A SPECTACULAR illuminated street parade and arts event will be held at Brading Roman Villa.

Organised by the New Carnival Company, the free Dark Nights event takes place next Saturday (November 16) evening.

The event will include a community-based enactment of a fairy tale pageant.

Frankie Goldspink, creative director at the New Carnival Company, said: “The storyline has been written by local schools and community groups, and inspired by the famous mosaics at Brading Roman Villa.

“This spectacular pageant will feature Medusa, Bacchus, Orpheus and the inimitable cockerel-headed man. Expect to see giant puppets, fabulous costumes, choreographed dancers and epic drama.”

The event is part of the East Wight Landscape partnership’s Down to the Coast project, which aims to engage local people in the understanding and celebration of their landscapes and heritage.

The parade will set out from Brading CE Primary School at at 6pm.

Families wearing illuminated costumes, and carrying handmade Roman style torches, will walk to Brading Roman Villa, where the pageant starts at 6.45pm.

A community lantern making workshop will take place at Brading Town Hall tomorrow (Saturday), from 2pm to 4pm, at a cost of £5 per lantern.

There will also be free giant puppet making workshops at Brading Youth and Community Centre, where people can create characters for the pageant.

For further details about workshops and the Dark Nights event, email the New Carnival Company at info@thenewcarnivalcompany.com or call 716095.

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