Our thanks to Suzanne Whitewood for details of these Carnival Walks. Ed
Most people know of the Island’s long tradition of Carnivals. Towns vie with each other with claims of having held a carnival for the longest period of time.
Numbers of Island carnivals date back to the late 1800s and this year sees Ventnor celebrating 125 years of carnival, although the format for the annual events has certainly changed over the years.
Carnival Walks
In celebration of the Island’s carnival tradition walks have been held as part of this year’s Walking Festival.
Nine towns and villages where carnivals have been held over the years have been linked together with walks and displays of dance, music and banner waving.
These carnival towns and villages are: St Helens, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Newport, West Wight, Yarmouth, Cowes and Ryde.
Over 100 miles have been walked in five days culminating in a Grand Finale at Ryde.
Queen of Carnivals
During the months before the Walking Festival work – stops were organised by The New Carnival Company where nine large banners were made for the event each one dedicated to a carnival town or village and showing special items pertaining to that town and the date of the town’s first carnival.
Ryde named itself “Queen of Carnivals”. A number of the Island’s Carnival Associations joined in the walks and presentations.
Small flags have also been made by school and community groups in each of these nine areas and these were used on the walks and presentations.
