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Your definitive guide to the Corn Riots festival happening this coming week - from where to get free camembert, enjoy exhibitions and language classes, to concerts on top of a bus and the return of the Norman market.
From Wednesday 28 September through to Sunday 2 October, here's what to expect...
Wednesday 28 September
Starting on Wednesday until Friday, the Norman Market will be in the Royal Square from 09:00 to 19:00, offering its classic selection of fromages, saucisses, soaps, fruit and veg, bags… and, of course, cidre.
Between 14:00 and 17:00, the Alliance Française is offering a drama workshop for those who wish to build their acting skills and confidence in spoken French at the same time.
Those keen to take part can book here.
Taking place at the Blue Note Bar, this multilingual edition of the regular Jèrriais language practice event will celebrate Jersey’s diversity of languages, also featuring Portuguese, Polish and Romanian.
All levels are welcome to drop in.
The winners of the Island Views Poetry contest, run as part of Democracy Week, will be announced in the Royal Square between 17:30 to 19:00.
Dystopian action film ‘Ready Player One’ will be screened in the Royal Square between 19:30 and 22:00.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Norman Market will be moving to Parade Gardens.
Open between 09:00 and 18:00, the market will have all the usual goodies on offer – plus, for the first time, and Caravanille ‘chimney cakes’, and ‘Viking beers’ made in Normandy courtesy of Ragnar Brewery.
This is the key event of the day.
A band of islanders, plus a parade of tractors and the l’Etoile Cirée Brass Band will be setting off from Trinity Church and heading into town at 13:00.
The riotous marchers are expected to reach their destination – the Royal Square – by 14:30, where they’ll be greeted with food and music.
There’ll be a variety of acts on the main stage in the Royal Square throughout the day, starting at 12:00.
12:00 - Well Swung Orchestra
13:00 - Ferret & Olly
14:00 - The Reasons
14:45 - Les Chaboleurs Dancers and The Jèrriais School Choir, incorporating the entrance of parade and speech
15:30 - L'Etoile Cirée Brass Band
16:30 - Lauren Ivy and the Engine
17:30 - Jessica Lloyd Band
18:30 - Inside Job
19:30 - Badlabecques
20:30 - DJ Stefunk
Continue through town and you'll find even more music at Charing Cross:
12:00 - Slap and Tickle
13:15 - Ember
14:00 - Acoustic Shock
15:00 - Matt McManus
15:45 - Jamie Patricia
16:30 - Jax Quenault
17:15 - Josie Cast
From 09:00 to 19:00 at Parade Gardens, Normandy Tourism will be presenting free samples of iconic Normand products, ranging from camembert to caramels, cakes and calvados for islanders to enjoy alongside a very special soundtrack…
The Carpanorama is a musical bus with a rooftop stage where three bands will perform on Saturday afternoon: L is M (12:00 to 13:00), the Brian White Quintet (14:00 to 15:00), then Norman band ‘For the Hackers’ between 17:00 and 18:00.
Jersey’s main adult ladies choir, Holmchase, will be performing at the Town Church at 14:30 to 15:30.
It’s free entry, and all are welcome to attend, with no booking necessary.
Short Jèrriais films, put together with the help of local primary school children, and an exhibition of their work will be on display in the Town Church between 09:00 and 17:00.
Entry is free, and no booking is necessary.
Islanders will be able to hear the story of the riots that changed the course of Jersey’s history straight from the mouths of countryfolk at Le Moulin de Quetivel in St. Peter between 10:00 and 16:00.
Inside the historic kitchen, the miller's wife will be giving first-hand accounts of how Jersey's womenfolk fought for their lives to stave off starvation. Upstairs, meanwhile, the miller will be talking about the history of the mill and demonstrating how the mill's ancient mechanism works to grind wheat into flour.
In addition to the activities inside the mill, the Trust is running short guided walks with Blue Badge Guide Jean Treleven from the Mill Pond Car Park to Quetivel Mill at the following times: 10:00, 11:30, and 13:30. This will last around 30 minutes and is suitable for all ages.
The Trust says booking is not essential to visit Le Moulin de Quetivel. Last entry is at 15:30.
Beastly history
The Story Beast will be sharing his own telling of the Corn Riots with children at Capital House between 10:30 to 11:30 and 14:00 to 15:00. Book by emailing karen@arts.je.
The Jèrriais Teaching Service will be in the Royal Square from 11:00 to 12:30 with some free Norman games you can play for free.
The main stage in the Royal Square will be in full swing throughout the day:
12:00 - Bare Bones
13:00 - The Genuine Jerseys
14:00 - Brian White/Tim Horsfall Quintet
15:00 - Juke
16:00 - Juniper
17:00 - Benny the Moth
18:00 - Parish 13
19:00 - Jersey Pop Group
19:45 - The Pheobe Over Band
Islanders wondering from the Royal Square towards the Parade will be able to enjoy the following en route:
12:00 - Ryan Marret
13:00 - Cindy Marques
14:00 - Two for the Road
15:00 - Hot Bananas
16:00 - Foolish Things
16:45 - L'Etoile Cirée
17:00 - Ella Dias
The Norman market will still be going, and Normandy Tourism will still be offering up delicacies between 09:00 and 18:00.
Islanders will also be able to enjoy tunes from the L’Etoile Cirée band during the day.
The Jèrriais exhibition featuring the work of local children will be open at the Twon Church between 13:00 and 17:00.
Although an important date in the island's history, the island has only recently started to mark the Corn Riots, so many islanders may not know about them.
To find out more about the riotous protest, and how the events led to the Code of 1771, which shaped democracy in Jersey as islanders know it today, listen to Express's explainer podcast with Archivist Stuart Nicolle...
You can also listen to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer or Whooshkaa.
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