Preparations for the 110th Battle are entering their final stages and organisers are encouraging Islanders to come down and enjoy the annual carnival, which was first staged to mark the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. Apart from the war years it has been a fixture of the Island’s summer calendar ever since.
A total of 1.5 million stems, costing around £110,000, have been used to decorate the 28 floats taking part this year.
A SOUVENIR SUPPLEMENT OF PICTURES FROM THE PARADE WILL BE IN FRIDAY’S JEP.
Jackie Donald, Battle of Flowers event director, said that tickets have been selling steadily with all front row seats selling out quite quickly. ‘We are all looking forward to this year’s parade, as every year the floats become more creative and imaginative and we expect this year to be no different,’ she said.
‘We are keeping an eye on the weather and are hoping that the rain stays away for the day, but we will
be prepared for whatever the weather throws at us, rain or shine.’
Temperatures of up to 23°C are predicted for Thursday, although rain is forecast for the Moonlight Parade on Friday.
Last year’s champions were the Optimists Club, who won the Prix d’Honneur for In Flanders Fields, which featured a sitting soldier surrounded by poppies to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War.
Steve Bouchard, the Optimist Club’s chairman and designer of the float, said they were looking forward to the parade and that they would be happy to see whoever designed the best float win. Mr Bouchard is also designing this year’s entry, entitled Oliver, which has been sponsored by Insurance Corporation of the Channel Islands and features a London market scene set in the 1800s against a backdrop of a workhouse and Victorian shops.
Victoria Avenue will be closed to motorists from 9.30am on Thursday, reopening at 7pm. The parade is due to begin at 2.30pm.
Afterwards, there will be entertainment in the Lower Park when local DJs and performers take to the stage for the Little Gig. There will be another Little Gig on Friday evening before the Moonlight Parade.
lFor more information visit battleofflowers.com.
