Two-day Le Petit Viaer Marchi replacing traditional event as a ‘softer’ alternative
LE VIAER MARCHI has been cancelled again this year.
The event is ordinarily a major fundraiser for the National Trust and takes place on the first Monday in July.
This year that would fall just five days after the possible relaxation of border restrictions.
Instead it is being replaced by a special two-day event – Le Petit Viaer Marchi – which will take place at the National Trust of Guernsey Folk and Costume Museum over a weekend in July.
Once again the pandemic is responsible for the big event being cancelled – and last year it was called off as it prepared to celebrate its diamond anniversary.
Attracting crowds of thousands, Le Viaer Marchi simply could not take place safely, said the National Trust of Guernsey.
The trust said that despite the island’s ‘superb vaccination programme and excellent advice from public health, we are mindful of the enormous effort involved by our food caterers, entertainers and stallholders and feel the need to remain cautious’.
But president Tony Spruce said it is hoped that the replacement event will help fill the gap.
‘We are taking the intrinsic elements of Le Viaer Marchi to a manageable scale and aim to host a two-day event,’ he said.
‘If all goes well, then everything that everyone loves about Le Viaer Marchi can be enjoyed at Le Petit Viaer Marchi.’
He said everything will be reproduced, including stalls, entertainment, craft demonstrations and food stalls.
The two-day opening would be providing what he called a ‘softer opportunity for people to visit in their own time’, since it was likely to coincide with a busy summer calendar of events all over the island.
Le Viaer Marchi started out at the Folk Museum, said Mr Spruce: ‘[It] feels comforting in these strange times to be able to wind the clock back to something of old.
‘We didn’t need to reinvent the wheel.
‘We appreciate how lucky we are to have a beautiful heritage place where we can provide an alternative to what we usually know.
‘I would like to thank the public and our staff and volunteers for their support and being able to adapt to ever-changing circumstances.’
n Le Petit Viaer Marchi is set to take place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July.
