Jersey Heritage gets ready for a new line up for this year’s La Faîs’sie d ‘Cidre

James Qualtrough | October 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

Jersey Heritage is getting ready to celebrate traditional cider making with the annual La Faîs’sie d’Cidre, this coming Saturday 20 to Sunday 21 October, between 10am and 4pm at Hamptonne Country Life Museum. Packed with live music, from local musicians including Rick Jones, Kevin Pallot and Harlequin Knights, entertainment and mouth-watering Jersey produce, once again it looks set to be a popular weekend.

Sponsored by Jersey Tourism, this local celebration of Jersey’s cider making heritage is suitable for all ages, and visitors are invited to stay on and enjoy the evening entertainment until 11pm on Saturday 20 at the Sounds and Cider event.

Organiser of the event, Julia Coutanche, said “La Faîs’sie d’Cidre is a very popular event that celebrates Jersey’s rich heritage of growing apples and making cider. There is always a lovely atmosphere over the weekend, which appeals to both tourists and locals, from the youngest children to the elderly. La Faîs’sie d ‘Cidre definitely offers something for everyone to enjoy!”

La Faîs’sie d’Cidre

The weekend celebrates Jersey’s apple growing and cider making history and invites islanders to take part in traditional arts, crafts and apple themed games, whilst adults can sample the many cider varieties on offer. There will be all the best of local fare including freshly baked Cabbage Loaves and Jersey Wonders and festival goers will be able to enjoy favourite events and activities such as apple juggling & plate spinning, Morris Dancing, an exhibition of Jersey Archive photographs, ‘Longest of the Longest Peel’ and ‘Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin’ competitions. Plus the Jersey Beekeepers will be judging their honey competition and the Jersey Cider Orchard Trust will have speciality local ciders to taste.

Sounds & Cider

Back by popular demand, the Sounds and Cider evening event sponsored by Ogier allows visitors to celebrate cider making into the night with live music in the entertainment marquee from local musicians Harlequin Knights, Kevin Pallot, Rick Jones, Dovetail Groove and Alfresco Bandits. There’ll also be a hog roast, with vegetarian option, plenty of ciders and Perry from the CAMRA tent and La Robeline trailer.

In addition to all the cider celebrations, the resident Blacksmith, Nick Ostroumoff, will be making a return for the weekend only, demonstrating his skills and displaying the restoration work he completed over the summer. Nick and his team have been at Hamptonne Country Life Museum throughout the summer, demonstrating traditional hole punching, splitting, riveting and scrolling. Nick has also been working on restoring items for the farm and outside projects, showing visitor’s first-hand how these tasks were carried out. At La Faîs’sie d’Cidre, for those who ask nicely, Nick will be giving one- to- one workshop’s using specialist, traditional tools, and visitors will be able to take away something they have made themselves.

In June of this year 16 piglets were born in the traditional Hamptonne pigsty. Visitors to La Faîs’sie d’Cidre will be able to see the piglets enjoying a mud bath in the outdoor yard.

Admission to both cider events is free for Jersey Heritage members, Société Jersiaise members and National Trust for Jersey members. Non members: Adult: £7.40; Child (age 6-16) and students £4.75; Senior citizen (age 65 +) £6.40; Family £21.85. For further information please visit www.jerseyheritage.org

Getting to and from Hamptonne

On Saturday and Sunday, Connex Bus routes 25 and 27 will run from St Helier to Carfour Selous and a temporary event bus stop located just after Three Oaks, a short walking distance from Hamptonne. From 9.30pm on Saturday, Jersey Heritage will run a coach service directly from Hamptonne to St Helier. Tickets for the coach will be available to purchase on the night and will include free entry into a raffle.

Parking is available just a five minute walk away from Hamptonne. Disabled and cycle parking is located in the Hamptonne car park.