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Isle of Wight Carnivals Guide 2024
Isle of Wight residents love a carnival.
If you casually hum a tune whilst walking through Ryde in summer, then you might find that a marching band has formed behind you and locals have started to gather on the pavements.
Carnivals provide a good free activity for visitors as well as a valuable chance to stock up on helium balloons in the shape of Disney characters.
Isle of Wight carnivals tend to be run on a budget of 30p and only take place thanks to volunteers. As a result, getting up to date information can be a little tricky. Here’s our best attempt at a guide to the Isle of Wight’s carnivals.
If you casually hum a tune whilst walking through Ryde in summer, then you might find that a marching band has formed behind you and locals have started to gather on the pavements.
Carnivals provide a good free activity for visitors as well as a valuable chance to stock up on helium balloons in the shape of Disney characters.
Isle of Wight carnivals tend to be run on a budget of 30p and only take place thanks to volunteers. As a result, getting up to date information can be a little tricky. Here’s our best attempt at a guide to the Isle of Wight’s carnivals.
Do you love marching bands and expensive helium balloons? Come to an Isle of Wight carnival!
The general idea of carnivals on the Isle of Wight
Most Isle of Wight towns hold three carnivals including:
The processions involve a combination of marching bands, singing groups, people wearing silly costumes, local groups showing off their uniforms and carnival royalty.
The carnival royalty is made up of local children who are chosen to represent their town by sitting on the back of a trailer whilst waving and being slowly driven down a high street. The royalty for each town tour round all of the main Isle of Wight carnivals.
You don’t pay anything to go to a carnival on the Isle of Wight, but you’ll face several bucket shakers and will be ostracised from society if you don’t donate something.
Parking is a nightmare at carnivals as half the roads are closed. Allow yourself plenty of time and expect to walk half a mile to get to the pageant.
Some of the carnivals end with a fireworks display, hence the need for the bucket shakers.
You'll also find lots of events taking place around the carnivals. For example, in 2022 Yarmouth had a whole week of larking around including painting and fishing competitions and prizes for the best decorated house.
- a main procession which starts at around 6-7pm on an evening in July or August.
- a children’s carnival which takes place in an afternoon in July or August. This sometimes also involves a fun day or other activities.
- an illuminated carnival which starts at around 8-9pm in late August.
The processions involve a combination of marching bands, singing groups, people wearing silly costumes, local groups showing off their uniforms and carnival royalty.
The carnival royalty is made up of local children who are chosen to represent their town by sitting on the back of a trailer whilst waving and being slowly driven down a high street. The royalty for each town tour round all of the main Isle of Wight carnivals.
You don’t pay anything to go to a carnival on the Isle of Wight, but you’ll face several bucket shakers and will be ostracised from society if you don’t donate something.
Parking is a nightmare at carnivals as half the roads are closed. Allow yourself plenty of time and expect to walk half a mile to get to the pageant.
Some of the carnivals end with a fireworks display, hence the need for the bucket shakers.
You'll also find lots of events taking place around the carnivals. For example, in 2022 Yarmouth had a whole week of larking around including painting and fishing competitions and prizes for the best decorated house.
Where can I get the most up to date information on Isle of Wight Carnivals?
I find that the most update to date information on Isle of Wight Carnivals can be found on their Facebook pages rather than their websites. Facebook pages can be found here:
Which is the best Isle of Wight carnival?
I am entering controversial territory here, but Ryde’s carnival is the oldest and most famous. The first one took place in 1888, as a follow up to an event in 1887 which Queen Victoria attended.
However, it's certainly not the only carnival worth your attention.
Ventnor's Carnival is (apparently) the second oldest in England whilst Shanklin's carnival has been going for more than 125 years.
Sandown, Newport and Ventnor carnivals are also busy.
Yarmouth's Carnival is a week long thing with lots of fun community events, such as crabbing competitions. St Helens also has a carnival. I've not been to that one, but it's a lovely seaside spot with a nice feel to it.
However, it's certainly not the only carnival worth your attention.
Ventnor's Carnival is (apparently) the second oldest in England whilst Shanklin's carnival has been going for more than 125 years.
Sandown, Newport and Ventnor carnivals are also busy.
Yarmouth's Carnival is a week long thing with lots of fun community events, such as crabbing competitions. St Helens also has a carnival. I've not been to that one, but it's a lovely seaside spot with a nice feel to it.
When are the Isle of Wight’s carnivals?
Dates for carnivals on the Isle of Wight move a bit but they tend to take place during the school summer holidays. The illuminated processions are usually towards the end of August to exploit the earlier sunsets.
In recent years, Newport's main carnival has been first, followed by Sandown Carnival, Shanklin Carnival, Cowes Carnival, Ventnor Carnival, St Helens Carnival and Ryde Carnival at the end of the summer holidays.
We don't have dates for the 2024 Isle of Wight carnivals yet but here are the 2023 dates, which are sometimes a good indication of when next year's events will take place (don't blame me if it's not).
In recent years, Newport's main carnival has been first, followed by Sandown Carnival, Shanklin Carnival, Cowes Carnival, Ventnor Carnival, St Helens Carnival and Ryde Carnival at the end of the summer holidays.
We don't have dates for the 2024 Isle of Wight carnivals yet but here are the 2023 dates, which are sometimes a good indication of when next year's events will take place (don't blame me if it's not).
