A youth festival is to take place this summer with options of kayaking and archery.

The annual Firestarter Festival, which is in its 23rd year, is set to go ahead next month for teenagers aged 12 to 17 to enjoy three days of entertainment at Ardwhallan Outdoor Education Centre in West Baldwin.

Tommy Harrison, a founder of the festival, said: ’We will be having a BBQ lunch every day and we are going to have a lot more games this year, including a talent show and kangaroo court, and Ardwhallan activities.’

He admitted that due to the recent Covid-19 outbreak this year’s festival will be ’a bit different’ as there will be no camping this year.

Tommy said: ’We decided a couple of months ago that we would make a decision on whether we cancel Firestarter on June 16.’

The team was delighted to have all social distancing rules lifted on June 15.

’I asked the team and everyone was enthusiastic for Firestarter to go ahead,’ he said. ’But no one is allowed to use the communal showers and so there cannot be any overnight stays.’

Instead, children will need to be dropped off and picked up from the festival each day.

Transport will also be provided for those who cannot make their way there with pick ups starting at 8am in the NSC car park.

The festival, which is run by Christian volunteers from around the island, takes place from July 27 to July 29 and begins at 9am with a 5pm finish.

Tickets are £70 each and £5 tokens can be purchased for each Ardwhallan activities including canoeing, paddle boarding, archery, assault course and the puzzle field. Refunds will be given if tokens are not used.

Currently 20 out of the 60 tickets have been purchased.

Search: www.firestarter.im/