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Organisers of the third 'Halkett Hoedown' have launched an appeal for volunteers to take their partner by the hand, and come forward to help with this year's event - which they are promising will be the best yet.
After a year off, the street party is coming back on 27 August, with an even bigger section of Halkett Place shut down and some changes to the program, subject to Bailiff's permission.
While the specifics won't be revealed till closer to the time, an appeal has already been launched to recruit volunteers, as more than 100 of them are needed to help the event run smoothly.
Louise Stirling, one of the organisers behind the event, says: "We need as many as possible. Anyone who thinks they have something to offer on the day is welcome. We need people at the gates to start the atmosphere and greet people, prop builders, tradesmen, children's entertainers and many others. If anybody has a special skill or an area of interest they just need to get in touch."
Pictured: Louise Stirling (left) with volunteers at one of the merchandising stalls./ credit: Fenby Miskin & others
David Stokes, owner of Bean Around the World and the brain behind the idea of a hoedown on Halkett place adds: "Anyone who volunteers can come and help out, get fed and then they get to join the fun and the party. We need people from 07:00 to 01:00 but people only do a couple of hours at the time. It is a pop-up festival, it goes up and down within one day that's what makes it unique."
The two of them, along with Niall MacFirbhisigh from Stoked Music, set up the first Hoedown back in 2014, as David explains: "Halkett Place seemed like the perfect street for a street party and Louise, who used to work across the street, liked the idea. Niall also jumped right on board and took care of the music. It is a great way to promote the area, at the heart of St Helier, when the town seems to be dragged to the Waterfront."
That first edition was meant to be a "smallish" affair but over 2,000 people attended. In 2015, there were 5,000. "It became a festival," says Louise." It's a communal street party with a feel good event and 100% of the profits go to charity."
A cheque of £34,000 went to Headway in 2015. This year the organisers will split the profits between Headway and four other charities: British Heart Foundation, Brig-y-don Children's Charity, Jersey Mencap and Jersey Alzheimer's Association.
The money is raised throughout the day with buckets at the entrance, merchandising and all sorts of vendors and games set up in the street. Dunell's, one of the biggest sponsors of the event also donates all proceeds from its bars, which in 2015, amounted to £9,000.
As far as the programme is concerned, Louise promises it will be "the same but better." The very popular jail photo-booth should be back, so should the branding station and the on-street barber. The organisers are currently working on expanding the event by developing the family zone, which was a hit in 2015 as Jersey Library took part to read western stories to the younger ones.
While the organisers are waiting for the permission from the Bailiff, they are busy putting the finishing touches to the program. "It is a labor of love. We all have full-time jobs and we do all the planning on our own time," explains Louise.
Anyone who wants to give a hand, whether ahead of the event to get everything set up or on the day, can contact [email protected] or join the Facebook group. Giddy up! It's time to dust off your cowboy hats!
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