Jersey Battle of Flowers

The Jersey Battle of Flowers is an annual carnival held in the Channel Island of Jersey on the second Thursday of August. The festival consists of music, funfairs, dancers, majorettes and a parade of flower floats alongside various street entertainers. It was inaugurated in 1902 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The largest attendance to date is thought to be that of 1969 when 60,000 people were present. Current spectator numbers are around 20,000.
The major floats are usually produced by the parishes of Jersey.
The 'Battle' itself originally consisted of dismantling the floats to provide floral ammunition for a literal battle of flowers between participants and spectators, but this aspect has long been abandoned. Since 1989, a nighttime Moonlight Parade with the floats festooned in lights has been introduced. The Moonlight Parade ends with a fireworks display. Recent years have seen higher turnouts to the moonlight parade, which attracts locals as well as tourists possibly due to its party atmosphere.
History.
The first Battle of Flowers was held on 9 August 1902 on Victoria Avenue, Saint Helier. The First World War interrupted the tradition and it was not until 1928 that the Battle was revived at Springfield where it was held until 1938. The threat of war meant the 1939 event was abandoned and it was not until 1951 that the event was revived back on Victoria Avenue, where it was held for many years on the last Thursday in July (since moved to its current date).
In 1964 the event was attended by around 50,000 people.
The ongoing outbreak of coronavirus caused the very first cancellation of the Battle since its revival in 1951.
Prizes.
Prizes are awarded in numerous categories, with their names in French, for floats of different sizes and types. Listed here are the main prizes with the Prix d’Honneur being the overall winner.
2018.
Winners at the 2018 Battle of Flowers included:
2016.
Winners at the 2016 Battle of Flowers included:
2015.
Winners at the 2015 Battle of Flowers included:
2014.
Winners at the 2014 Battle of Flowers included:
2013.
Winners at the 2013 Battle included:
2012.
Winners at the 2012 Battle included:
2011.
Winners at the 2011 Battle included:
. Spectators Award : Parish of St.Clement - " Wonderland"
2010.
Winners at the 2010 Battle included:
2009.
Winners at the 2009 Battle included:
2008.
Winners at the 2008 Battle included:
2007.
Winners at the 2007 Battle included:
2006.
Winners at the 2006 Battle included:
2005.
Winners at the 2005 Battle included:
Miss Battle of Flowers and Mr Battle.
As of 2018 the role of Miss Battle has been replaced with 'Jersey Battle of Flowers Ambassador’ open to both genders, this was to avoid the stereotyping of a beauty pageant. The Ambassador role is open to any young person between the ages of 17 and 25 years who have been ordinarily resident in Jersey for at least two years.
A competition to select a Miss Battle was held, each year, in the months preceding the Battle. The competition involves a set of contests held in each of the parishes. A winner is selected in each parish, and these ladies are entered into the final competition to select the year's Miss Battle of Flowers.
Miss Battle of Flowers, the overall winner of the Miss Parish contests, rides on her own specially made float. There was also formerly a Maid of Honour who rode with the Miss Battle but this has now been replaced with the Jersey Battle of Flowers Consort. The tradition of having a "Mr Battle" to escort Miss Battle was in abeyance for a number of years, but Kyran Bracken revived the rôle in 2007, and 2008 saw Christopher Biggins occupying the role. In 2009 Marco Pierre White took the role; in 2010 it was Danny Young, and in 2011 Gareth Gates.
The table below lists some years, but is not a complete list.