Thousands flocked to Sandown for the annual Regatta on Sunday, with the organisers hailing the event as one of the town’s biggest for years.
Crowds on a packed seafront enjoyed a day of non-stop family entertainment, including the popular Grand Regatta Hat Parade on Eastern Beach and a spectacular fireworks finale in the evening.
![A packed Sandown Esplanade for the Regatta street market (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/A-packed-Sandown-Esplanade-for-the-Regatta-street-market-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival.jpg)
![Regatta fireworks (photo by Ben Holbrook)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Regatta-fireworks-photo-by-Ben-Holbrook.jpg)
Coueslant: An historic summer landmark for the town since 1857
Sandown Carnival, organisers of the Regatta since 2022, were delighted with the event’s success. Carnival Chair Paul Coueslant said,
“It was fantastic to see the town come to life in such a big way. The Esplanade was incredibly busy from the moment the street market opened at 10am, and the crowds kept coming all the way up to the fireworks display at 9.15pm.
“We were overwhelmed by so many appreciative comments we had from visitors and residents who clearly enjoyed themselves.
“Sandown Bay Regatta has been an historic summer landmark for the town since 1857 and this year’s event has been the biggest since we took it over.”
A weekend of fun
The Regatta fun started on Saturday with a dog show and samba drumming workshop at Sandham Gardens.
![Joe Plumb of Horse Box Theatre provided family entertainment on the Regatta stage (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Joe-Plumb-of-Horse-Box-Theatre-provided-family-entertainment-on-the-Regatta-stage-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival.jpg)
On Sunday, the street market opened with music from Wight Diamonds Band, followed by entertainment in two separate performance areas along the Esplanade.
![Wight Diamonds Band opened proceedings on the Esplanade (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Wight-Diamonds-Band-opened-proceedings-on-the-Esplanade-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival.jpg)
Grand Hat Parade
A little further along the seafront, the Eastern Beach Arena hosted the Hat Parade, the climax to weeks of community creativity at The Regatta Hat Factory, an initiative on the High Street supported by the Arts Council England Lottery Fund.
![Hat Factory regulars show off their creations (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Hat-Factory-regulars-show-off-their-creations-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival-1024x717.jpg)
![Parade of under-12s hats](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Parade-of-under-12s-hats-1024x644.jpg)
![The Grand Regatta Hat Parade (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/The-Grand-Regatta-Hat-Parade-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival-1024x589.jpg)
![Julie Hannam spent hours at the Hat Factory working on 'Seagull Stealing Chips', winning the Mad Hatter award for most eccentric creation (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Julie-Hannam-spent-hours-at-the-Hat-Factory-working-on-Seagull-Stealing-Chips-winning-the-Mad-Hatter-award-for-most-eccentric-creation-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival--792x1024.jpg)
![Isle of Wight Council Chair Karl Love congratulates Sandown Hat Factory regular Freya, overall winner for Best Regatta Hat (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Isle-of-Wight-Council-Chair-Karl-Love-congratulates-Sandown-Hat-Factory-regular-Freya-overall-winner-for-Best-Regatta-Hat-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival-887x1024.jpg)
![Judges Karl Love, Rosie Wolfenden and Dadina Sagger chose this young entrant as winner of Best Hat created by under-12s (photo by Tracy Mikich)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Judges-Karl-Love-Rosie-Wolfenden-and-Dadina-Sagger-chose-this-young-entrant-as-winner-of-Best-Hat-created-by-under-12s-photo-by-Tracy-Mikich-1024x1005.jpg)
Beach games galore
The Arena also saw traditional beach games like tug of war, sack race and ever-popular egg and spoon, alongside a Punch and Judy show and music provided throughout the day by Soundwaves Entertainment.
![2024 Tug of War winners The Beach Hutters, champions for the second year running (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/2024-Tug-of-War-winners-The-Beach-Hutters-champions-for-the-second-year-running-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival-1024x792.jpg)
![Tug of War supporters get involved (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Tug-of-War-supporters-get-involved-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival-1024x683.jpg)
![More young sack racers (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/More-young-sack-racers-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival-1024x686.jpg)
![Egg and spoon race (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Egg-and-spoon-race-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival-1024x733.jpg)
![A perfect day to enjoy a traditional Punch and Judy show (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/A-perfect-day-to-enjoy-a-traditional-Punch-and-Judy-show-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival-1024x933.jpg)
Like all Sandown Carnival’s events, the Regatta is run entirely by volunteers who depend on donations and sponsorship to make it all happen. Support is always welcomed via our website.
![Esplanade crowds (photo by Sandown Carnival)](https://onthewight.com/wp-content/2024/08/Esplanade-crowds-photo-by-Sandown-Carnival.jpg)
News shared by Paul on behalf of Sandown Carnival Association. Ed