Battle of Flowers event 'overwhelmingly positive'

Chairman Russell Labey said the organisation estimated it had sold about 22,000 tickets across the three-day event

The chairman of Jersey Battle of Flowers said he was "incredibly grateful" for the "overwhelmingly positive" public response to the 2024 event.

The annual event started on Friday with a parade during the day, followed by a moonlight parade and concerts over the weekend.

Chairman Russell Labey said the organisation estimated it had sold about 22,000 tickets across the three-day event.

He added he would be seeking to appoint a new Board of Trustees as part of a continued plan to revitalise the parade.

'Right template'

"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," he said.

"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."

Mr Labey said exhibitors had "once again raised their game" and the standard of floats "excelled".

"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," he said.

"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 thanked the Department for Sustainable Economic Development and the Government of Jersey for their financial and creative contributions to the weekend.

"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," he added.