A PLETHORA of aesthetically arresting apparel lit up the streets of Ryde on Thursday night, as the country’s oldest carnival celebrated its 131st birthday with a crescendo of colour and musical joie de vivre.

The main Ryde Carnival parade was preceded by the children's procession and bonny baby competition the previous day, while the illuminated version hit the streets on Saturday night.

The spirit of 1888, when the carnival took place predominantly as a release from the corseted constraints of Victorian society, was evident throughout the day, with pirate-themed capers taking place at the canoe lake, and lessons in blowing the perfect giant bubble in session on the beach during the afternoon.

The main parade set off from the Esplanade at 6.30pm, before winding its way through Dover Street, the High Street and Union Street.

Emily Scotcher, a committee member of the Wight Strollers, who have become a regular feature of the event over the years, said: “Ryde Carnival always has such a fantastic atmosphere — the cheers and applause we get on the way round for doing our routines really makes us smile, and we were honoured to win best overall entry.

“This year we’ve been dancing through the streets on model Vespas, all of which were made, along with our float and costumes, in-house, by our extremely talented team.

“So much work goes into putting on the Island’s carnivals, everyone that organises and enters them is just amazing, and the carnivals are such a great example of the community spirit that makes the Island special.

"Long may they continue.”

Main parade results

Individual fancy dress — 1 Hippy K, 2 Jester, 3 Mini Boris Johnson; groups' fancy dress — 1 Wight Cats, 2 Rydies, 3 Would Not Waste Not; individual or group with decorated wheeled tableau — 1 Love Your Bees; Youth organisations and schools — 1 Kraken, 2 Ella Shepherd, 3 Theatre Train; Tableaux — 1 Beauty and the Beast, 2 Go Live Granny, 3 Ryde Mead Tennis; Carnival Queens — 1 St Helens, 2 Cowes, 3 Sandown; Valvona Cup for most humourous entry — Kraken; Harris Memorial cup for best family entry — Fantasy Riders; Southern Vectis best constructed — Sandown Queens; Best overall — Wight Strollers.

Illuminated parade results

Individual in fancy dress — Lest We Forget; Groups of four or less — 1 Would Not Waste Not, 2 Fantasy Riders, 3 Cats; Groups of five or more — 1 IW Equals, 2 Camelot, 3 Rydies; Individual or group with decorated wheeled tableaux — 1 Love Your Bees, 2 Camelot Kids; Youth organisations/schools — 1 St Mary's primary, 2 Kraken, 3 Aurora Dance School; Tableaux — 1 Beauty and the Beast, 2 Go Live Granny, 3 Wight Strollers; Queens — 1 Sandown, 2 Newport, 3 Cowes; Best overall queens tableaux — Ventnor; Humourous — Wight Strollers; Harris Memorial Cup/Best family — Beauty and the Beast; Southern Vectis best constructed — Sandown Queens; Overall — Beauty and the Beast; Spirit of the carnival — 1 Beauty and the Beast, 2 Kraken, 3 Fantasy Riders.

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