The Isle of Wight carnival season kicks off soon and no better way to start than with the annual arts parade, which this year, has the theme of ‘Amazing Journeys’.
Taking place on the 3rd July, the parade which has been organised by the Council’s Carnival Learning Centre will start, and finish at Simeon Street Recreation Ground in Ryde.
The route and times have been changed from those you might use used to from previous years. This is as the parade will be a dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the Natwest Island Games. The parade is part of a four year programme leading up to the London 2012 Olympics.
Huge amount of work from students
The Carnival Learning Centre have been working with schools and carnival arts groups to make this year’s parade bigger and brighter than ever, everyone has been working hard creating costumes to be used throughout the season.
Schools have interpreted what the theme ‘Amazing Journey’ means in different ways; Ryde High School celebrated the first circumnavigation of the globe in ‘Sails on the Waves’ and Mayfield Middle School celebrated the caterpillars’ journey to become a butterfly.
The Giant White Bull
The giant white bull will be the centrepiece of the event. The bull was created as part of the Europa project to mark the beginning of the UK Centre of Carnival Arts in Luton last year.
Europa was inspired by the mythical story in which a woman was abducted by Zeus, in the form of a tamed white bull and her journey to becoming the first Queen of Crete.
The parade starts at Simeon Recreation Ground at 6pm, it will then proceed along the Esplanade, Dover Street, Start Street, Union Street and then back to Simeon Recreation Ground.
If you want to take part next year
To be involved with neat year’s parade, you need to register with the Carnival Learning Centre by Friday 9 July 2010.
Visit their Website or call Frankie Goldspink on 01983 817282 for more details.
Image: © Debs Allan
