ART FIX: Festivities, folk, and fashion

Every week, Express presents a selection of exhibitions, performances, workshops, events and other historic, creative and delicious content to help islanders get their weekly dose of culture.

Here’s this week’s offering…

Christmas light switch-on

Christmas officially begins in St Helier this evening with a festive village, lights switch-on, and fireworks display due to take place at Parade Gardens.

The Christmas Village will be open to the general public from 17:00 and will feature stalls around the Cenotaph, as well as live entertainment, food and drink.

Meanwhile, live entertainment will begin at West’s Centre from 17:00 as anticipation builds for the arrival of Santa’s sleigh.

Live entertainment will begin at West’s Centre from 17:00, alongside food and drinks stalls.

The parade will leave West’s Centre around 19:00, heading down the high street, turning at Charing Cross to pass in front of the Town Hall and into Parade Gardens.

There will then be a family sing-along show on the main stage, followed by the main lights switch-on and a fireworks display at around 20:00.

Jersey Folk Festival

ArtHouse Jersey is hosting the Jersey Folk Festival at L’Auberge in St John on Saturday 15 November.

The free daytime programme runs from 13:00 to 17:30, featuring artists including Sula, Parish 13, Rick Jones, Colin Lever and The Jersey Lillies, with informal “folk-in-the-round” sessions upstairs in the Ship’s Bar.

From 18:00 to 22:30, a ticketed evening event costing £15 will feature Jo Thorpe and Tom Oxenham, the Shindig Céilí Band, and the Gonzo Gypsy Goodtime Band.

You can find more information about the event here.

Pre-loved Christmas party oufits

Islanders can get kitted out for the Christmas season at Jersey Hospice Care’s ‘Sequins & Sparkles’ event next week.

Attendees will be treated to an exclusive preview of a range of pre-loved festive fashion on Thursday 20 November from 17:00 until 20:00.

Dresses, skirts, tops, trousers, shoes, jewellery, bags and more will be on offer at the Jersey Hospice charity shop in town.

International Guitar Festival

The International Guitar Festival returns to Jersey this weekend.

The event, organised by charity Music in Action, takes place from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November.

Described as bringing three days of concerts and master classes, the event will showcase guitar music in a range of styles including Spanish classics and gypsy jazz.

This year’s line-up includes classical guitarist Xuefei Yang – who was named by BBC Music Magazine as “one of the top six guitarists of the 21st century” – as well as improvising violinist Tim Kliphuis, guitarist Nigel Clark, and violinist Harriet Mackenzie.

The Signalman at Jersey Opera House

One of Charles Dickens’ tales is being performed at the Jersey Opera House this weekend.

Middle Ground Theatre Company will perform a theatrical adaptation of ‘The Signalman’ from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November.

Directed by Michael Lunney, this production brings to life one of literature’s most chilling stories of the tormented Signalman across two 40-minute acts.

Tickets are £24 each, and can be purchased online.

Christmas Cheer exhibition

Islanders to are invited to the Harbour Gallery this Sunday 16 November for the opening of its Christmas exhibition.

Attendees can meet members of the ‘You Are Never Too Old’ group, chat to the authors in the Jersey Bookworm and Poets Corner, and enjoy a buffet and wine bar, with soft drinks on offer for children.

The event will take place from midday to 16:00.