Alderney ready for a week of animal magic

Alderney Week will run from today until its finale night next Saturday and the theme is Animal Magic.

Each year the population of the island more than doubles, according to organisers, as locals and visitors get involved with hundreds of activities.

Alderney Week team leader Bryony Harris said that setting up for the opening was going well.

‘We had a slight hiccup this year because the marquees didn’t come on the boat until this morning so we’re playing catch up, but other than that it’s going well.

‘A local band is opening us and a Lady Gaga tribute – we had a Beyonce one last year that went down well.

‘There’s an opening party daytime for kids with games and a barbecue.’

A whole range of activities are planned, including a street market, magic quiz, daft raft race, colour party at the quarry, fashion show, man-powered flight and an animal procession on cavalcade day.

‘Monday is our biggest day, we’ve got the cavalcade, there’s floats heading up to the Butes, then games and music.’

Mrs Harris said the Butes was the main community area for the week and has beautiful views of the sea.

‘My absolute favourite is the finale night and the torchlight procession. It starts at the Island Hall and 2,000 people walk up to the Butes with torches, where we will be lighting a bonfire.

‘It’s a gorgeous procession and then we’ve got fireworks and live music.’

Mrs Harris said Alderney Week gave islanders the chance to experience a lot of things not usually available on the island.

‘It’s so important to the Alderney community and economy, it bring out the best in everybody.

‘It’s been running for 70 years now and it just grows and grows each year.’

Mrs Harris said a lot of people planned their summer around Alderney Week – and not just the islanders.

Hotels and campsites are fully booked for the week and Mrs Harris said those with spare rooms to offer would also have a full house.

All flights are full and even with extra sailings put on, the boats are booked too, with some trying to get extra charters to get more eager visitors across.

Despite being such a large event, the team of volunteers working behind the scenes is small.

Mrs Harris and two others make up the core organisers, all whom have full-time jobs and organise the event in their own time as volunteers.

In total, six main volunteers will run the event, with others giving up time to help run stalls, events, sound and drinks.

Mrs Harris has been helping with the organisation for five years and said after this year she would be taking a break from organising so she could enjoy the other side of the celebrations next year.