The Isle of Wight will once again play host to the annual Summer funfair this year, but after more than 30 years St Helens has been dropped from the line-up, as has Ryde.
Traditionally held on The Green each August Bank Holiday, to tie in with the sports and carnival events, the travelling funfair has been visiting the village of St Helens for as long as anyone can remember. However, for 2022 the decision has been made by Carnival Funfairs to miss St Helens altogether.
In the past, the fun fair moved on from St Helens to Simeon Street in Ryde but that too came to an end in the 2000s. Then, in 2016, the annual event returned to the seaside town taking up position at Quay Street Car Park. But just 6 years later – of which 2 years have been marred by COVID – the fun fair will once again be missing from Ryde during carnival week.
It will still head to The Green in Yarmouth (8th-16th July), Yaverland car park in Sandown (21st – 7th August), Seaclose Park in Newport (11th – 14th August) and The Garlic Festival (20th – 21st August).
There will also be a name change to this year’s iteration, with it now called ‘Kids Zone Family Fun Park’ as opposed to ‘Carnival Fun Fair’ as it was known before.
With the new name, it is believed more emphasis will be on the kids with the company stating there will be kiddies rides, inflatables and an on-site food court. It is unsure as to what adult rides there will be with the funfair already decreasing in size over the past 10 years.
The same token system will be in place when it comes to ride admissions with the price of 1 token set at £1.20. There will also be bundle deals available.
The funfair and carnival were what the end of summer was all about in Ryde in the 70’s and 80’s. We lived on Simeon Street next door but one to the Simeon St. entrance to the rec. Happy Memories.
They’re already having too much fun in Ryde and St Helen’s!