Żejtun will today continue celebrating with its olive festival, entitled Żejt iż-Żejtun.

The festival, which started yesterday, celebrates the opening of the olive harvest, the pressing of olives and their preservation.

The event, organised by Żejtun council for the past five years, in co-operation with the Secretariat for Local Government and the Malta Tourism Authority, started with a defilé of village folk and farmers carrying the olive harvest for blessing.

A re-enactment of the blessing of olives included characters from the Knights of St John, folk singers and dancers and band marches.

Maltese bread (ftajjar)with freshly-pressed oliveoil is being distributed to visitors to taste during the two-dayfestival.

The two band clubs and cultural centres in Żejtun will be open for the public.

St Catherine of Alexandria parish church by Lorenzo Gafà, its crypt, oratory and belfry, will also be open to visitors.

St Gregory’s church, which doubled as a watch tower 400 years ago, will be open.

The streets and squaresof the old quarters will also be alive today with music, dancing and commedia dell’artepresentations.

People using public transport from Valletta should use routes 81 and 84.