PICTURES: Victoria Avenue transformed into a spectacular floral wonderland for revamped Battle of Flowers

CROWDS lined Victoria Avenue yesterday for a spectacular display, as a newly reformatted Battle of Flowers took place.

The revamped event, traditionally held on a Thursday afternoon, started at 5pm and had hoped to pull in punters with the schedule change.

The popular Moonlight Parade, formerly held on the Friday night after the previous day’s main parade, will take place tonight and will include a 100-strong drone show.

Parishes, clubs and associations worked hard all year designing their floats – with their efforts ramping up over the past few weeks, adding last-minute touches to their entries in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Drizzle and grey conditions early in the day did not deter the crowds, who turned up to see the historic spectacle.

The Optimists Club impressed with their space-themed float, Star Fighter 2… The Final Countdown, while St Peter and Adrian and Friends both opted for Mamma-Mia!-inspired designs – and encouraged Islanders to sing Dancing Queen and other ABBA hits as they passed.

Jersey Battle of Flowers	Results Day Parade 2023
Main Awards	Name of exhibitor and float
Prix d’Honneur	Parish of St Clement – Puttin’ on the Ritz
Prix d’Excellence	Parish of Grouville – Sky Pirates
Grand Prix Des Fleurs	The Optimists Club – Star Fighter 2….
Prix de Merit	Friends of Galaad – Daolong
Prix Décor	Ollivro Family & Friends – Gator Grill
Prix d’Honneur de Papier	Parish of St Helier – The Roaring 20’s
Prix d’Excellence de Papier	Parish of St Saviour – Oh the Places You’ll Go…
Grand Prix Des Paroisse	Parish of St Brelade – Japanese Garden
Clubs & Associations	The Optimists Club – Star Fighter 2….
Junior Prix d’Honneur	Adrian & Friends Juniors – Rio
Junior Prix d’Excellence	Grouville Juniors – GASA
Prix d’Honneur de Papier Juniors	St Lawrence Juniors – Heroes and Villains
Junior Clubs & Associations	The Optimists Juniors – Man on the Moon

St Clement went to town with their jazz-themed float featuring Art Deco posters and flappers.
Audience members were transported into a fantasy world by Grouville’s sky pirates, with the eastern parish’s float featuring a detailed dragon and Constable Mark Labey
appearing as a pirate as well.

St Brelade’s beautiful Japanese Gardens float rolled past serenely, inspiring a period of reflection.

As well as the 22 competing floats, the Battle of Flowers Association’s creations went to new lengths to feature live music and entertainment, including from Beatles tribute band The Beantles, who kept audiences entertained throughout the afternoon.

A 16-page supplement of pictures from the two parades will be published in Monday’s JEP.