08/08/2008 by admin.

Thanks to the hard work of our committee and our young troupe the Ryde Carnival Association float has won a 2nd place at the Sandown Main Carnival which was held on 30th July and a 3rd place at Shanklin Main Carnival on 6th August. Well Done everyone!

Here are some photographs from the Shanklin Carnival on Wednesday.

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06/07/2008 by admin.

It will take a week or so for all the photographs (all 700 plus of them!!) to be sorted through of this years Arts Festival Parade. So what I have decided to do was give you a little taster of the colour and spectacle of this years parade.

I must say that the theme “Weird Science” was covered from such a variety of different angles that this has got to be the best parade yet. I hope that you will all agree. It was a bit windy so some of the costume weren’t in their full splendor, but that didn’t detract from the end result. The Junkanoo were placed nearer the end of the parade although originally they were meant to front it, but sometimes it’s best to keep the “Best till Last” and this was certainly the case, they were LOUD!! and highly colourful with the crowds cheering them on. Even the High Commissioner of the Bahamas joined in! He played the Cow Bells during the parade, wouldn’t it be nice if our councillors on the Island let their hair down occasionally, well certainly the Leader of the Council Arthur Taylor was game and he happily joined in with the Junkanoo when they performed to the crowd at the Western Gardens after the parade had ended, they received rapturous applause from the crowd who were treated to a second performance.

I hope that you will all enjoy this tiny taster of photographs.

Jo Treagus Heading the parade with RAW Samba

Nettlestone Primary School

Greenmount Primary School

Ryde House Carnival Group

Downside School

Arch Bishop King Middle School

Chris Harris from Masquerydes’ Stilt walking troupe

Bishop Lovett School

Ryde High School

Junkanoo Drummer

Junkanoo Uphonium player

Junkanoo Cow Bell player

The High Commissioner of the Bahamas with Arthur Taylor the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council and Junkanoo artists Angelique and Barabbas

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05/07/2008 by admin.

Don’t forget to come and support the Arts Festival Parade in Ryde today.

It starts at 1.15pm from Park Road, continues along Star Street, turning in to the High Street the continuing down Union Street and finishes by LA Bowl at the Western Gardens.
Don’t miss the spectacular “JUNKANOO” from the Bahamas who start their UK tour here today in Ryde. What ever the weather has in store for us this should be one of the best Arts Festival Parades Ryde has seen since it began all those years ago.

Once the parade has finished don’t forget that you can enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening down at the Western Gardens watching the bands and seeing a live performance of the Junkanoo Troupe playing traditional music from the Bahamas at 4.00pm. To top off the evening there will be a spectacular fireworks display.

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05/07/2008 by admin.

Despite the weather not being that clement, a group of hardy Islanders came to watch the bands doing their gigs down at the Western gardens in Ryde. The Music was brilliant and although we kept being hit by rain showers during the evening it didn’t stop us from having a dance and enjoying some of our local bands. The highlight of the evening had to be the Maxwell Brothers who ran through a variety of popular Rock anthems. They left the best till last, playing a Hendrix set, with their lead guitarist putting on a wonderful display of his incredible talent!
Here a a few photos of the evening:-

Cathy and Paul Jiving in the Rain

Rain doesn’t stop the fun!

Risky Business

Risky Business

The Maxwell Brothers

Drumming Heaven

The Lead Guitarists

Watching a master do his thing

Probably the Best Guitarist on the Island!

That “Hendrix” Moment!

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05/07/2008 by admin.

The Arts Festival started today it’s 6th year. The town will be looking forward to all things art related.

Tomorrow - Saturday 5th July is the first Carnival of the season on the Island. The Arts Festival Parade starts at 1.15pm and ends about 3.00pm it will be a feast of colour, fun, comedy and wonderful costumes. The highlight of the parade is going to be the JUNKANOO - they are a visiting Carnival troupe from the Bahamas, they will be rushing around the route in their wonderful costumes and playing their own style of carnival music, the like of which the Island has never seen, please turn out and support our visitors with a wonderful Island welcome.

