A MAJOR literary festival has confirmed it will return following a two-year Covid-enforced hiatus, with other event organisers preparing for a restriction-free summer.
The Jersey Festival of Words, which is due to take place from 21-25 September, will this year include an additional 400-person marquee in Howard Davis Park, as well hosting events at its usual venues such as at the Arts Centre, the Library and Jersey Heritage sites.
Last month the government announced that all remaining Covid restrictions, including mandatory isolation periods for positive cases, would cease by the end of March.
The news has left organisers hopeful for a full summer of activities.
Jennifer Bridge, chairperson of the Jersey Festival of Words, said: ‘After the Covid-enforced hiatus, the Jersey Festival of Words’ team is delighted to be deep in preparation for the 2022 festival, planning a wide-ranging programme with our usual combination of visiting celebrity writers from a variety of genres and a showcase of local talent, with the popular free schools’ events at the heart of the programme.
‘Our well-loved family-friendly children’s presentations and initiatives will continue with the aim of encouraging a love of literacy and creativity in our youngest festival attendees.’
The festival is set to include literary events, political debate, performance poetry, drama, music and visual arts.
For Jackie Donald, event director of the Battle of Flowers, the government’s announcement has meant that organisers are going ‘full steam ahead’ to get ready for a return on 11 and 12 August.
The summer battle was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. However, organisers held a one-off Christmas parade through town on 12 December last year.
The 2022 event will be the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Flowers.
Mrs Donald said: ‘We are feeling really positive for this year’s event. Each float has handed in its name and they will be starting to piece the floats together very soon. However, it is still subject to permission from the Bailiff’s panel, of course.’
She added: ‘People have really missed these kind of events and it will be great if we can have a summer of normality.’
Islanders could also have the opportunity to start their open-air music season early this year, as electronic-dance-music festival The Wonky Factory has announced it will be hosting a daytime event at the Royal Jersey Showground on 23 April.
Organisers have also announced plans to return with a summer festival, which is usually held in July but which has been cancelled for the past two years.
In a Facebook post, The Wonky Factory’s organisers wrote: ‘Taking our Easter party out of Rojo for the first time we’ve up-scaled to a mini-festival-style event at the Royal Jersey Showground running from 2pm to 11pm. Totally transforming the internal spaces plus a small area outside – this will be one of the highlights of the 2022 event calendar.’
They added: ‘This is just the beginning of what we hope will be an incredible Wonky year of exciting new events pushing the boundaries of clubbing and festivals in the Island.’
