By Isle of Wight Observer
Ryde was a festival of colour as the New Carnival Company celebrated its biggest event of the year on Saturday – the Mardis Gras.
Around 1,000 people gathered at the Simeon Recreation Ground, with hundreds making the most amazing costumes, including 20 schools who took part in the event. The theme of the occasion was ‘The Story of the Carnival’, celebrating the history, global reach and popularity of these occasions which date back to 1887 on the Island.
The parade was split into three varieties, history, global and future.
Among the history groups were Godshill Primary School representing ‘Sham El Nassim’, ancient Egypt, Love Coco Monroe Dance Group, with ‘Bacchanal’ and ancient Rome, and St Helens Primary School with ‘Beltane’, May Day.
In the global section, the IW Indonesian Community represented the ‘Batik Festival’, The Way Forward Programme was Caribbean Carnival ‘Junkanoo’, and IW Performing Arts put on the ‘Rio Carnival’. In the future section there were Broadlea Primary School, Medina House School and Greener Futures and Mini Mardi Gras.
Gemma Mallinson, of New Carnival, said: “It was a wonderful occasion with so many fantastic costumes. Unfortunately, because of the windy conditions, a couple of the bigger creations were forced to pull out.
“There were huge crowds along the route when we eventually started the main parade moving from the Recreation Ground to Union Street, The Esplanade and Eastern Gardens before returning to the Rec.”
High Sheriff, Graham Biss, and deputy chairman of the Isle of Wight Council, Vanessa Churchman, opened the event, with Ryde’s mayor, Richard May, and local councillors also lending their support.
Visit iw.observer/mardi-gras to view our on-line gallery of the event.
