About The Carnival

The Cowes carnivals are a number of events held in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight just 3 miles off the coast of southern England. Cowes is a small but well known sailing town, famous for its sailing events such as Cowes Week and the Americas Cup which attract people from around the world. Our carnivals are held numberous times throughout the year and we also enter many of the other carnivals around the Island. Our float is based on our carnival queens who are picked each year, with a different theme. Recent themes have included strawberrys and cream, indian summer, the ocean and of course in 2008 the 'Egyptian Queens'.

The carnival is run by a number of volunteers and funded by kind donations from our sponsors. We do not recieve any funding from any initiative or arts council, and so are always on the lookout for individuals and businesses to sponsor us and provide us with vital funding and materials. Information on our current sponsors and how to sponsor us can be found by clicking here.

This Years Carnivals

This year the Cowes main and illuminated carnivals will take place on the 19th and 29th of August. The main carnival will be on Wednesday the 19th of August and will start from Ward Avenue at 7.00pm and finish at the Cowes Parade.

The Illuminated carnival will take place on Saturday the 29th of August and will take the same route as above but starting at 8.45pm. The christmas Carnival on 19th December will also take the normal route, but starting at 7.00pm.

Click on above image for map of Carnival Route