Thousands flocked to Sandown for the annual Regatta on Sunday (11th August) with organisers hailing the event as one of the town’s biggest for years. Crowds on a packed seafront enjoyed a day of non-stop family entertainment, including the popular Grand Regatta Hat Parade on Eastern Beach and a spectacular fireworks finale in the evening. The Regatta fun started on Saturday with a dog show and samba drumming workshop at Sandham Gardens. On Sunday, the street market opened with music from Wight Diamonds Band, followed by entertainment in 2 separate performance areas along the Esplanade. A little further along the seafront, the Eastern Beach Arena hosted the Hat Parade, the climax to weeks of community creativity at The Regatta Hat Factory, an initiative on the High Street supported by the Arts Council England Lottery Fund. Sandown Carnival, organisers of the regatta since 2022, were delighted with the event’s success. Carnival Chair Paul Coueslant said:
“It was fantastic to see the town come to life in such a big way. The Esplanade was incredibly busy from the moment the street market opened at 10:00, and the crowds kept coming all the way up to the fireworks display at 21:15. We were overwhelmed by so many appreciative comments we had from visitors and residents who clearly enjoyed themselves. Sandown Bay Regatta has been a historic summer landmark for the town since 1857 and this year’s event has been the biggest since we took it over”.
Like all Sandown Carnival’s events, the Regatta is run entirely by volunteers who depend on donations and sponsorship to make it all happen. 
