SADDLE up for an Alderney Week that promises to be out of this world!
Taking cowboys and aliens as its theme, festival goers will this year enjoy close encounters with giant inflatables, clowns and acrobats, colour explosions and spooks and spectres of a haunted house.
All of the classics are returning - Cavalcade, the Daft Raft Race, Manpowered Flight, Torchlight, the Sandcastle Competition, the Dog, Talent and Fashion Shows - while some old school favourites like the Pallet Race and the Greasy Pole are being dusted off for additional fun.
The week kicks off on Saturday 1st August. In place of the Opening Day Parade is the family friendly Grand Picnic on the Butes, with a barbecue courtesy of Blanchards and meat from the Farm Shop.
Here the inflatables will be showcased for the first time - organisers have ordered in a Giant inflatable assault course, twister, jousting with inflatables and a 10ft high inflatable dart board.
Older revellers are being encouraged to Glow Mad for Alderney later in the evening with a glow party: glow paints, glow sticks, UV lights and live music.
The epicentre of Alderney Week is the Butes marquee, with the ceiling lowered to create a more intimate venue and allowing sides to be put on in inclement weather.
A revamped Quarry is also being called into action - it will host an additional event this year in the shape of a Colour Party.
Colour Parties have taken the world by storm. Party goers don a white T-shirt - available at the Quarry - and fire packets of vibrant colours into the air. The Alderney Week team have bought 1200 packets of colour.
Cowboys and girls can get in some gun, or rather water pistol, slinging on Tuesday and tip their Stetsons at a Hoedown Barn Dance on the Friday. On Wednesday there's another chance to see this year's smash hit Stars for your Eyes. Alderney Week team leader Emma Odoli said they had tried hard to cater for all ages and enthusiasms. "We wanted to entertain every age group and make the week memorable," she said.
"Hopefully we have got the balance right and everyone will get into the party spirit and have a great time."
The Alderney Week brochure will be out next week and all ticketed events can be booked at the Visitor Information Centre.
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors.
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors. 