Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513813
14 Looking forward 2024 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 DECEMBER 2023 1 January – New embassy Japan opens an embassy in Malta at Tigne Point, Sliema. 5 January – Man. Utd women Manchester United Women play a friendly match against PSV Eindhoven from The Netherlands at the Tony Bezzi- na Stadium in Paola as part of the English team's winter training camp in Malta. 11-28 January – Baroque music Valletta Baroque Festival takes place with several musi- cal events taking place across Malta. 8 February – Football Malta will learn who its opponents in the fourth edi- tion of the UEFA Nations League are with the league phase draw for the male tournament happening in Paris. 9-13 February - Carnival Carnival is celebrated in Valletta and other towns, in par- ticular Nadur and Għaxaq. 2 March – Concert Rock and Pop Classics of the 80s and 90s concert pro- duced by The Gozo Youth Orchestra and 7SPP choir will be held at the Aurora Opera House in Victoria, Gozo. 14-16 March – Muzika, Muzika Fourth edition of Maltese song festival Muħika, Muħika takes place at the MFCC in Ta' Qali. 15-24 March - Musical Teatru Astra in Victoria, Gozo presents Leonard Bern- stein's West Side Story musical. 24 March - Concert Gigi d'Alessio accompanied by the Versatile Orchestra gives concert at MFCC in Ta' Qali. 29 March – Good Friday (PH) Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus with processions in which statues depicting the various stag- es of Christ's passion are paraded around the streets in several towns. 31 March – Easter/Freedom Day (NH) Malta celebrates 45 years since the departure of foreign military forces. But Christians will also celebrate East- er with the traditional runs with the statue of the Risen Christ in several towns and villages. 1 April – UNSC presidency Malta takes over the one-month rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for a second time after having captained the UN's top body in February 2023. 4 April – President's goodbye President George Vella's term in office is officially up. If parliament fails to choose a replacement, his term will be extended automatically until a new president is se- lected. 20 April – Opera Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème will be performed at the Aurora Theatre in Victoria as part of the 17th edi- tion of the Gaulitana music festival. 1 May – Workers' Day/EU anniversary (PH) Malta joins the rest of the western world to commemo- rate Workers' Day but the island also celebrates 20 years of EU membership. 24-25 May – Folk music Ritmu Roots Festival takes place at Argotti Gardens in Floriana and other locations, showcasing traditional folk music interwoven with contemporary sounds. Happening in Malta in