Isle of Wight Events April 2010:

2nd – 5th April 2010: Easter Fun at Isle of Wight Steam Railway – Treat yourself to a relaxing day out over the Easter break and enjoy the spectacle of some of the Island’s blossoming Spring-time countryside from the comfort of your seat on one of our steam trains! There’s a full menu of meals and light bites in our Refreshment Rooms, and plenty to keep the youngsters occupied with an Easter Treasure Hunt, Easter colouring and crafts. Plus we’re asking children to come in their Easter bonnets and join in our Easter Bonnet Parade each day at 1.45pm. (Children need to make bonnets in advance).

2nd April – 2nd May 2010: Luke Ellison builds on ‘Coastal Abstraction‘ and now his latest photographic enamel series ‘Coastal Evolution’ continues to explore the natural beauty, elemental structures and character of the diverse ever-evolving Isle of Wight Coastline.  Building on his work from the series ‘Coastal Abstraction’ in which he exhibited alongside Eric Geddes in June 2008 at Quay Arts, his new series ‘Coastal Evolution’  @ Dimbola will continue to show his attention to detail and appreciation of the true beauty of his surroundings. Read more from the Island Pulse click here:

3rd – 4th April 2010: Isle of Wight Junior Soccer Festival: Seaclose Recreation Ground & Medina Playing Fields. Considered by many to be the best junior tournament of its type in the UK, the Festival attracts teams from all over the country; competitors are teams of under 8’s right up to under 14’s. England internationals Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes along with Welsh wizard Ryan Giggs have taken part in the past. www.iowsoccerfestival.co.uk/pages/home/

4th April 2010: RORC Easter Challenge: Friday 2nd April – Sunday 4th April 2010: Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club the 19th edition of the RORC Easter Challenge which will be held, as usual, in the Solent over the Bank Holiday weekend.  The event is an ideal way to kick start a racing season, test new equipment and brush up on boat handling.  With seven races scheduled over three days the regatta offers an ideal opportunity to get the boat up to speed and blow away the winter cobwebs.  RORC organised racing kicks off at Easter with the Red Funnel Easter Challenge. The Annual Challenge attracts a wide spectrum of entries and is not restricted just to RORC yachts. Any yacht with a valid IRC certificate is most welcome and the owners and crew benefit from the superb coaching and the friendly atmosphere.  RORC website: www.rorc.org and Island Pulse article here: RORC Easter Challenge

4th April 2010: EASTER EGG TRAIL: MOTTISTONE MANOR GARDEN. Crack the clues around the garden to claim you chocolate egg. Supported by Cadburys.Normal admission charges plus £1.50 per trail sheet.

5th April 2010: EASTER EGG TRAIL: NEEDLES OLD BATTERY Crack the clues around the garden to claim you chocolate egg. Supported by Cadburys.Normal admission charges plus £1.50 per trail sheet.

5th April 2010: West Wight Three Hills. The course takes in Golden Hill Fort, Freshwater, Headon Warren, Alum Bay, Highdown, Tennyson Down, Freshwater Bay and back to the finish at Freshwater. More info www.rydeharriers.co.uk

7th April 2010: DRAWING ON THE PAST: AN ACTIVITY FOR CHILDREN. Help create an illustrated timeline of Newtown’s history by drawing and colouring pictures which can be displayed around the walls during August. All materials supplied for this children’s activity at Newtown Old Town Hall. Normal admission charges. National Trust members free.

7th April 2010: NATIONAL TRUST WILDZONE: EASTER LAMBS & EGGS. Let the children have some fun meeting the sheep and seeing if the gulls have laid eggs at Newtown. Make an Easter lamb with real wool from a National Trust sheep to take home. Also suitable for younger children. 1/2km on level ground. Wildzone is a programme of activities for children aged 5 -13 introducing them to different aspects of wildlife and nature. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Sorry no dogs. Booking essential: 01983 741020 Cost £3 per child aged 5 and over. No charge for supervising adults but donations appreciated.Cost £3 per child aged 5 and over. No charge for supervising adults but donations appreciated.

