What started in 1902 to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward VII, has now become a permanent fixture of the holiday season. It began as a flower parade, but along the route the flowers were torn off the floats and thrown to the spectators. They threw them back and hence 'The Battle' began.
Held on the second Thursday in August the floats parade along Victoria Avenue all afternoon interspersed with majorettes and locals in colouful costume.
It is said by locals that the sun always shines on 'Battle' day and strangely enough, it almost always does!
TIP:The 'Moonlight Parade' held in the evening of the following day is a more relaxed way to view the floats and lit up they are amazing. The finale is a spectacular firework display over Elizabeth Castle.
