Your guide to this week's Battle parades

Two Battle teams – the parish of Grouville and Galaad Family and Friends – are both celebrating their 50th consecutive year of entering the parade, so expect extra celebrations on their floats, which both have a 50th anniversary party theme.

Last year’s change to the start of the parade proved to be a success, so the exhibits will once again be lined up on Victoria Avenue before the parades begin. This allows spectators to view the floats before taking their seats and creates an ‘instant start’, rather than crowds having to wait to see their first float. In addition, the floats will all be in position with their lights off ahead of the Moonlight Parade and will all be illuminated at the same moment to create an added wow factor.

Compères for this year will once again be provided by BBC Jersey, with Tony Gillham and James Hand hosting the afternoon parade and Sara Palmer and Ashlea Tracey entertaining crowds at the Moonlight Parade. This year’s chosen charity is Diabetes Jersey, who will be entering a vehicle in the parades.

All eyes will be on celebrity Mr Battle, Dancing on Ice and X Factor star Ray Quinn, who will be joining Miss Battle, Holly Perchard and Miss Junior, Paige Higgins.

Thursday’s Battle Day Timings

1 pm – Gates open

2 pm – Everyone must be in their seats

2.25 pm – Arrival of the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant General Sir John McColl, and Lady McColl

2.30 pm – Let Battle commence!

Friday’s Moonlight Parade Timings

7.30 pm – Gates open

9.00 pm – The Moonlight Parade

11.30 pm – The fair closes

Vote for your favourite

THIS year, spectators at Thursday’s day parade are being encouraged to vote for their favourite float to win the Spectators Award. Battle-goers can text 07797 950 951 at any time between 2 pm and 9 pm on Thursday, stating the number of their favourite float. Texts will be charged at your standard rate and votes cast after 9 pm won’t be counted but you may still be charged. Miss Battle’s Float is excluded from the vote.

Free tea

For the eighth consecutive year, free tea, coffee and cakes will be provided for Battle-goers at St Andrew’s Church community centre at First Tower following Thursday’s Grand Day parade. Because St Andrew’s park is used as a car park for people going to watch the parade, the community centre gets into the spirit of the Battle by offering free afternoon tea to drivers before they head home. This also helps to stagger people’s departures, with the aim of reducing traffic congestion after the parade.

The Entries

40 TO 45 FT FULL FLORAL FLOATS

Adrian & Friends – Motors Mall

Bidan Family & Friends – Pirates of Jersey

Grouville – Fabulous @ 50

St Brelade – Matryosh

St Clement – The Snow Queen

St Lawrence – London Calling

St Martin – Rio 2014

St Peter – Chocolate Dream

The Optimists Club – Fire Cracker

Trinity – Oh, I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside