SUMMER’S BACK ON

A quick run down of some of our most popular summer events with their plans.

GARLIC FESTIVAL: Isle of Wight Garlic Festival organizers say they are hopeful that this year’s show, scheduled to take place on the weekend of August 21 and 22, will be able to go ahead.
Madeleine Holmes, one of the organizers, said: “Like everything else, last year we made the heart-breaking decision to postpone what would have been the 37th annual IW Garlic Festival. Now, with the vaccine rollout going well and the Covid situation improving daily, we think (with the right measures in place) the festival can go ahead safely.
“We’ve already had a lot of interest from entertainers, traders and the public – who seem to be looking forward to the coming summer. A late August event like ours fits really well with Boris’s roadmap. If all goes well, the Island expects to see a record number of visitors this year and they’ll be looking for an exciting day out.”
“Keeping everyone safe is always our number one priority” said co-organizer, Laura Stocker.
For booking and enquiries, contact hello@garlicfestival.co.uk.

CHALE SHOW: A spokesman for the Chale Show, due to be held on July 31 and August 1, said the team were ‘devastated’ to have to cancel the show last year.
“With the latest information we have decided to progress in a positive way towards this year’s show. We do sincerely hope we can have an event this year and give the Island a fantastic fun-for-all-the-family safe weekend to look forward to,” he added. You can contact the organisers on secretary@thechaleshow.co.uk.

JACK UP THE SUMMER: Tickets are also on sale now for retro music festival Jack up the Summer on August 6-8. With a line up that includes Doctor and the Medics, Heaven 17, Heather Small and a host of stars from the ’80s and ’90s, North Fairlee Farm in Newport is set to rock for the whole weekend.
Early Bird tickets are available now from jackupthesummer.co.uk.

WOLVERTON MANOR GARDEN FAIR
Island gardeners will be delighted that organizers of the biggest garden fair on the Island are working hard to make sure they can visit the beautiful grounds of the Jacobean Manor House – and so will Age UK IW and several other Island charities the event raises significant funds for. They are planning the usual wide variety of entertainment, plants, arts and craft stalls and exhibits making it a leading family day out.
They say the health and safety of everybody is of paramount importance and look forward to seeing everybody on September 4/5.
You can book stands by calling 525282 or by email to garden.fair@ageukiw.org.uk.

COUNTY SHOW: A spokesman for the Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society who organise the much-loved event said he was hopeful the show would go ahead either on the scheduled dates of July 3/4, or perhaps later in the year, with a final decision due to be made next week.
In light of the success of the County Show in recent years the organizing committee are seeking to take it back to a two-day event as it has been for most of its history, the first show was held in 1833. The spokesman said, whilst we would like to play a role in helping the Island to recover from the Covid -19 outbreak, it is important that the committee consider all the available evidence and advice before it reaches a final decision.

THE GREAT WONDERFEST: Although their website says they will be returning in 2021 it gives no dates and they did not reply to our email. We’ll keep you posted.

OR IS IT……

An email sent out to event organizers this week from the IW Council’s Licensing Department asked for their intentions in relation to their events. It says that the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) will have to ‘evaluate your event plan and your Covid risk assessment.’
It goes on to say: “Currently all agencies will be very cautious about allowing gatherings of people, as it is essential that we continue to do all we can to ensure that infection rates are kept to a minimum.

“I also need to inform you that the Covid Regulations provide powers to stop events happening depending on the national guidance; it is essential that you consider that you could be asked to stop your event at any time, including on the day of the event.