10/11/2011 by admin.

Ryde Carnival Association are pleased to announce the dates for Ryde Carnival 2012, they are:-

Children’s Carnival Friday 10th August 2012

Main Carnival Saturday 11th August 2012

Illuminated Carnival 1st September 2012

The date for the Ryde Arts Festival parade are still to be finalised, and may be the 30th June 2012 we will confirm this date as soon as possible.

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30/10/2011 by admin.

An open meeting of the Ryde Carnival Association is being held at the Carnival Learning Centre, Westridge, Ryde. on Wednesday 9th November 2011 from 7.30pm. Any one who lives in the Ryde and District area and are interested in joining the association or helping during the carnival season for 2012 are welcome to attend.

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28/04/2011 by admin.

You have the oportunity to vote for Ryde Carnival as one of the Great Events in Great Britian. To vote hit this link http://www.thegreatexhibition2012.co.uk/greats/ryde-carnival?fbu=591946531 and register, you can even add your own choice as well.

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03/12/2010 by admin.

The blue sky meeting at the Carnival Learning Centre on Thursday 2nd December at 7.30 - 8.30. Has been  postponed until Thursday 9th December because of the unpresendated snow we have had on the island for the last few day.

If you can’t make it, but want to help, support, offer advice please give me a ring or email.

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03/12/2010 by admin.

The Carnival Learning Centre regrets that tomorrows (Saturday 4th December) annual Ryde Lantern Parade will not be going ahead as planned. Many lanterns are sill locked in schools which remain closed and with such uncertainty over the weather situation we cannot guarantee the safety and wellbeing of both participants and public.

.We are optimistic that we will be able to organise a scaled down event including the firework finale on Wednesday 15th December. We hope you can make it!!

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25/08/2010 by admin.

The foul weather we’re currently having, has caused the cancellation of Sandown Illuminated Carnival tonight 25th August 2010.

What bad luck this is the second year in a row that this has happened. Please remember to keep hold of your costumes so that you can support our friends at Sandown Carnival Committee at their 5th November celebration which will now included the carnival procession.

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21/07/2010 by admin.

The Arts festival parade was held at the beginning of July this year and proved to be a spectaclar success.

The Parade started later than previous years as a test run for the event in 2011, when the parade starts the Island Games which are being hosted on the island, starting on 26th June and finishing on the 1st of July 2011.

For the first time in many years since Ryde Carnival association had stopped using the Simeon Street Recreation ground as a start point the various groups from both the island and mainland set up their tableaux’s in bright sun shine with a slight breeze. The Parade kicked off at 6pm with Raw Samba heading the parade along a packed Esplanade. The performers put on a fabulous show that delighted and entertained all ages.

With cheers and clapping from the crowds, it made the performers keep up their endless performing, which wound it’s way around the town, and then finishing back at Simeon Street Recreation Ground. It was wonderful to hear the comments from many of the audience who said that the parade was one of the best that they had seen in many a year.

A big thanks should go to all the performers, their artistic directors and the Carnival Learning Centre for putting on such a well organised carnival. I’m sure that we alll can’t wait for the Parade next year which should be one of the biggest the island has ever seen.

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14/08/2009 by admin.

This August Bank Holiday (30/31 August) thousands of people will take to the streets of London for the multi-cultural Notting Hill Carnival, the second largest street festival in the world after Rio.  But meanwhile, the UK’s oldest carnival parade whose rich history can be traced back to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of 1887, will take place in the delightful seaside town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight (19/22 August and 5 September).

Throughout the summer, Islanders stage over a dozen carnivals culminating in the last carnival of the season at the end of the summer holidays - the ultimate carnival at Ryde.   A fantastic spectacle featuring over 2000 performers and dozens of colourful floats with musical influences from Rio Samba, Trinidad Street Pan as well as local Isle of Wight musicians, the event is held over 3 days giving visitors plenty of opportunity to party as they watch the parades make their dazzling journey through the town and along the seafront.

Ryde Carnival is reputed to be the oldest established carnival is England. The first true event was held in 1888 but the real origins extend a year further back to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of 1887.    These days, while still maintaining a distinct Island character, the flamboyantly dressed dancers, creative carnival floats and giant costumed characters are more akin to Rio than Ryde.

There are three parades to choose from but the Illuminated Carnival is the most spectacular:

Children’s Carnival - Wednesday 19 August
Main Carnival – Saturday 22 August
Illuminated Carnival - Saturday 5 September

For start times and procession routes please visit www.rydecarnival.co.uk

In recent years, the Isle of Wight has developed strong ties with Notting Hill Carnival with many of the organisers visiting after the Bank Holiday either to spectate or take part in Ryde Carnival bringing their vibrancy and colour to an Island reminiscent of Notting Hill’s Caribbean carnival roots.

The Isle of Wight is extremely proud of its carnival heritage and was the first county in the UK to set up a Carnival Learning Centre dedicated to enhance Ryde and other Isle of Wight carnivals by bringing a distinctive new flavour to the existing carnival traditions.

Creative courses at the Isle of Wight Council-managed centre include learning how to make the flamboyant costumes, masks and headgear for the huge floats and parades.  Visitors can get involved in a wide range of one-off taster sessions and weekend workshops. Check the website www.thecarnivallearningcentre.org for latest information and prices.

It’s simple to get to the Isle of Wight, there are up to 350 ferry crossings a day from Portsmouth, Southampton, Lymington and Southsea.  Once you’re there it’s easy to get around, ferry routes connect directly with the Island’s road, rail and coach links.

For details on how to get to the Isle of Wight, where to stay and what to see and do,  visit www.islandbreaks.co.uk or telephone 01983 813813.

This article has been kindly supplied by Isle of Wight Council’s Tourism Division

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15/07/2009 by admin.

The Ryde Arts Festival Parade took place today 11th July with as wonderful display , now in it’s 7th year it grows from strength to strength.

The parade is a showcase of all the hard work that local schools and community groups do to brighten up the streets of Ryde before the main carnival season kicks off next weekend. Schools and groups from Ryde and Newport were joined by Dot-to-Dot from Paulsgrove Portsmouth as well as Ryde House and the Isle of Wight College.

Despite the drizzle it was warm and spirits were kept high by the promise of good crowds. The carnival artists were not disappointed! Crowds lined the route from Dover Park , the High Street and Union Street.

New flags designed and produced by local artists in a course run by Sharon George of Mas Fusion for the Carnival Centre and the NCFE Level 3 students showcased their costumes for the first time. As usual the costumes were beautiful and covered so many different aspect of childhood games, from Dart boards to Nursery Rhymes an event not to be missed.

View the Ryde Arts Festival 2009  gallery here

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09/02/2009 by admin.

Ryde Carnival Association are holding a 80s & 90s Night to raise funds towards the running of this years carnival.
It will be held at
Ryde Castle Hotel
on Saturday 11th April 2009
from 7.30pm - 12.00 Midnight
Tickets are £5.00 each and can be purchased from various venues in Ryde, including The Bagel Wrap and Fired Art.
Fancy Dress is optional
There will be a fund raising raffle with a variety of prizes.
All are welcome from the very young to the young at heart.

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