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Islanders will once again celebrate the ‘La Folle d’Avoût’ with live music and performances in the Royal Square later this month as the Corn Riots Festival returns for its third year.
The festival is set to take place on Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October.
It will feature live performances from local bands on stage in the Royal Square, as well as a children’s choir and a public 'sing-and-play-along' involving Jèrriais songs.
The Corn Riots festival was introduced for the first time in 2021 to mark the 250th anniversary of major legislative reform, introduced two years after disgruntled citizens from the northern parishes stormed the Royal Court in 1769.
The protests took place due a corn shortage, in part caused by decisions of the ruling classes, which turned the urban population against the Government.
Video: The Story of the Jersey Corn Riots in 1769.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel, said: "The Corn Riots Festival is a celebration of Jersey’s modern cultural identity, and I would love people to use it to learn a few words of Jèrriais and to get involved.
"Who knows – this could be the first step to some people learning our wonderful language.
"The event has become an annual celebration of Jersey’s culture and history, and I hope everyone will come and join in."
Picture: Islanders recreating the march to the Royal Square as part of a previous Corn Riots festival.
Islanders can find the chord changes and lyrics for the 'play along' segment here.
The page also includes the full schedule of performers, along with information on how to learn Jèrriais.
1. 'I Want to Break Free' by Queen
2. 'Proud To Be A Bean' by Sergent Pipons, Badlabecuqes English, Jerriais, Portuguese and Polish
3. 'Stand By Me' by Ben E King
4. Bella Ciao led by Mêli-Mêlo
5. 'Stuck in the Middle' by Stealers Wheel
6. 'Oui R Ouen' by Mark Sims
7. 'Highway to Hell' by AC/DC
Although an important date in the island's history, the island has only recently started to mark the Corn Riots so many islanders may not know about them.
To find out more about the riotous protest, and how the events led to the Code of 1771, which shaped democracy in Jersey as islanders know it today, listen to Express's explainer podcast with Archivist Stuart Nicolle...
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