltese herbs, is the undisputed dish of the festival. According to legend, the Knights of St John only permitted the Maltese population to hunt and eat wild rabbit during L-Imnarja. This special permission made the dish a symbol of freedom and celebration for the people of Malta. Preparation begins the evening before to allow the flavours to develop fully. Stalls throughout Buskett Gardens serve the dish throughout the festival.
Visitor Tips
- Arrive early to claim a picnic spot under the trees; the best spots fill up quickly.
- Public buses to Rabat (Buskett stop) are the recommended way to get there; parking nearby is very limited.
- Enjoy dinner on site: Fenkata and local wine are available at food stalls throughout the gardens.
- The festival is free and open to all; the atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly.
- Book hotels in Rabat, Mdina or Valletta well in advance, as the 29 June public holiday means high demand.
- Evenings are warm in late June but a light jacket is useful for the late-night hours.