- July 22nd 2023 - Newport Main Carnival (1900 start)
- July 29th 2023 - Sandown Children's Carnival (1200 start)
- July 29th 2023 - Sandown Main Carnival (1900 start)
- July 30th 2023 - Shanklin Children's Carnival (1400 start)
- August 2nd 2023 - Shanklin Main Carnival (1900 start)
- August 5th 2023 - Shanklin Illuminated Carnival (1900 start)
- August 9th 2023 - Ventnor Children's Carnival (1200 start)
- August 9th 2023 - Ventnor Grand Carnival and Fireworks (1900 start)
- August 12th 2023 - Ventnor Illuminated Carnival (2100 start)
- August 24th 2023 - Newport Illuminated Carnival (2100 start)
- August 26th 2023 - Ryde Children's Carnival Day (1100 - 1500)
- August 30th 2023 - Sandown Illuminated Carnival (2030 start)
- August 31st 2023 - Ryde Main Carnival (1830 start)
- September 2nd 2023 - Ryde Illuminated Carnival (2030 start)
I'll add 2024 dates when I spot them. Organisers, please feel free to contact us if you prefer.
If anyone spots an error, please contact us quicker than a seagull on chips! Some of these dates came directly from the organisers' websites, others came from the Newport Carnival page.
See further down the page for the starting points and routes which the carnivals usually follow.
Where should I watch the Isle of Wight's carnivals from?
Carnival routes tend to change due to things like roadworks, but we've attempted to compile the routes for the main processions in 2022.
If any organisers want to let me know that I've got it wrong, or that they've changed - please get in touch.
My experience of Isle of Wight Carnivals is that you have two choices.
You can either head for a busy area if you like a bit of atmosphere or a quieter area if you are four foot tall and want to see something.
Carnivals tend to be at their busiest as they pass through high streets and are less busy around residential streets.
If any organisers want to let me know that I've got it wrong, or that they've changed - please get in touch.
My experience of Isle of Wight Carnivals is that you have two choices.
You can either head for a busy area if you like a bit of atmosphere or a quieter area if you are four foot tall and want to see something.
Carnivals tend to be at their busiest as they pass through high streets and are less busy around residential streets.
Ryde Carnival Route (main parade, subject to change)
Ryde's Main Carnival usually takes place at the end of August or start of September. It's hugely popular and it also covers a pretty steep hill which adds to the entertainment.
The floats usually assemble at the seafront near to the Waterside Swimming pool and then follow this route clockwise, along the Esplanade, Dover Street, Park Road, High Street and back along the Esplanade.
The floats usually assemble at the seafront near to the Waterside Swimming pool and then follow this route clockwise, along the Esplanade, Dover Street, Park Road, High Street and back along the Esplanade.
Sandown Carnival Route (main parade, subject to change)
Sandown's carnival usually starts around Sandown Library and follows this clockwise route along the High Street, Beachfield Road, Royal Crescent, Fitzroy Street, Station Avenue and Albert Road.
The children's carnival takes a different route in Sandown, which involves going from Sandown Pier to Sandham Gardens in a straight line.
Shanklin Carnival Route (Main parade, subject to change)
It took me a while to figure out the route for Shanklin's main carnival, as most descriptions were a series of road names rather than maps.
Anyway, here's my best attempt.
Shanklin's Carnival assembles at Popham Road and then follows the route clockwise past the Old Village, High Street, Regent Street, Queens Road and Chine Avenue.
Anyway, here's my best attempt.
Shanklin's Carnival assembles at Popham Road and then follows the route clockwise past the Old Village, High Street, Regent Street, Queens Road and Chine Avenue.
VEntnor Carnival Route (main parade, subject to change)
Mapping Ventnor Carnival's route was a bit of a challenge!
The carnival starts from Dudley Road and then goes via Pier Street, High Street, Victoria Street, Albert Street, then back to Pier Street and on to Church Street, Alpine Road and Park Avenue.
You'll notice that it avoids the seafront, presumably to save the carnival royalty from falling off as they drive up Bath Road.
The carnival starts from Dudley Road and then goes via Pier Street, High Street, Victoria Street, Albert Street, then back to Pier Street and on to Church Street, Alpine Road and Park Avenue.
You'll notice that it avoids the seafront, presumably to save the carnival royalty from falling off as they drive up Bath Road.
Newport Carnival Route (main parade, subject to change)
Newport's Main Carnival has a slightly peculiar start before following a simple route.
The parade meets around Church Litten, Town Lane and South Street and is then bunched up and sent off towards the bus station.
Newport Carnival then follows Upper St James Street, Trafalgar Road, Carisbrooke Road (The Mall) and goes through the High Street and onto Quay Street.
The parade meets around Church Litten, Town Lane and South Street and is then bunched up and sent off towards the bus station.
Newport Carnival then follows Upper St James Street, Trafalgar Road, Carisbrooke Road (The Mall) and goes through the High Street and onto Quay Street.
Cowes Carnival Route (main parade, subject to change)
Cowes Carnival has previously followed Ward Avenue, Park Road, Victoria Road, Mill Hill Road, Birmingham Road, Shooters Hill, Cowes High Street, Bath Road and the Parade.
Other carnivals
Yarmouth's Carnival in the West Wight is more of a week than a single event. In recent years they've had things like sandcastle building competitions, crabbing competitions and prizes for the best decorated house. There has been a parade in recent years, but I haven't yet established what the route is. We caught the end of it in 2023 and watched from where St James' Street meets the main road (River Road).
St Helens Carnival in the East Wight is another one where I haven't quite figured out the route!
St Helens Carnival in the East Wight is another one where I haven't quite figured out the route!
The-Isle-of-Wight-Guru-Don't-Blame-Us-Disclaimer™ All the information on this website is correct, as far as we know, but please do check details directly - and please contact us if you find anything inaccurate. Here's our full disclaimer.