9th – 11th April 2010: The Importance of Being Earnest: Ventnor Theatre Group proudly presents the popular, witty, comedy by Oscar Wilde at St. Lawrence Village Hall, Undercliff Drive, Nr Ventnor. Call 854560 or 852313 for information.  

18th April 2010: ‘Bustival’ – 80th Anniversary Celebration of Southern Vectis. Isle of Wight Steam Railway. A festival of buses old and new! Come and marvel at over 35 vintage buses of all shapes and sizes, and browse around the stalls and attractions. Plus there’s a full service of steam trains and a real ale bar!

18th April 2010: Classical Concert in aid of Earl Mountbatten Hospice at Ventnor Winter Gardens.

19th April 2010: Chris Packham – Never Mind The Buzzards at Medina Theatre. For wildlife TV presenter Chris, pooh, snot and worse are just everyday facets of animal life. In his highly entertaining show Chris explains why an albatross’s nose runs, why marine iguanas sneeze, how Tussock Birds survive the Falklands winter and, perhaps not something you want to hear before the interval and your ice creams, what Falkland Isles Caracaras do for food when things get really tough!

Audiences love to see and hear about the more perverse and peculiar aspects of the animal kingdom. Chris draws on his unique image collection, showing more than 50 plants and animals that have quirky, silly, amusing or extraordinary aspects to their lives.  This fabulous family show offers Chris’s insight into some of the world’s weirdest and wackiest wildlife.  Tickets: All £14 Book Online

22nd-23rd-24th-29th-30th April – 1st May 2010: Beginners on Stage a new comedy presented by Trinity Theatre, Cowes. Evening performances at 7:30pm are on 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 29th, 30th April and 1st May. Tickets are £6 & £5 and available from the Theatre box office. Open 11am to 2pm daily (not Sunday) from Friday 16th April. Telephone 01983-295229.

23rd April 2010: Jools Holland and his full Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, featuring Gilson Lavis, are to make a long awaited return to Ryde Arena on Friday 23 April 2010. They continue to dazzle audiences in excess of 500,000 each year, and in 2009 toured all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, France, Holland, and Belgium. Tickets for the concert are available now and are sold on a standing only basis.

23rd – 25th April 2010: St. Georges Day Celebrations Northwood Park, Cowes.  A fun family weekend featuring St George’s Day Weekend celebrations begin with a rousing concert on Friday evening, in Cowes Yacht Haven. On Saturday morning there will be a Carnival Procession from East Cowes to Northwood Park with official opening at 12pm.  Sunday, events start at 10am: with a display of vintage motorbikes and things to entertain the whole family including a superb classic car display.  Read more from Island Pulse news here: St George’s Day 2009 , Morris dancers, Punch & Judy shows, children’s entertainers & various other acts & stalls. All proceeds go to the Rotary Trust Fund.

24th April 2010: Round the Isle of Wight Solo 2010. Solo Offshore Racing Club present the 6th edition of the RIOW Solo 2010, this is an increasingly popular event for single handed sailors and forms part of the 4 race Solent Solo Series. Starts off Cowes in the early day light hours of Saturday  24th April and will proceed anti clockwise round the Isle of Wight. Read more from the Island Pulse here:

24th -25th April 2010 Robin Hill Garden Show & It’s A Knockout. The Isle of Wight’s only spring gardening event will be joining forces with the ever popular “It’s a Knockout” competition. Based upon the classic seventies TV show, the challenge will be open to teams of up to 10 people with all sponsorship money going towards patient care at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice

Cowes to Cherbourg, JOG Offshore Championship.

April -  10th May 2010: Isle of Wight Photographer of the Year  (Competition) Exhibition returns to the Café Wall on Thursday.  Not only displaying a breath-taking 50 shortlisted images from last years IWPOY entries 2009, but also the winners in the Go Wild On Wight category 2009 . This 2 month exhibiton of photography:  It’s a Small World and It’s a very small world (Go Wild On Wight) competition was fairly open and includes; macros, close-ups, travel landscapes and locations, small objects, flowers, plants and animals. 

With community events taking place almost weekly at venues across the Island, if you would like your event added to the Island Pulse, please e-mail Click HERE: with the date, location and name of the event.

Isle of Wight Events 2009:

Please Click on Specific Month to view Event Details.