ISLANDERS who attended this year’s Battle of Flowers have been praised for their “overwhelmingly positive” response to the event, as organisers continue with plans to “reinvigorate and revitalise” the historic festival.
Battle chairman Russell Labey also thanked everyone who helped to facilitate the multi-day event, which featured parades, music and entertainment.
This included performances by 2022 Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder and the voice of Wet Wet Wet, Marti Pellow, as well as a Queen tribute band.
Mr Labey said: “The response from parade-goers has been overwhelmingly positive, many have taken the trouble to contact us or post on social media, for which we are incredibly grateful.
“We could tell our audience were having a good time by the atmosphere in the arena and how they embraced concert finales to both parades. Exhibitors once again raised their game; the standard of floats excelled.”
While the exact figures were still being verified, Mr Labey noted that estimated total ticket sales for the three-day festival stood at 22,000.
This compares to 18,000 sold for the 2023 Battle of Flowers, which was held across two days.
Mr Labey continued: “Attendance from visitors to the Island has also risen.
“The new executive I’m proud to lead is on a five-year plan to reinvigorate and revitalise Battle We can’t do it all in one go, but every year we will implement innovations. However, it does feel like we have arrived at the right template from which to develop.”
It recently emerged that government funding for the Battle of Flowers almost doubled in 2024, with the annual grant rising to £270,000 from £150,000 a year earlier.
Mr Labey said the Economic Development Department supported the festival financially “but also with encouragement and ideas”.
He continued: “If Battle is deemed a success this year, it’s right that we share credit with our partners in the Government of Jersey. There’s opportunities for the Island’s commercial sector to come on board too. There’s space for a sponsor to put their name above our impressive new concert stage for all to see, we’d love them to talk to us.
“Change doesn’t stop with the parades, we need to improve the organisation’s governance and seek to appoint a new board of trustees, before the year is out, fresh eyes from the Island’s business community, please get in touch.”
Mr Labey added: “A bigger festival means longer hours for our honorary police from all parishes – we are so thankful to them for their service.
“We couldn’t do this without the honoraries, States blue light services and St John Ambulance, to all of them and our army of volunteers, a massive thank you.”
