Carnival Season Hits Top Gear As Season Comes To An End

Hot on the heels of East Cowes’ first carnival for 30 years and the annual Bank Holiday parade in St Helen’s, this week sees three big Island carnivals to round off the 2025 season.

First, it's Sandown Illuminated Carnival at 8.30pm tomorrow evening (Wednesday 27 August), featuring the spectacular costumes of both Shademakers UK and the New Carnival Company along with marching and samba bands, colourful floats and an array of community participants.

Then it’s Ryde Main Carnival on Thursday 28th at 6.30pm, followed by Ryde Illuminated Carnival on Saturday 30th at 8.30pm.

Sandown Carnival’s Paul Coueslant says:

"It’s been an exciting season and we can’t wait to put on a spectacular final show tomorrow.

"Our friends in Ryde will be gearing up to do the same, before we all start planning for 2026 and making sure the Island's long carnival tradition stays a favourite part of the summer"