Ryde Carnival Week has been officially launched today (Tuesday) and there’s something for everyone, from tree climbing to midnight swims, a pirates’ lunch and even a giant puppet in the children’s carnival parade.
At the town’s library, Mayor Henry Adams presented the ‘Golden Town Key’ to Ryde’s lead Carnival Queen to mark the opening of this years’ celebrations and to offer her freedom of the streets for carnival week.
Mayor Adams said:
“It’s a great pleasure to be here to officially open the 2016 Ryde Carnival and to hand this key to our senior queen, Bobbi.
“As this year’s carnival has cost approx £10,000 to put on, I would appeal to the people of Ryde and to the many visitors who come to Ryde to watch the processions, to dig deep and to put plenty of money in the collection buckets.
“I would like to thank the chairman Liz and the members of the committee for all the many hours of hard work they put into organising this week when they have been doing so for the last year”.
The fundraising efforts have been aided by a generous £200 donation from McColls of Union Street, with a cheque presented at this morning’s event.
Liz Allen, chair of the Ryde Carnival Association, said:
“We decided to go back to the traditional format of having all 3 carnivals in one week after last year’s carnival and this decision has proved very popular in the town.
“We have had enormous support from the business community and from other organisations in Ryde who have helped us in putting together a great programme of family friendly events.
“In 2018 we will be celebrating 130 years since the start of Ryde Carnival and getting the whole town involved is key to our survival”.
The official opening was followed by a mask making workshop at the library and a treasure hunt around the town starting from St Thomas’ Church.
Ryde’s children’s carnival takes place tomorrow (Wednesday 31st August) at 15:00.
The main carnival takes place on Thursday (1st September) at 19:00 and the Illuminated procession will move off at 20:30 on Saturday (3rd September).
Further details of the week’s activities can be found in the carnival programme which is on sale throughout Ryde.
