Carnival Island: Memories of Isle of Wight Carnivals

The streets were lined with British flags and local revellers, as bands played and a tradition spanning more than 130 years began. Today, carnivals are held in towns and villages across the Isle of Wight.

Schools, families and community groups don their cleverly created costumes and fill the streets with cheer, often raising money for good causes and community events. Only Covid has ever stopped the Island's carnival season in its tracks.

So we're celebrating the many years of merriment, with a look back at some moments in Isle of Wight carnival history, while we look forward to its return. We'd love to hear your carnival memories. Get in touch at hello@iwbeacon.com if you'd like to share them with us.

<div class="gm-photos cf small" data-controller="album" data-album-id-value="11924" data-album-images-value='[{"name":"Whitwell Carnival","descr":"","slug":"196976173_843791886514648_3860575776549790224_n","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=196976173_843791886514648_3860575776549790224_n","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f69dc459593.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f69dc459593.jpg"},{"name":"Tony Benton 'getting arrested' by the Keystone Cops. East Cowes Carnival","descr":"","slug":"west-wight-trevor-benton1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=west-wight-trevor-benton1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f176a88be6e.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f176a88be6e.jpg"},{"name":"Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell","descr":"","slug":"117969341_10158640908381182_7370498578482792069_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=117969341_10158640908381182_7370498578482792069_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1769e80065.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1769e80065.jpg"},{"name":"Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell","descr":"","slug":"117811254_10158640908391182_2032999553240477571_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=117811254_10158640908391182_2032999553240477571_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1769e428f6.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1769e428f6.jpg"},{"name":"Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell","descr":"","slug":"117778025_10158640908776182_4280862176487735561_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=117778025_10158640908776182_4280862176487735561_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1769d30cb8.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1769d30cb8.jpg"},{"name":"Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell","descr":"","slug":"117703254_10158640908826182_103925007665020709_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=117703254_10158640908826182_103925007665020709_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1769d0e786.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1769d0e786.jpg"},{"name":"Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell","descr":"","slug":"117699501_10158640908856182_1888632142863845437_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=117699501_10158640908856182_1888632142863845437_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1769c6f09d.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1769c6f09d.jpg"},{"name":"Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell","descr":"","slug":"117575201_10158640908436182_3957808092874084141_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=117575201_10158640908436182_3957808092874084141_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1769b5079a.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1769b5079a.jpg"},{"name":"Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell","descr":"","slug":"117677388_10158640908766182_3722243138440047712_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=117677388_10158640908766182_3722243138440047712_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1769b5540f.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1769b5540f.jpg"},{"name":"Sandown in the late 1950s. Image courtesy of Molly Anderson. Instagram: @molly_the_historian","descr":"","slug":"sandown-carnival-facebook1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=sandown-carnival-facebook1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f176902f926.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f176902f926.jpg"},{"name":"Sandown in the late 1950s. Image courtesy of Molly Anderson. Instagram: @molly_the_historian","descr":"","slug":"sandown-carnival-facebook-21","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=sandown-carnival-facebook-21","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1769025e56.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1769025e56.jpg"},{"name":"David Biles and Robert Cooper as Steptoe and Son in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Sam Biles.","descr":"","slug":"195448446_4318558224824022_172163829277277629_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=195448446_4318558224824022_172163829277277629_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f17676b3e36.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f17676b3e36.jpg"},{"name":"Newport Carnival. Around 1962.","descr":"","slug":"95655699_10222841323046257_3776233721653362688_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=95655699_10222841323046257_3776233721653362688_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f17676ac0ad.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f17676ac0ad.jpg"},{"name":"Cowes Carnival Queens.","descr":"","slug":"105990718_3678697372152488_5185372054384166146_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=105990718_3678697372152488_5185372054384166146_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f17669bcdc4.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f17669bcdc4.jpg"},{"name":"Whitwell. Early 1900s.","descr":"","slug":"image000131","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000131","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f176672d221.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f176672d221.jpeg"},{"name":"Ryde Carnival Queens at the 1972 St Helens Carnival","descr":"","slug":"image000121","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000121","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1766666538.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1766666538.jpeg"},{"name":".","descr":"","slug":"image000111","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000111","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f176658aac7.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f176658aac7.jpeg"},{"name":"Archie Warren on his steed.","descr":"","slug":"image000101","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000101","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f176653c969.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f176653c969.jpeg"},{"name":"Newport Carnival in the 1950s","descr":"","slug":"image000081","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000081","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f17663b4e40.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f17663b4e40.jpeg"},{"name":"1988 carnival queen, Beccy Harvey and 1939 carnival queen Joan Bartrum","descr":"","slug":"image000091","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000091","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f17663cf5d4.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f17663cf5d4.jpeg"},{"name":"Ryde Carnival. Around 1992","descr":"","slug":"image000061","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000061","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f17662e1a75.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f17662e1a75.jpeg"},{"name":"Newport Carnival 1930","descr":"","slug":"image000051","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000051","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f176623c0df.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f176623c0df.jpeg"},{"name":"Whitwell 1921","descr":"","slug":"image000041","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000041","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1766209735.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1766209735.jpeg"},{"name":"Whitwell","descr":"","slug":"image000021","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000021","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f17660b154b.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f17660b154b.jpeg"},{"name":"Whitwell","descr":"","slug":"image000031","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000031","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f17660aee37.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f17660aee37.jpeg"},{"name":"Bembridge Carnival with Carnival Queen, Shirley Hodge (nee Keeping) in the centre","descr":"","slug":"43278463_10156897675997577_2517212991393366016_n1","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=43278463_10156897675997577_2517212991393366016_n1","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1765feb388.jpg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1765feb388.jpg"},{"name":"Whitwell. Early 1900s.","descr":"","slug":"image000011","page_path":"\/news\/features\/carnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals\/?i=image000011","url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/386\/60f1766000c5f.jpeg","thumb_url":"https:\/\/mmo.aiircdn.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=140,height=140,fit=cover\/386\/60f1766000c5f.jpeg"}]' data-album-showing-index-value="3" data-action="resize@window->album#updateLayout popstate@window->album#popState" >

