The annual event showcased artisan stalls, traditional crafts and local food and drink as well as performances of traditional music, sea shanties and Guernsey dancing. This year’s programme included an enhanced children’s area featuring traditional games and entertainment, alongside a stilt walker and juggler.
‘This year we have expanded into the other side of the park more than before,’ said organiser Sarah-Jane Lampitt.
‘Sponsorship from Ravenscroft Capital has given us means to increase our offering with a particular focus on children with Victorian games and entertainment.’
Ms Lampitt said it was important for the island to have an event which celebrates its history.
‘We need to focus on Guernsey heritage – this is a 56-year-old event and at the very beginning Guernsey still had a market place so it was very easy to replicate, but now we haven’t had a market place for decades, so it’s even more poignant to have events like this that are traditional, as well as the events we see more regularly,’ she said.
Ms Lampitt said that displays by the Guernsey Military History Company were evocative and that the attention to detail in these were second to none.
This year the Force 135 Living History Group was also over from Jersey.
‘Both of us have relatives who served so we have based our uniforms on them,’ said Karl Laugeard, who was over with George Blake.
‘It’s a proud bit of local history we are showing.’
Mr Blake added that the Viaer Marchi was a brilliant event, and it was nice to be able to showcase Channel Islands history.
Traditional crafts such as weaving and spinning were also on display.
‘It’s an old craft, possibly more than 1,000 years old,’ said Karen Malledent, who has been practising spinning for about 35 years.
‘It’s nice that we still have new members coming into the group. There are probably about 25 people who do it in the island.’
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