There are all kinds of festive events on the calendar for Malta in the run up to Christmas.

Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees was the special guest for the spectacular Coca Cola Music Awards which was held on 5th December at the MFCC in Valletta. The awards ceremony rewarded Malta's best musical performance and production talent. The Bee Gees star received an International Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.

Malta's Philharmonic Orchestra played a concert at the Manoel Theatre, Malta's national theatre, on 4th December in a programme that included works by Johann Straus Jnr, Rossini and Verdi. The orchestra will also perform a Christmas concert jointly with the St Monica Choir on 18th December at the Mdina Cathedral. In the new year they will play at Grand Concert at the Mediterranean Conference Centre on 31st January. Various works from Beethoven will feature as the orchestra is joined by guest violin soloist Sayaka Shoji.

A traditional German Christmas fair or Weihnachtsmarkt was held between 23rd and 27th November in the historic Messina Palace in Valletta. Visitors were able to sample a choice of traditional German Christmas treats such as Nurnberg Lebkuchen, Niederegger marzipan, gluhwein and bockwurst sausages. The market was held daily between 11am and 2pm, then again between 5pm and 7pm.

Malta shows some of its English heritage by putting on several pantomimes. These include Aladdin The Pantomime which will be put on at the Manoel Theatre, Valetta between the 18th December and 6th January 2010 with weekday shows starting at 7:30pm and two shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm and 8pm. There will be now shows on 24th, 25th and 31st December and 1st January.

Flythomascook.com provides a choice of flights to Malta during December.