ISLANDERS can expect the ‘green light’ to be given to the first full summer of events in three years as organisers plan bigger and better offerings after the pandemic, the chief officer of the Bailiff’s Chambers has said.
Steven Cartwright, who sits on the Bailiff’s Public Entertainment Panel, which grants permission for public events to go ahead, revealed that, unless public health guidance drastically changed before the start of summer, Jersey was on course to host up to 70 public events between May and September.
These include the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and a special Lib In The Square weekend featuring DJs Annie Mac and Purple Disco Machine in the Royal Square for Liberation Day.
A number of large-scale events have been unable to run since 2019 as a result of Covid-19.
Last year, organisers were given false hope as Stage 7 of the government’s Covid roadmap, which included the return of large events, stand-up drinking in pubs and the removal of restrictions on the number of people allowed to gather in a private home, was repeatedly delayed until 26 August.
This led to a number of events being postponed until 2022. Although some festivals, such as the two-day Out There music festival and Electric Park festival, managed to run later in the summer.
Mr Cartwright said that Islanders were owed a ‘long overdue’ full summer of events.
‘There has been a lot of enthusiasm shown by organisers so far this year. While we have not seen a huge increase in the number of events applying for permission, we are seeing organisers who have used the time where they have been unable to operate to come up with new and fresh ideas for their events,’ he said.
‘Unless the public health guidance on events drastically changes before the start of the summer, events will be given the green light to go ahead and you can expect a really balanced offering from May through until September.’
Mr Cartwright said that the Bailiff’s Panel had already received 46 applications for large-scale gatherings by the start of this year. He expects this number to rise to up to 70 before the start of the summer.
He added: ‘It is looking fairly bright for 2022 and I think everyone is feeling really positive ahead of this summer.’
J P Anquetil, who runs The Wonky Factory which puts on a number of club nights and a festival each summer, said that he aimed to expand his offering this year.
He is planning to kick off the summer season early by hosting a one-day ‘mini festival’ at the Royal Jersey Showground on 23 April.
‘We usually do our Wonky nights in ROJO nightclub but we have outgrown that and we are looking to set the tone for the season with a one-day event next month. Hopefully, people have got the appetite for it since we haven’t had a full summer since 2019,’ he said.
Mr Anquetil said the Wonky Festival is due to return this year as a two-day event. It has not been able to run since 2019.
‘We have secured what we think is the best location in Jersey and details on the event and the line-up are expected next week,’ he said.
‘I am feeling really positive about the upcoming season. We have been dealt a lot of negativity so far this year with everything that is going on in the world. People need something positive and everyone loves a good party,’ he added.
Simon Gasston, managing director of Delta Events, who supply and operate technical equipment, said the number of enquiries he has had for the upcoming summer season is on par with pre-pandemic levels.
‘We have had a larger percentage of enquiries this quarter compared to previous years and we are actually having to turn some people down for certain weekends in the summer, which from a business perspective can only be a good thing considering how disruptive the past couple of years have been,’ he said.
23 April: Wonky presents Temple of Boom Royal Jersey Showground.
Electronic dance music day festival featuring international house and techno DJs, as well as immersive decor and production.
7 and 8 May: Lib In The Square 2022
Liberation Square
A new event as part of the Liberation Day celebrations featuring electronic dance music DJs Annie Mac and Purple Disco Machine.
7, 8 and 9 May: Liberation Day events
2, 3, 4 and 5 June: Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
10, 11 and 12 June: Barclays Boat Show
St Helier Marina
24, 25 and 26 June: Good Vibrations Festival
Watersplash, St Ouen’s Bay
Three-day festival featuring a 1980s-themed surf contest, live bands and DJs, beach five-a-side football, mental-health workshops and an evening event at the Watersplash nightclub.
2 and 3 July: Out-There Festival
Val de la Mare
Electronic dance music festival featuring house, techno and drum and bass DJ’s.
30 and 31 July: Wonky Weekend Festival
Time and venue to be announced
Electronic dance music festival featuring house, techno and drum and bass DJ’s, as well as immersive decor and production.
11 and 12 August: Battle of Flowers
Victoria Avenue
One of the biggest events of the annual calendar featuring flower-festooned floats, musicians, dancers and entertainers.
3 and 4 September: Weekender Festival 2022
Royal Jersey Showground
Music festival featuring The Proclaimers, Jax Jones, Ella Henderson, John Newman and more.
3-10 September: Channel Islands Pride celebrations
8 September: Jersey International Air Display
24 September: Electric Park
People’s Park, St Helier
One-day music festival featuring The Wombats, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and more.
