Ryde Main Carnival
Ryde Carnival is the oldest in the UK, dating back to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1887. Recently the carnival and taken the form of a three part event, spread out over a couple of weeks and culminating with their illuminated carnival which is the last of the season.
Ryde’s main carnival parade takes place at the end of August. It is a huge and incredibly well attended event. Almost all the participants of the season’s previous carnivals come to join this huge parade. The route is long and hilly but the revellers keep incredible energy all the way around. People of all ages take part in and watch this event and it is one of the highlights of the town’s year.
Ryde Illuminated Carnival
Ryde Illuminated carnival is not only the finale of the town’s carnival season, button the entire Isle of Wights. The entire event takes place after dark and sees hundreds of people bedecked in light. It is an exciting event, especially for children who are allowed to stay up late to join in. The streets are packed with onlookers throughout the route. Entire families enjoying one final hurrah before everyone returns to school and real life.
Our Commission
We were commissioned to photograph these events by Ryde Arts as part of the ‘Waving the Flag’ project.
During the project we also photographed workshops from The New Carnival Company and Shademakers, plus The Children’s Carnival Day.
The Waving the Flag project supports the development of Ryde Carnival and is the cultural programme of Ryde High-street Action Zone. It is funded by Historic England , Arts Council England and The National Lottery, Heritage Fund UK.
Thank you for inviting us to record these events, we had a fantastic time!
