August in Malta doesn’t really have quiet weekends. Somewhere on the islands, a village is dressed head to toe in bunting, a banda is marching through narrow streets, and the sky is about to light up. This really is festa season at its peak, the month when more patron saints get celebrated than any other, and pretty much every corner of Malta and Gozo gets its turn.

If you’re not familiar with the tradition, a festa is a village’s celebration of its patron saint, built around a mix of solemn church processions, brass band marches, elaborate street decorations, fireworks displays, and, importantly for anyone reading this for the food, stalls selling nougat, pastizzi, and whatever the local speciality happens to be. Whether you’re chasing the atmosphere, the sound of the band, or just an excuse for a night out on a warm summer night, here’s your village-by-village rundown for August.