Manx Music Festival set to draw to a close

The largest festival of music, dance and speech held on the Isle of Man is set to draw to a close later after a week of competition.

The annual Manx Music Festival attracts hundreds of competitors of all ages, with classes including solo singing, choirs, brass bands, public speaking, and Manx folk dance.

Also known as The Guild, the event was first held in 1892, with the 2025 competitions running predominantly at the Villa Marina in Douglas since 25 April.

Friday's programme includes the top honour of all the classes for solo singers, the Cleveland Medal Contest at 19:30 BST in the Royal Hall.

The finalists in this year's contest, who took top honours in the solo singing classes, are Karen Elliot, Ruth Tickle, Christine Edmundson, Matthew Quinn, Graham Crowe and Terence Qualtrough.

The festival also sees hundreds of trophies awarded during the week, including the Sheffield Plate, which marks the winner of the junior vocal solo classes.

That competition, which sees the winning singers in the under-16 classes take ot the stage again, takes place on Saturday.

Recent additions to the schedule include stand up comedy, drag and news reading.

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