Quartu is preparing to celebrate its patron saint, Saint Helena, with a long program of religious ceremonies and civic events, from September 7th to 20th, which was unveiled this morning. The town's twinning with Malta will be the centerpiece, with the performance of the Għaqda Mużikali Sant'Elena AD 1919 marching band . The concert featuring music stars will be missing. In its place, the Pinguini Tattici Nucleari cover band and the live show Voglio Ritorno Nel 90 will perform.
"Malta and Quartu are united by their love for Saint Helena," said parish priest Don Alfredo Fadda, "and this love becomes an opportunity for encounter, understanding, and friendship. We hope this twinning is the beginning of a journey of mutual respect, communion, and true friendship between our communities and our peoples."
The three-day prayer period in preparation for the feast will begin on September 7th at 10:00 a.m. in the basilica, which will also take place on Tuesday, September 8th and Wednesday, September 9th. The celebrations will officially begin on Thursday, September 10th at 7:00 p.m. in Sa dom'e Farra, with greetings from Father Fadda and the city authorities, and the opening of the free-entry exhibitions "Table Grapes and the Harvest" and Stefania Cogoni's traditional local and Sardinian artwork.
On Friday the 11th, one of the festival's traditional events will return: Enomusica in Via Porcu, featuring local flavors and music, tastings, and the island's finest wineries.
On Saturday the 12th, starting at 10:00 a.m., there will be a traveling concert by the Malta music band, followed by the cycling race and the Pinguini Tattici Nucelari cover band "Steal My Night" on stage. Sunday the 12th is the big day for the procession with the statue of the Saint, accompanied by committees, associations, knights, brotherhoods, and folk groups, followed by the dialect poetry competition.
On Monday the 14th, the feast day of Saint Helena, the 11:30 a.m. Mass will be celebrated by Monsignor Moè Marcia, Bishop of Nuoro, and in the evening there will be a live show, "I Want to Return to the 90s." Tuesday the 15th will feature dialect comedy. After a short break, the festival will resume on Friday the 18th with basketball tournaments, while Saturday the 19th is the big day of the Grape Festival, featuring the carts of the Quartu farmers. The festival will start on Via Cecoslovacca and arrive in the basilica's courtyard with the blessing of the carts, followed by the folk show "Sounds and Melodies of Sardinia." The festival concludes on Sunday the 20th with the Qurri race.
