5 little-known facts about Ryde Carnival

If a vibrant party bursting with colours is your idea of a perfect holiday, then mark Ryde Carnival on your calendar. As the largest town on the Isle of Wight, Ryde is home to a number of attractions, ranging from museums to beaches to festivals. You may have heard about the carnival that takes place here, but the five facts below will provide some more information on the history and activities associated with this celebration. So grab your party hat to get in the spirit of all things fun and jump into the festivities!

A feat to be celebrated: The UK’s oldest carnival

Boasting an impressive history, Ryde Carnival is the oldest carnival in the UK. It takes place on the Isle of Wight and has been an official carnival since 1888. It was inspired by celebrations on the island in 1887 which marked the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The queen and her family were the carnival’s patrons until Queen Victoria died.

Not just one carnival but three

Ryde Carnival is made up of three carnivals, namely the Children’s Carnival, the Main Carnival and the Illuminated Carnival. The Children’s Carnival is the smallest of the Ryde Carnivals but as they say, dynamite comes in small packages and this carnival starts off with a bang! There are a number of fancy dress classes in which children can participate, including the Pairs in Fancy Dress and for children 4 years and under. The fantastic, colourful costumes are a delight to see. After the judging has taken place the children parade through Ryde with some incredible floats accompanying them. The Main Carnival takes place shortly after the Children’s Carnival and also involves a range of fancy dress classes in which prizes can be won before the participants parade through Ryde. The last carnival to take place is the Illuminated Carnival, which occurs a few weeks after the first two.

Fabulous designs to float your boat

There are amazing floats to be seen in the carnivals. An incredible amount of work goes into creating these magnificent tableaux. A float and associated costumes generally take around 4000 hours on average to complete, with people working on the creations for several months before the carnivals take place. There are many things to consider, such as making sure the float is balanced correctly and is safe to ride on. In addition, designers must ensure that promotional items such as posters, flyers and the carnival magazine are coordinated in terms of colour schemes. In fact, there isn’t much of a break, merely a few weeks, between the carnivals being staged and preparations beginning for the next year’s carnivals.

Two fun competitions not to be missed

Associated with Ryde Carnival are two competitions that will keep adults and children alike well entertained. One is the Colouring Competition and the second is the Window Spotting Competition, where shops place unusual items in their window displays and the goal is to spot which items are the odd ones out. These activities are a great way to get all members of the family involved in the festivities.

Costumes seek new adventures after Ryde Carnival

The biggest Ryde Carnival is the Illuminated Carnival which attracts thousands of spectators each year. The Illuminated Carnival is put together with assistance from the likes of Kinetika Arts International, a design company that creates incredible costumes and carnival decorations. However, the fun doesn’t stop for the costumes once the Ryde Carnival has passed. Costumes are created in school workshops and often travel to other carnivals and festivals after the Ryde Carnival has finished so that these colourful creations can be enjoyed by thousands of more people.

Get ready to party

Ryde Carnival is bursting with colour and has an amazing celebratory atmosphere that will provide a holiday experience to remember. Suitable for young and old, everybody is bound to have a good time. Plus with an array of camping and caravanning sites on the Isle of Wight to choose from, you can find your ideal base from which to explore Ryde and party until you drop!