Also running in conjunction with the festival this weekend (Friday 4th, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th) is the Ryde Regatta, supported by the Ryde Town Council and Ryde Rotary, the Regatta is billed has the “LARGEST MUSIC FESTIVAL ON THE ISLAND” there is a fantastic mix of local and visiting bands from the mainland.

The Regatta kicks off with a spectacular set by local musicians on Friday. This is the first time the Regatta has had a Friday Evening Slot.

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05/07/2008 by admin.

Although the future of the carnival is still in the balance, members of the Ryde Carnival Association have been working very hard behind the scenes to raise funds towards future carnivals.  From Games Nights to selling advertising space in our programme we are raising awareness in the Ryde community that if things don’t get better the carnival will disappear into oblivion.

Our chairperson Mel Payn ran a games night at her house which raised £85.00. 

The 60s and 70s Nostalgia Night on the 31st May was a big hit with the local community, we raised £390. We would like to thank our sponsors for the evening The Ryde Castle Hotel, who hosted the event.

After another successful sponsored “Bag Pack” at Ryde Somerfield’s on 28th June raised £500 for the Ryde Carnival Association funds. Five members of the committee worked very hard again from 10.00am that morning until 4.00pm packing shoppers bags for them, we would like to thank everyone who donated money for the work carried out.

Our publicity officer Claire Kay has been able to secure 17 adverts from local companies in Ryde and beyond. These businesses have enabled us to cover the full production costs of this years’ Programme without using money from our budget for this year. By purchasing these adverts these local companies are showing their support for this wonderful event. The Ryde Carnival Association in support for these businesses have added their businesses to our route map and are giving them 12 months Free advertising on the website, this is the Associations way of thanking these businesses for their continued support.

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23/04/2008 by admin.

This article appeared in The Isle of Wight County Press last weekend and it highlights the seriousness of our situation. Mel Payn the Chairperson of Ryde Carnival Association, has reiterated the problems that we face after Claire Kay, our web ,had raised the issue the week before with IW Radio and Meridian TV. All we ask is that the community of Ryde help keep the carnival going. Nothing could be worse than in a few years local businesses complaining that they have lost approximately £1 million in revenue because the carnival folded.

By Emily Pearce - Thursday, April 17, 2008 IW County Press.
A WARNING has been issued Ryde Carnival might be forced to fold, due to lack of money.
Organisers have blamed the community for bringing the carnival, thought to be the oldest such street festival in the country, to the brink of closure.
Mel Payn, chairman of Ryde Carnival Association, said: “The carnival costs around £10,000 to stage each year and most of that comes from street collections and other fundraising. We also receive £1,000 from Ryde Town Management Committee, which comes from the budget allocated by the IW Council but that amount is not guaranteed every year.
“The real problem is the lack of community support for the carnival. I just don’t think people are aware of the cost and where we get the money from. Lots of people who watch the carnival are very generous but I would estimate around half of the spectators don’t give anything at all. About 45,000 people alone  watch the illuminated carnival and if they put in just 50p each we would raise more than £20,000.
“This is not a gripe at the council. Of course, we would love to have more money from it but it’s really up to the community to support the carnival. It brings more money into the community than any other event and businesses, which stand to gain the most from it, could definitely be more helpful when it comes to collecting money.
“At the moment, we do not have enough money in the budget for the next two years. I would implore people to put just £1 in our buckets.
“Where else could you get such great entertainment for that amount of money? Ryde Carnival is a fantastic spectacle and a great cultural event. It really is worth saving.”

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12/04/2008 by admin.

Ryde Carnival Association and Ryde Castle Hotel are pleased to announce a 1960s and 1970s Nostalgia Night.

The event is being held at Ryde Castle Hotel on
Saturday
31st May 2008
from 7.30pm until Midnight.

Our entertainment is provided by Dave Cannon’s Solent City Sounds with special guest Dave Graham from the Tornados

Admission is by TICKET ONLY
Tickets cost £5.00 and are available from
Gladrags, Union Street, Ryde
Ryde Tourist Information , Union Street, Ryde
and
Taylermade Entertainment Agency  - Telephone number 01983 614257

Please come and support this fund raising event.

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12/04/2008 by admin.

Welcome to Ryde Carnival’s new blog.
We hope to be adding information on a regular basis with regards to the carnival and our various activities.

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