After a huge deluge of rain overnight, the sun shone over Ventnor Park, and Saturday’s Ventnor Day was a great success, with a wide variety of community groups, charities, artists and craft makers, musicians and dancing.

The event started with Kit, the talented teenage bagpiper, piping in the carnival royalty, and Steve Cooper, the Mayor.

There was a packed line-up of musicians on the Bandstand and Putting Green Stage, as well as stallholders selling clothes, crafts, artwork, jewellery and fudge.

The event was organised by Ventnor Town Council and Ventnor Carnival Association, with assistance from Ventnor Tee in the Park and Putting Green. Volunteers from the carnival and town council staff and councillors were on hand to help set up stalls, provide first aid and steward the event.

Steve with the Petit Cafe van, from Isle of Wight Defibrillators, and other caterers, provided a range of delights, along with Plaza Ices.

Ventnor Cricket Club and Ventnor Bowls Club organised sporting activities for all to try. There was even the opportunity to learn life-saving CPR with the IW NHS Ambulance service.

Catherine Hammond and Teresa Preston, interim community development officers, said: “It was truly a celebration of the town’s community spirit and great to be part of Ventnor Carnival Week. It was a busy time for the town, which couldn’t have been achieved without the help of the volunteers that we are so lucky to have in our community.”