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One of Jersey’s most popular summer events is making a return after a four-year absence.
The Havre des Pas Festival which at its height in 2018 attracted 18,500 people in one day, is being held on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July this year.
When it first started back in 2004 it was run by the parish and entry was free.
However, in recent years escalating costs have forced the municipality to withdraw funding. The event is now privately run and there is now an entrance fee.
Organiser Jason Maindonald says it is regrettable they have to charge but that the "event has to wash its face" and at least break even.
In 2018, entrance was £5, but Jason says astronomical price rise, particularly in the cost of diesel, means they’ll have to charge £7 this year. Children under 10 are free.
"I still think it’s amazing value," he claims. "I don’t think you can beat it. 54 hours of live music for the cost of about two lattes."
Pictured: Havre des Pas Festival to return to the beach and promenade after four-year absence.
He says there will be attractions strung out along the whole length of the seafront from Prince’s Bar in the west to the roundabout near the Dicq in the east.
Along with the food stalls, bouncy castles, and hopefully some fairground rides, there are going to be three music stages: two DJ sets, once outside Prince’s, the other outside the Ommarro Hotel, and a live stage near the slipway. It’s hoped to announce the band line up very soon.
The date of the event varies from year to year so organisers can take advantage of the ‘extra’ beach provided by low tides. On the Saturday it’ll run from 12:00 to 22:00, and on the Sunday from 12:00 to 20:30.
Jason plans to run this year’s event along similar lines as to those in the past, but for next year he already has big plans.
"I’d love to have a water slide into the pool," he says enthusiastically.
"I’d also like to see model car racing on the sand. To introduce tug-of-war, and to revive the iconic waiter and waitresses’ races that Jersey was once known for."
Jason believes, provided the weather plays ball, it really could be summer of fun.
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