Oie Voaldyn (Manx Gaelic for 'May Eve') celebrates the transition from the darkness of winter to the light of summer. The sponsorship highlights a mutual dedication to protecting the Island’s natural environment while honouring its cultural roots.
The festival, to be held on Peel shore in May 2026, will feature a range of daytime activities, and in the evening, torchlit processions, a son et lumière style narrated sound and light show, dramatic battle re-enactments between the personifications of Summer and Winter, and a spectacular fire show. This year, with Ørsted’s support, the event will place a heightened focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship.
John Shakespeare, Festival Chairman, said: “We are very grateful to Ørsted for coming on board and securing this year’s festival. We are now in our eighth year and we continue to grow. Ørsted is a perfect partner as the festival focuses on our connection to the elements. Ørsted are a globally recognised sustainability leader, and we have worked hard as a team to look at the sustainability aspects of our festival.”
Jamie Baldwin, Project Director for Ørsted’s Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm, says Ørsted’s involvement with the festival extends beyond financial support. He added: “It represents a commitment to the local community and the long-term preservation of Manx culture and heritage. We’re really pleased to support this year’s Oie Voaldyn festival which is a great celebration of the Island’s culture, community, and creativity. Events like this bring people together, and it’s important to us that we play a positive role in the local community and make a genuine contribution.”
Event details & highlights
Arts and crafts, storytelling, stalls, food and drink, local musicians, Manx dancing, Oie Voaldyn Veg children’s’ parade, meet the folklore characters, torchlight parades, son et lumière style narrated performance, and the legendary fire show finale.
For more information about the festival, visit www.oievoaldyn.com.