Castletown will be Bringing Out of the Brollies for the island’s first umbrella festival which starts on Friday.

The concept of an umbrella festival is already popular in a number of other countries including Thailand, Portugal and the Phillippines. It typically involves hundreds of umbrellas being suspended on wires above the streets, forming a canopy and producing a colourful display. In Portugal the Umbrella Sky fextival is held every year in the city of Agueda as part of its arts festival.

Castletown’s equivalent event, Bring Out the Brollies, is being held in aid of Mannin Cancers and Manx Breast Cancer Support Group: £20,000 has already been raised through local companies sponsoring the 350 umbrellas. The money will go towards the charities’ CT Scanner Appeal which has provided two new CT scanners for Noble’s Hospital. The event was originally scheduled to be held last year but had to be postponed because of the Covid lockdown.

Carole Male, vice chairman of Manx Breast Cancer Support Group said: ’There will be brollies along most of Malew and Arbory Street, filling Castletown Square, and we will have a large launch in the square.

’We will have a very big paddling pool in the centre of the square and children from local schools are coming along to paddle in their wellies and macs.

’Isle of Man by Drone is covering the event.’

Castletown Town Commissioners has also joined in the fun: last weekend the town hall was painted hot pink to raise awareness of the festival.

They said: ’The Board of Castletown Town Commissioners agreed to support Mannin Cancers Support Group with their latest fund raising venture by allowing them to literally paint the Town Hall pink on a temporary basis, to highlight the important work that they do in our community.’

Stephen Pitts, from decorators Buchanan and Pitts who gave their services free, reported plenty of comments from passers by whilst they were carrying out the work.

He said: ’We heard a lot of people who were walking by saying things like: "Is this what we’re paying our rates for?"’

Residents may be pleased to learn that the town hall will return to its normal colour scheme after the event is over.

Carole Male said: ’We want to give a big thank you to Castletown Commissioners for doing this, to benefit our charity and be a part of the Bring Out The Brollies display.

’We want to invite everyone to come along to the event on June 18: come along and bring your toddlers too.

’They can have a little splash in the pool in their wellies and meet Booby Bear in the Square.

’The Charities very much appreciate all the companies for sponsoring the event and taking part, and those who have done all of the work. This will be an afternoon with a difference. And don’t worry it it rains a little as there will be lots of brollies.’

l Bring Out the Brollies launches at 2pm this Friday (June 18) in Castletown square. Entrance is free.