Valerie Caine's blog

Despite poor weather conditions, crowds of onlookers and supporters headed for the Manx Electric Railway Station at Laxey, as part of an eight day extravaganza enjoyed by both local and visiting enthusiasts.

The day-long celebration included a variety of live entertainment, fairground rides, stalls, memorabilia and an opportunity to explore the Laxey Car Shed.

There's something new on the Christmas calendar this year with the introduction of a sparkling new event at the Gaiety Theatre under the title of Manannan's Winterfest - A Magical Manx Christmas!

Billed as a unique concert celebrating Manx Christmas traditions, the event will be a collaboration of the Island's finest exponents of classical, folk, brass and choral music - topped with local humour and drama.

Our own, local Celtic festival, Yn Chruinnaght, may have celebrated its fortieth anniversary earlier this year, but hot on its heels is the Cornish festival favourite Lowender Peran, which celebrates its own fortieth birthday at the beginning of November.

Hop tu Naa is a well established Manx tradition which celebrates the Celtic New Year on the 31st October. It is seen as a time to beware of evil, when divination may be practiced (particularly if you're looking for a soul mate), spinsters would be encouraged to bake the infamous Dumb Cake (Manx Gaelic: Soddag Valloo) and it is an opportunity for a character named Jinny the Witch to make an appearance. A unique song and traditional dance have also survived contemporary influence.

If you're planning a visit to the Isle of Man during the winter season, this would be a great opportunity to visit the forthcoming exhibition about Archibald Knox at the Manx Museum in Douglas.

Beginning mid-October, this will be a rare chance to see a host of items designed by Knox with many of them from private collections and, until now, unseen on the Island.

With the summer season drawing to a close, Isle of Man Railways once again organised the annual Island at War weekend, which attracted visitors to the steam railway - with events held at stations in Douglas, Castletown and Port Erin.

Fitting snugly into a knapsack, this new publication encapsulates the memory of a short-lived 3ft gauge railway line which served the expanding Knockaloe Internment Camp, situated on the west coast during World War I.

Acting as a spur from the main line in Peel, it became a veritable work horse for the burgeoning camp which eventually housed a population of approximately 26,000 internees and guards.

Despite unwarranted worries about the weather, crowds flocked to this year's Royal Manx Agricultural Show, which attracted lots of visitors through the gates at Knockaloe Farm in Patrick on both days, to the delight of organisers.

Few of the distinctive headstones designed by Manx designer Archibald Knox will be found outside of the Isle of Man, the best known being that created for Arthur Lasenby Liberty for whom the gifted Manx designer worked for several years. But a lesser known memorial, behind which lies a tragic story, resides in a quiet, Lancashire churchyard in its centenary year.

The Centenary Centre has earned a well deserved reputation for providing countless shows of top-class entertainment since it first re-opened the doors of the old church hall built in 1877, but this year the venue will play host to a special two-day festival. Organised in association with the One World Centre and Manx Radio, this will be a unique opportunity to enjoy several bands bringing a rich, global rhythm to the Isle of Man.