Organiser trio Sara Lampitt, Jacquie Mancini and Jemma Field are planning for it to be as lively and celebratory as ever.
The event is held to celebrate Guernsey’s culture and heritage and raise money for the National Trust of Guernsey.
‘There’s a great community feel to it – the vibe is definitely vibrant,’ said Ms Lampitt, who serves as the trust’s vice president and PR manager.
‘It’s four hours of summer madness. You’ll see examples of Guernsey’s heritage with demonstrations and dancing and singing – things you will not see anywhere else. We’re rolling out as much of Guernsey’s heritage as we can.
‘It’s getting more difficult as a lot of our skilled people get older, so we’re trying to encourage the younger generation to get more involved with Guernsey heritage – to learn to dance, learn to sing, learn these historic skills.’
This year’s programme is set to see the return of the Boys’ Brigade Brass Band, alongside an array of stalls selling handmade crafts, artisan produce, and a variety of food and drink. Also featured will be an area dedicated to traditional games and entertainment – ostensibly for children, though Ms Lampitt anticipates it to be a universally popular inclusion.
‘That’s a new area that we’re very excited about – we’ve been wanting to do a Victorian games area for years,’ she said.
‘We are genuinely excited about these new opportunities that have come about through our sponsorship from Ravenscroft, and are delighted that children under 15 will be able to come along – with an adult – free of charge, and we hope that they enjoy the games area as much as the adults are bound to.’
The event is also set to welcome a variety of performers, from a stilt walker to a juggler to a magician.
‘I’m quite excited,’ said stilt-walker Ela Ostrowska, who is making her Guernsey stilt-walking debut after many years setting the activity aside.
‘I think I just enjoy the process of learning different skills – especially balancing skills. When I heard that they wanted a stilt-walker, I thought if they can’t find anyone else, I’ll start practising again.’
Le Viaer Marchi is the National Trust of Guernsey’s largest annual fundraiser, with money raised going towards supporting the trust’s work to protect and celebrate Guernsey’s natural and built heritage.
The event will take place at Saumarez Park on Monday from 5-9pm.
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