Ħal Għargħur on Malta has one feast in the 2026 church calendar: St Bartholomew on Sunday, 30 August 2026.
The biggest one is the feast of St Bartholomew, run by the Ħal Għargħur parish.
And in 2027?
The 2027 date comes when the Archdiocese publishes it. Most feasts move to a Sunday that suits the parish, so we do not guess.
What is a festa?
A festa is a village party for the saint of the parish church. The church is lit up with thousands of bulbs and the streets are hung with flags and statues.
The days before the feast are full of band marches. On the eve there are often fireworks. On the day itself the statue of the saint is carried through the streets.
Anyone can go. It is free, it goes on late, and there is usually a stall selling nougat and hot snacks. Wear comfortable shoes and expect crowds near the church in Ħal Għargħur.
Good to know before you go
Parking near the church is hard on feast days. Take the bus, or leave the car at the edge of Ħal Għargħur and walk in.
Fireworks are loud, so small children and dogs may not enjoy them. To go inside the church, cover your shoulders and knees.
Times change from year to year. The parish office and the local band club share the full programme a few weeks before the feast.
The Ħal Għargħur festa, up close
Parish church: Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Bartilmew
The church and the saint
Għargħur celebrates St Bartholomew at the end of August. The parish church is the Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Bartilmew, with the office at 10 Triq Ferdinand. The Archdiocese says building began in 1610 and that Bishop Alpheran consecrated the church on 22 April 1736.
Before you go
Għargħur sits on a ridge above Naxxar with views to the sea, and the fireworks are visible from far below. The bus from Valletta via Naxxar ends at the village. It is a small feast with narrow streets, so it is a good one if you want to stand close to the band.
Inside the parish
The church is dedicated to the Apostle St Bartholomew. The parish has two choirs, Kor Pax Christi and Kor Angel Voices, and prayer groups including the Għaqda Familji Nsara and the Għaqda Kariżmatiċi Magnificat. The office on Triq Ferdinand opens on Monday and Friday afternoons. The village stands on the ridge of the Victoria Lines, the old British defensive wall, which makes a good walk before the evening starts.
Ask the parish
The Archdiocese page gives 21411853 as the parish office number. The village is Ħal Għargħur in Maltese; Madliena is the next village along the ridge and Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq the bay below.
Around the parish
The Archdiocese page gives the parish office hours as Monday and Friday from 4.00pm to 5.30pm. Swieqi and Pembroke lie below the ridge on the coast side.