Isle of WIght What's On For May Half Term 2024

May is an excellent time to visit the Isle of Wight. The evenings are long, the sun is (usually) shining and there are events galore.

Here are some highlights for May half term 2024.

Shaun The Sheep at Tapnell Farm Park - 28th May to 30th May

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New attractions and Wild West Week at Blackgang Chine

It's a good time to visit Blackgang Chine. The admission price has dropped, after increasing over the last few years. You'll pay about £25 for a standard admission this half term, whereas last year the price peaked at £35. 

There are also some new things to see. Robin Hill's Ripple has re-appeared as Blackgang Beach on the former site of the Cliffhanger rollercoaster. Meanwhile, Robin Hill's Colossus will soon be the Jolly Robin at Blackgang (although I don't think it will be open by half term - comment below if you know otherwise).

At half term, it's Wild West Week and there's a fireworks display on Wednesday evening.

For first time visitors, my advice is this - visit once on Saturday, Sunday or Monday and then use your free return on the Wednesday evening. You can have a second wander round the park (the dinosaurs look good in the dark) and you can also watch the fireworks. 

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Osborne House - Queen Victoria's Family Day Out - 28th May to 30th May

Osborne is always a pleasant day out, but it's particularly appealing when they put on special events. This half term there's some Victorian themed jollity including "old-fashioned thrills and spills on traditional fairground rides like swing boats and the helter-skelter."

According to the blurb, this will cause you to "Giggle and gasp at the silly antics of the palace Jester and marvel at mesmerising illusions by our skilled magicians!" 

Members pay an extra couple of pounds for the event. Non-members pay a slightly higher than usual admission price. Still, what price can you put on a giggle and a gasp?

Magicians and a helter skelter will provide one with amusement

Chillerton and Gatcombe Scarecrow Festival - 25th May to 1st June

We enjoyed our previous visit to the Chillerton and Gatcombe Scarecrow Festival. The children liked the Disney characters and I enjoyed the satirical scarecrows created by sarcastic dads. The only challenge is that it takes place in two villages which don't have a lot of pavement, so you need to keep an eye out for cars.

Carisbrooke Castle's Knight School - 25th May to 2nd June

If scarecrows sound a bit too tame, how about arming your children with weapons this May half term? Carisbrooke Castle offers this opportunity at its Kids Rule week.

Visitors can "Embark on a noble journey at our Knight School where aspiring warriors can master their knightly skills at our sword school and junior jousting. Once they've sharpened their abilities, they'll have the chance to go for glory at the thrilling kid's battle." 

My mother lives near Carisbrooke Castle, so I shall listen out for the distant cries of parents telling their children to stop attacking other children.

Give your child a sword this half term and send them off to battle other children

Villain characters meet and greet at Shanklin Chine - Sunday 26th May

For the uninitiated, Shanklin Chine is a bit like a coastal garden on a hill. You wander down from near to Shanklin's old village to the esplanade via a waterfall, a tea rooms and some displays about the area's wartime history. Admission is about £10 and you can return for the rest of the week. At night, it is illuminated, so you may want to visit a couple of times. 

At half term, you can meet some famous villains, or dress up as one. I plan to dress up as Piers Morgan or that woman from the Post Office.

Bembridge Street Fair - 27th May

Bembridge is a lovely village, which has a good atmosphere at its street fair. We went a couple of years ago and enjoyed a magic show. I seem to remember one of the children was doing their best to ruin the day, but that probably shouldn't put you off visiting. 

The blurb on Facebook says "We have magic shows;  fire breathing; Disney Characters; 20 Vintage Classic Cars; Food stalls; Shooting Stalls; and much much more all for Monday 27/05/24 12-4pm"