Battle of Flowers

Enjoy one of the most spectacular and colourful carnivals in Europe. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the sights and sounds of flower-festooned floats, musicians and entertainers in what is the highlight of the summer events calendar.

Originally staged in 1902 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII, the ‘Battle of Flowers’ became an annual event, held each year along Victoria Avenue. The carnival began as a flower parade and once judging was over, “Battle” would commence and the carriages would be robbed of their flowers, and everyone, both great and small, would hurl flowers at one another.

After the Occupation, the Battle of Flowers returned to Victoria Avenue to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1951. Since then, the Battle has been an annual event. The actual “battle” was stopped in 1964 and now the floats remain in all their glory and get festooned in lights for the equally spectacular ‘Moonlight Parade

Hundreds of islanders volunteer their time to design, build and decorate floats with hundreds of thousands of blooms to create this wonderful spectacle. www.battleofflowers.com