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Isle of Wight carnivals

Each major town hosts an evening of colourful frivolity as a stream of floats make their way through the centre of town. Thousands of onlookers line the streets to catch a glimpse of Rio on the Isle of Wight. Floats are hugely varied and carry pageant queens, local community groups and even pets in fancy dress! If you’re looking for things to do on the Island, attending a carnival is a box you have to tick.

As well as being quite a spectacle, the Isle of Wight carnivals have their own claim to fame. The town of Ryde hosts the oldest carnival in the UK.

Queen Victoria was a patron of the carnival which first took place in 1887 in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee. Make sure you check the 'whats on' calendar when you’re choosing which carnival to attend. Most carnivals happen in the daylight, but some towns host an illuminated carnival where the procession parades through the night, creating a fantastic light display. All carnivals are free to attend and are very popular, with up to 40,000 people lining the streets to take part in the celebrations, so make sure you arrive early to grab a great viewing spot.

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Number of results: 16

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Ongoing Events

Sandown Children's Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

SANDOWN

Join in the fun of Children's Day with Sandown Carnival Children's Procession! See website for carnival route.

Dates

From:

26 July 2025to26 July 2025
Sandown Main Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

SANDOWN

Join in with the carnival fun with Sandown's Main Procession! See website for carnival route.

Dates

From:

26 July 2025to26 July 2025
Newport Main Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

NEWPORT

Carnival fever comes to the Island's capital town, various locations around Newport. See website for procession route.

Dates

From:

2 Aug 2025to2 Aug 2025
Shanklin Children's Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

SHANKLIN

Join in the fun of the Shanklin Children's Carnival!
See website for Procession route.

Dates

From:

3 Aug 2025to3 Aug 2025
Shanklin Main Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

SHANKLIN

Join in the carnival fun at Shanklin's Main Procession! See website for route details.

Dates

From:

6 Aug 2025to6 Aug 2025
Sandown Bay Regatta

Type

Type:

Carnival

SANDOWN

Annual summer celebration of Sandown Bay with FREE family entertainment from the stage, beach fun at the Beach Sports Arena and a street market lining Sandown Esplanade.
Saturday 9th August 2025
Sunday 10th August 2025
Keep an eye…

Dates

From:

9 Aug 2025to10 Aug 2025
Shanklin Illuminated Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

SHANKLIN

Experience all the fun of the carnival at night, with Shanklin's Illuminated Procession!
See website for details of the route.

Dates

From:

9 Aug 2025to9 Aug 2025
Ventnor Children's Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

VENTNOR

Fun for all the family at Ventnor Carnival's Children's Procession!
See website for route details.

Dates

From:

13 Aug 2025to13 Aug 2025
Ventnor Main Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

VENTNOR

Join in the carnival fun of Ventnor's Main Procession followed by a grand firework display!
Please see website for more details.

Dates

From:

13 Aug 2025to13 Aug 2025
Ventnor Illuminated Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

VENTNOR

Join in with the carnival fun of Ventnor's Illuminated Procession!
Please see website for route details.

Dates

From:

16 Aug 2025to16 Aug 2025
Newport Illuminated Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

NEWPORT

Join in the carnival fun with Newport's Illuminated Procession!
Please see website for route details.

Dates

From:

21 Aug 2025to21 Aug 2025
Ryde Children's Carnival Day

Type

Type:

Carnival

RYDE

Join Ryde Carnival for some free family fun as we celebrate Children's Carnival Day. Lots of activities and entertainment will take place in different locations around Ryde town centre. Activities will include story time, junk modelling competition,…

Dates

From:

23 Aug 2025to23 Aug 2025
St Helens Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

ST HELENS

Welcome to the time honoured tradition of St Helens Carnival.
At well over 100 years old it's one of the oldest carnivals in the Country!
Please see website for more details.

Dates

From:

25 Aug 2025to25 Aug 2025
Sandown Illuminated Carnival

Type

Type:

Carnival

SANDOWN

Join in the fun and spectacle of Sandown's Illuminated Carnival!
Please see website for route details.

Dates

From:

27 Aug 2025to27 Aug 2025
Ryde Carnival Main Procession

Type

Type:

Carnival

RYDE

Joyous and inspirational, Ryde Carnival brings a dazzling end to summer on the Isle of Wight. All are welcome to enjoy the entertaining parades that light up the coastal town with fun, colour and carnival spirit. Ryde Carnival is the oldest…

Dates

From:

28 Aug 2025to28 Aug 2025
Ryde Carnival Illuminated Procession

Type

Type:

Carnival

RYDE

The very last carnival of the summer, Ryde Carnival's illuminated procession is a fabulous spectacle of light and music that rounds the Isle of Wight carnival season off in style.

Join the crowds and take in the atmosphere as the carnival parades…

Dates

From:

30 Aug 2025to30 Aug 2025

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Isle of Wight carnivals

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The Isle of Wight is a hub of activity all year round. Subscribe to our newsletter here to receive our latest stories, holiday or short break ideas, competitions and interesting events.

like, follow, share....join in!