album#pageCarousel:prevent" data-album-direction-param="left" data-album-target="carouselArrowLeft" > album#pageCarousel:prevent" data-album-direction-param="right" data-album-target="carouselArrowRight" > album#toggleCarouselArrows" > album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Whitwell Carnival album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Tony Benton 'getting arrested' by the Keystone Cops. East Cowes Carnival album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Sandown in the late 1950s. Image courtesy of Molly Anderson. Instagram: @molly_the_historian album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Sandown in the late 1950s. Image courtesy of Molly Anderson. Instagram: @molly_the_historian album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >David Biles and Robert Cooper as Steptoe and Son in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy of Sam Biles. album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Newport Carnival. Around 1962. album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Cowes Carnival Queens. album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Whitwell. Early 1900s. album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Ryde Carnival Queens at the 1972 St Helens Carnival album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >. album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Archie Warren on his steed. album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Newport Carnival in the 1950s album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >1988 carnival queen, Beccy Harvey and 1939 carnival queen Joan Bartrum album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Ryde Carnival. Around 1992 album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Newport Carnival 1930 album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Whitwell 1921 album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Whitwell album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Whitwell album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Bembridge Carnival with Carnival Queen, Shirley Hodge (nee Keeping) in the centre album#selectThumbnail:prevent mouseenter->album#showTip mouseleave->album#hideTip" >Whitwell. Early 1900s.

album#prev:prevent" >Previous image album#next:prevent" >Next image 4 of 27

album#updateOverlayNavSize" /> album#prev:prevent" > Previous image album#next:prevent" > Next image

More Galleries

Best of the Wight: Island Images

Child of Sussex awards 2024

Old School Days In Cowes

Shanklin 1972. Photo courtesy of Mrs Doris Russell Share popup#open" data-popup-size-param="550x500" target="_blank"> Share on Facebook <path d="M23.9981 11.9991C23.9981 5.37216 18.626 0 11.9991 0C5.37216 0 0 5.37216 0 11.9991C0 17.9882 4.38789 22.9522 10.1242 23.8524V15.4676H7.07758V11.9991H10.1242V9.35553C10.1242 6.34826 11.9156 4.68714 14.6564 4.68714C15.9692 4.68714 17.3424 4.92149 17.3424 4.92149V7.87439H15.8294C14.3388 7.87439 13.8739 8.79933 13.8739 9.74824V11.9991H17.2018L16.6698 15.4676H13.8739V23.8524C19.6103 22.9522 23.9981 17.9882 23.9981 11.9991Z"> Share on Messenger <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dialog/send?&app_id=1850503301852189&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iwbeacon.com%2Fnews%2Ffeatures%2Fcarnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals%2F&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iwbeacon.com%2Fnews%2Ffeatures%2Fcarnival-island-memories-of-isle-of-wight-carnivals%2F&display=popup" class="aiir-share__link aiir-share__link--messenger" data-controller="popup" data-action="click->popup#open" data-popup-size-param="645x580" target="_blank"> Share on Messenger popup#open" data-popup-size-param="550x400" target="_blank"> Share on X Share on Whatsapp <path d="M11.665 9.588c-.2-.1-1.177-.578-1.36-.644-.182-.067-.315-.1-.448.1-.132.197-.514.643-.63.775-.116.13-.232.14-.43.05-.2-.1-.842-.31-1.602-.99-.592-.53-.99-1.18-1.107-1.38-.116-.2-.013-.31.087-.41.09-.09.2-.23.3-.35.098-.12.13-.2.198-.33.066-.14.033-.25-.017-.35-.05-.1-.448-1.08-.614-1.47-.16-.39-.325-.34-.448-.34-.115-.01-.248-.01-.38-.01-.134 0-.35.05-.532.24-.182.2-.696.68-.696 1.65s.713 1.91.812 2.05c.1.13 1.404 2.13 3.4 2.99.476.2.846.32 1.136.42.476.15.91.13 1.253.08.383-.06 1.178-.48 1.344-.95.17-.47.17-.86.12-.95-.05-.09-.18-.14-.38-.23M8.04 14.5h-.01c-1.18 0-2.35-.32-3.37-.92l-.24-.143-2.5.65.67-2.43-.16-.25c-.66-1.05-1.01-2.26-1.01-3.506 0-3.63 2.97-6.59 6.628-6.59 1.77 0 3.43.69 4.68 1.94 1.25 1.24 1.94 2.9 1.94 4.66-.003 3.63-2.973 6.59-6.623 6.59M13.68 2.3C12.16.83 10.16 0 8.03 0 3.642 0 .07 3.556.067 7.928c0 1.397.366 2.76 1.063 3.964L0 16l4.223-1.102c1.164.63 2.474.964 3.807.965h.004c4.39 0 7.964-3.557 7.966-7.93 0-2.117-.827-4.11-2.33-5.608">

Carnival Island: Memories of Isle of Wight Carnivals

Share

Share

More from Features

Get Social