'Overwhelmingly positive' response to Battle

Tuesday, 13 August 2024 11:45

Battle-goers have been praised for their 'overwhelmingly positive' response to changes to this year's festival.

Organisers estimate around 22,000 tickets were sold for the events, spread across three days and including concert finales.

Sam Ryder closed the Grand Day Parade on Friday, with UK Queen entertaining spectators following Saturday night's Moonlight Parade.

The weekend ended with a performance by former Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow on the same open-air stage in Lower Park, within the parade ground arena.

Around 18,000 people attended last year's two parades.

Chairman Russell Labey says it was the first of a five year plan to revitalise the annual summer carnival.

"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."

Future development plans include finding commercial sponsorship for the concert stage and improving the organisations governance by appointing a new Board of Trustees.

Mr Labey has also thanked Jersey's Honorary Police from all parishes, St John Ambulance and the volunteers involved in putting on the shows.