Ogier helps Jersey Heritage celebrate island's cider making traditions

Jersey Heritage's annual Cider Festival, La Faîs'sie d'Cidre, kindly sponsored by Ogier, returns this weekend, 15-16 October. This year, the traditional horse-powered apple crusher and cider press at the Hamptonne Country Life Museum will take centre stage at a smaller, more intimate version of the annual event.

With work continuing on a new museum space at Hamptonne, the festival has been scaled back and will take place in the two courtyards at the visitor site in St Lawrence and will focus on sharing the rich traditions of the island's cider production to a smaller audience.

Visitors will have the opportunity to watch the cider being made by Jersey Heritage volunteers and enjoy live acoustic music, traditional dancing and food, including Jersey Wonders, saucisse and cider. Naturalist Stephen Le Quesne also returns with his ‘Wild Play’ activity sessions for children, which were popular over the summer holidays.

Edward Mackereth, Ogier’s Global Managing Partner, said: “Throughout 2022, we’ve partnered with Jersey Heritage to offer a series of family learning events and activities. By supporting the cider making at Hamptonne and related apple picking activities for groups, we’re working with Jersey Heritage to keep Jersey’s traditions at the heart of Island life.”

Nicky Lucas, Jersey Heritage’s Community Events Curator, said: “This year’s La Faîs'sie d’Cidre will be a smaller, more intimate event but there will be plenty of atmosphere and enjoyment. The focus will be on the traditional apple crushing and pressing, and supporting our amazing volunteers who carry out the hard work.

“We know that everyone loves the Cider Festival and we have adapted this year’s event so that we can still offer an opportunity for people to be part of the annual cider making, which is an integral part of the Island’s heritage and Hamptonne’s history.”

Parking at Hamptonne for La Faîs'sie d’Cidre is limited, so visitors will need to book their spaces in advance on Eventbrite. There are two parking sessions available each day – one in the morning and another in the afternoon. 

Normal entry fees apply, with free entry for Jersey Heritage Members and children under six years old.