Isle of Wight Carnivals

The Isle of Wight is truly Carnival Crazy! With an average of 18 carnival parades each summer and up to 10 winter carnivals and lantern parades… there’s always something to see.

The season kicks off early in July with the famous Arts Parade in Ryde. An all-pedestrian parade of about 1000 schoolchildren and community groups in fabulous individually crafted creations – each year with a special theme. The parade gyrates through the town centre to the lively sounds of soca and samba music, the masqueraders performing stunning dance routines on the road.

Throughout the school holidays the season continues with local carnivals in most towns and seaside villages. The final and biggest of these is RYDE CARNIVAL, which ends the summer season in late August with parades featuring groups from all over the Island and the mainland too.