As is traditional at the end of Cowes Week, tonight the home to the world’s most famous sailing regatta, will celebrate with a firework finale.
As a special treat, the evening’s event is kicked off with an aerial performance by the RAF Typhoon Display Team from 19.10.
Before you’ve had time to recover from the ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhhs’, The Red Arrows will be zooming into the Cowes skies (at 19.30) for their 50th display year.
The firework finale doesn’t start until 21.30, but it’s always worth the wait, with a fantastic show on offer.
Floating bridge
The council issued a reminder earlier today that a special service for pedestrians only will be in operation on the floating bridge in Cowes tonight between from 6pm to 11pm.
The only vehicles to be carried will be emergency vehicles. All other vehicles will be diverted via Newport.
There will be restrictions to the number of people allowed on the floating bridge at any one time, a queuing system will be in operation from 6.30pm.
Parking
It can be very hard to find a parking spaces on the evening of Cowes Week fireworks, so if you’re planning to drive to Cowes, you’d be advised to get there early.
Northwood House offer daily car parking on the lawns off Ward Ave, and The Isle Of Wight Community Club on Park Road are offering parking for just £3, with an easy walk into town to see the fireworks.
Roads
Additional traffic and waiting restrictions will be introduced later today. The restrictions will be in operation from the afternoon / evening on Thursday 7 August 2014. Some restrictions will be removed early on the morning on Saturday 9 August and others on Sunday 10 August 2014.
THE PARADE will be closed to vehicles from 5pm on Friday 8 August until the early hours on Saturday 9 August 2014 in the interests of pedestrian safety.
Also Terminus Road, High Street, Bath Road, Carvel Lane, Union Road, Church Road, Market Hill, Sun Hill, Lower Baring Road, Castle Hill, Castle Road and Bars Hill will be closed from 6pm until at least 1am on Saturday 9 August 2014.
Vehicular access to Fountain Quay (Red Funnel terminal) will not be possible from 3.30pm on Friday 8 until approx. 3am on Saturday 9 August 2014. Temporary taxi ranks will be provided in Birmingham Road and in Park Road, which will be located on the northwest side of the road on the War Avenue side of the entrance to Park Road Car Park. Southern Vectis will be operating additional bus services from Newport to Cowes before & after the display. The services will operate to & from Carvel Lane. Terminus Road will be closed from 6pm until at least 1am to allow for this.
Traffic diversions will be required due to the high amount of traffic leaving Cowes, Gurnard and East Cowes area after the fireworks.
Some traffic will be diverted via Rew Street, Whitehouse Road, Vittlesfield Cross and A3054 Forest Road. Details will be clearly signposted. Considerable delays will occur during this time.
Image: Simon Haytackunder CC BY 2.0
