Great Beer and Food in a Unique Atmosphere

The Farsons Great Beer Festival celebrates its 23rd edition this year. The Festival is being held at the Ta' Qali National Gardens, between Friday 25th July and Sunday 3rd August 2003 at 8.00pm daily. An annual fun festival for all the family, this event offers an array of 'live' entertainment by top Maltese singers, bands and DJs.

The entertainment, spread on all the ten days of the Beer Festival, is aimed to suit the mood of this event, which has been an annual appointment for many Maltese and tourists alike. With twelve bars, two stages, over sixty live performances, a children's play area and a daily beer drinking competition, the Festival will be sure to appeal to everyone. And, as in previous years, entrance is free.

"This year's Farsons Great Beer Festival offers a great Festival atmosphere with plenty of entertainment for all the family. It is set to break the previous records in being the biggest and most diverse Festival organised in Malta," said Farsons General Manager - Marketing & Export, Mr Ray Grech.

The main feature of the Festival is, of course, the beer. The largest range of local brews and international award-winning beers will be served from 12 different bars. Visitors can choose from an array of great quality beers, including the local ones produced by Farsons. These include Cisk Lager, Hopleaf Smooth 'N' Creamy, and Blue Label Smooth 'N' Creamy. International beer brands include Cisk Export, Carlsberg, Budweiser, Guinness, Beck's, John Smith, Kilkenny and Tetley's.

Beer enthusiasts also have the opportunity to enjoy the new Summer Festival 2003 Premium Golden Lager. This is the first brew of a new Farsons Special Brews series, consisting of four brews of the highest quality, each linked to the different seasons of the year. Summer Festival 2003 is available in limited quantities.

For the first time this year, the Farsons Great Beer Festival is offering an official Festival mug to beer drinkers to carry back home with them. The mug can be purchased at the Classic Brews Bar during the Festival. A limited stock of these mugs makes them a unique collector's item.

Apart from the variety of beer and food stalls serving international cuisines, light meals and snacks, visitors can also enjoy live music. The Festival is a display of Maltese talent from a number of top local singers, bands, dancers and DJs.

Every evening different shows are presented on both the Main Stage and the World Beers Stage. Well-known singers such as Freddie Portelli, Lynn Chircop, Fabrizio Faniello, Ira Losco, Karen Polidano, The William Mangion Show Band, Mike Spiteri, Gianni & Friends, Philippa Farrugia Randon, The Red Band, Joe Cutajar & Bayzo's Klikka, Tony Camilleri, Enzo & Carmen Gusman, Ivan Spiteri Lucas, Just James, Country Brothers, Winter Moods, and Chain Unplugged, amongst others, will be singing on the Main Stage.

A look at the programme in The World Beers Area shows the names of bands such as Corkskrew, Beangrowers, Hooligan, Filletti & Friends, Skyn, Tabooz, Lumiere, Bitterside, Crosswalk and Scar to name a few. Every night a DJ will perform after each band keeping the music going till the early hours of the morning. These include Spooky Monkey, Miss Roberta, DJ Ruby, Steve Caeser, J Joy, Jes, Owen Jay and Toby.

Mr Matthew Cuomo, Beer Festival Organiser said, "The World Beers Area, introduced in recent years, with live performances by top local rock bands and DJs has quickly become an alternative night out for many young people."

The Farsons Great Beer Festival has been a remarkable success, largely due to the fact that it offers big fun for everyone. A number of roving entertainers such as animators, stilt-walkers, and human statues create a truly festival atmosphere.

The Festival also offers fabulous fun for kids of all ages. Apart from various games and activities animators will be keeping the kids busy with various games while mum and dad can wander off to the bar for a beer.

The Ta' Qali National Park has ample parking facilities and is easily accessible from various parts of the island.

"The Farsons Great Beer Festival has truly become synonymous with the Maltese summer. In fact, we have even had tourists asking about the Festival early in the year to enable them to plan their holiday around this event. The Farsons Great Beer Festival has become the summer event which they would not like to miss," commented Mr Pierre Stafrace, Farsons Marketing Manager.

A schedule of the performances on both the Main Stage and the World Beers Stage is available here: www.farsons.com/beerfestival.