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This year's Malta Military Tattoo will take place on Saturday 9th October and Sunday 10th October at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) at Ta'Qali.

The word has its roots in the Dutch expression 'tap toe', which refers to the closing of the taps at the end of a night in the pub. To mallets used to shut the beer barrels caused a noise that sounded like a drum. That's how it came to be used as reference to the last military call at the time of curfews. Nowadays, the word is used to announce a large mass military celebration, offered as an evening entertainment.

The Tattoo will feature performances and parades by many of Malta's military groups and will also include guest appearances by groups from the UK, Sweden and Russia. The focus of all Tattoos is of course music and Malta's Tattoo will include various marching bands including The Armed Forces of Malta.

The Malta Military Tattoo grows in stature every year. The biggest spectacle of this year's event will be the massed band performances during the main programme and in the finale of each evening. The first tattoo on Malta was held in 2004 when it was called the Valletta Military Tattoo. Its name changed to the Malta Military Tattoo in 2007 when it moved venue to the Ta'Qali location and welcomed visiting bands from the Russian Federation, Borneo and Scotland. The extension to a three day tattoo in 2008 proved less successful, so the organisers have reverted to just two days this year.

Over 5000 people attended the tattoo in 2008 and organisers are expecting larger crowds this year. Tickets have been on sale since July and are available online or from the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre. Ticket prices vary according to seating section and cost either 18 or 28 Euro. The military has played a large part in the history of Malta, so for visitors this spectacle will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the past of this amazing island.