PRESS RELEASE BY THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR YOUTH, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Esplora opens the festive season with its Christmas Tree Ceremony and a first look at “Santa’s STEAM Factory”

On the 5th of December, the Esplora Interactive Science Centre officially launched its festive season through its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. During the event, guests were also given an exclusive preview of Esplora’s new Christmas programme: Santa’s STEAM Factory, which will be open to the public from the 21st of December until the 6th of January.

The ceremony also featured the launch of this year’s official Christmas production: a hybrid video combining animation with real-world footage, created in collaboration with local artists. The final result is a story that blends creativity with innovation, reflecting Esplora’s multidisciplinary philosophy that unites science, technology, and the arts.

Present for the occasion were the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation, Keith Azzopardi Tanti; the Mayor of Kalkara, Wayne Aquilina; and Esplora’s Senior Director, Mary Ann Cauchi. They were joined by employees from Esplora and Xjenza Malta, who together celebrated the opening of the festive season at the Science Centre.

This year, Esplora will be transformed into Santa’s STEAM Factory, an immersive experience where the magic of Christmas is enhanced by the creativity and curiosity of STEAM subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. The programme offers a mix of hands-on workshops, engaging science shows, and immersive Planetarium films, all designed to inspire people of all ages and transform scientific wonder into festive magic.

Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti praised the initiative, stating that, “Esplora continues to play a crucial role in nurturing a love for science among young people. Events like today emphasise the centre’s commitment to education, innovation, and community engagement.”

The Mayor of Kalkara, Wayne Aquilina, expressed his appreciation towards the Esplora team, adding “It is always a pleasure for us, as the Kalkara community, to see the innovations introduced by Esplora. These efforts ensure that this interactive science centre, so popular within our town, continues to attract Maltese, Gozitans and tourists throughout the year, including during the Christmas season.”

In her address, Esplora’s Senior Director, Mary Ann Cauchi, highlighted the value of accessible scientific education for all “The Christmas season presents a unique opportunity to inspire curiosity and learning in a fun and memorable way. Through initiatives like Santa’s STEAM Factory, we aim to ignite imagination while bringing families together.”

Santa’s STEAM Factory forms part of Esplora’s ongoing mission to promote curiosity, creativity and experiential learning, while offering an environment where children, young people and families can discover and celebrate the spirit of Christmas through the wonders of science and the arts.

The ceremony concluded with a spectacular lighting display, as Esplora’s Christmas Tree illuminated the space, a symbol marking the official start of the festive season at Malta’s Interactive Science Centre.