Events August 2010:

1st-9th August 2010:  Cowes Week .  The oldest and largest annual sailing regatta in the world. Highlights include the Fastnet race on the final Sunday and Champagne Mumm Ladies Day. Watch races from the shore or take a spectator boat. A major part of Cowes Week is the carnival spirit, when the entertainment spills on to the streets of Cowes from aerobatic displays to fireworks over the sea.… New Media Focus On Cowes Week visit Island Pulse: News Countdown To Cowes Week 2009

2nd-22nd August 2010: The Big Dig 2009 takes place between 2nd-22nd August at Brading Roman Villa .  The Isle of Wight offers visitors the chance once again to join leading Oxford University professor, Sir Barry Cunliffe, and his team of archaeologists on the Big Dig 2009. Brading Roman Villa is already known as one of the finest Romano-British archaeological sites in the UK.  In 2008 the first in a new series of excavations unearthed one of the largest and best-preserved Roman villas yet discovered in Britain. Such was the excitement about this excavation that 30 archaeologists from America and Europe were involved. Island Pulse related news: Big Dig @ Brading Roman Villa & Brading Dig Makes Global News & Big Isle of Wight Dig 2009

11th – 14th August 2010: Ventnor Fringe Festival The Island’s answer to the world famous Edinburgh Fringe,  the Ventnor Fringe Festival will take place over four days in locations at varied as parks to basements, churches to courtyards, hosting artists in disciplines as diverse as spoken word, film, music and theatre.

The Festival, which will run from the 11th – 14th August 2010 to coincide with the 121st Ventnor Carnival celebrations is an open arts festival in which artists from any discipline and from any location in the world can take part in, performing and experimenting with their work, networking and developing new skills and ideas. 

Applications from filmmakers, painters, musicians, writers, theatre groups, poets and more to perform at the first Ventnor Fringe Festival, an event which aims to develop as a “Great Artist’s Pilgrimage” open this week.

August 2010: The Isle of Wight DidgHeadRadio Festival 2009: The Water Mill Calbourne – A festival for those who like to play and listen to the didgeridoo.(and lots of other instruments as well. Please visit festival website www.didgheadfestivals.co.uk This small music festival is a non-profitmaking event to support the internet webstreamed radio station DidgHeadRadio and the historic Calbourn Water Mill.

 August 2010: Yarmouth Carnival Week. With Yarmouth Carnival Field Sports on the Green, Yarmouth, Saturday, 8th, 3pm; Yarmouth Carnival Decorated Dinghies, Yarmouth Harnour, Sunday 9th, 4pm; Yarmouth Carnival Crabbing on the Harbour Wall, Yarmouth, Monday, 10th, 4pm; Yarmouth Carnival Fishing off Yarmouth Pier, Wednesday, 12th, 6pm; Yarmouth Carnival Sports, Thursday 13th, 4.30pm; Yarmouth Carnival Lifeboat Demonstration, Friday, 14th, 7pm; Yarmouth Carnival Procession leaving Yarmouth Green, Saturday, 15th, 5.30pm.

August 2010: Time Travellers Go Gruesome. Carisbrooke Castle. A fun look at the most hideous and horrible aspects of history. Meet the Singing Plague Victims and then visit the medieval surgeon and find out more about medicines and cures. Watch medical and surgical procedures in the 18th century and get a close look at amputations and bleeding with live leeches. Talk to the Victorian Tosher and learn about the history of the toilet and help him search the sewers for hidden treasures. Get your face painted with the pox or a gruesome wound.  Tuesday 11 & Wednesday 12 August 10am – 5pm Normal admission prices apply: Adults £6.70, Concessions £5.70, Children £4.40, Family Ticket £16.80, plus £1 per child.  English Heritage Members free, plus £1 per child. 

August 2010: Isle of Wight Garlic Festival: The Island’s garlic is at the heart of this event, flavouring prawns, ice cream and coffee, but the festival also showcases the best of local produce, with Dunsbury Lamb making its debut in 2009.

 August 2010: Nature on Our Doorstep at IW Zoo, Yaverland, Sandown, 10am-6pm.

August 2010: Donkey Days Out Carisbrooke Castle.  A chance to meet the resident donkeys, find out about their characters, favourite foods and who plays up at grooming time. Children can take part in donkey themed games and activities including pin the tail on the donkey (no donkeys will be harmed in playing this game!). Plus donkey tales (the story kind), face-painting and a carrot trail, it’s a day out that will keep everyone amused.  Tuesday 18 & Wednesday 19 August 10am – 5pm Normal admission prices apply: Adults £6.70, Concessions £5.70, Children £3.40, Family Ticket £16.80.  English Heritage Members free.

28th, 29th & 30th August 2010: Cowes – Torquay – Cowes and Cowes Classic Powerboat Race. Following the successful return of the Cowes – Torquay – Cowes and Cowes Classic Powerboat Races in 2008, the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC) will once again be running the full-on powerboat event  in August 2009. The Cowes Classic 2009 will be run on the August bank holiday weekend, with all of the racers seeing the flag dropped at 10.00 am on the morning of the 29th August. Power Boat Festival Read more from the  Island Pulse HERE:

August 2010: Isle of Wight Scooter Rally: Held at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde, this is widely recognised as the biggest scooter event in the world. A fun-packed weekend for the scooter enthusiast culminating with a round the Island ride-out, this is an event that just has to be attended by every self-respecting scooterist.

August 2010: The Isle of Wight Steam Show:  Expect the unexpected at this popular annual show, from sheepdogs herding geese and ducks to Medieval Knights proving that the age of chivalry is far from over. Climb aboard the traditional fairground rides and marvel at the beautifully maintained traction engines, vintage cars, motorcycles and old wagons. With steam train rides, stalls, country crafts, refreshments, and even a Red Indian encampment, the Island Steam Show will make your August Bank Holiday a weekend to remember.  Cost: Tickets for show only: Adults £8.50, children £4, family £21 (2+2). Tickets for Show and steam train rides: Adults £13, children £7, family £35 (2+2). For more details, call 01983 882204, or visit iwsteamrailway.co.uk

August 2010: Carnival Island: St Helens & Cowes Illuminated Carnival. The famous yachting town of Cowes plays host to an illuminated procession with marching bands, carnival queens and floats decorated by local businesses and schools. The parade starts at 8.45pm and the route, through the town, is available from the website, www.cowescarnival.co.uk.  The coastal village of St Helens, near Ryde, is the setting for the second carnival of the weekend. Join in the celebrations held throughout St Helens – parade leaves the village green at 6.15pm.

August 2010: Spooky Days Out. Carisbrooke Castle. A spine-tingling day out with terrifyingly fun activities for all the family including a ghost tour led by spooky characters around the castle. You better keep your wits about you, as who knows what or who you will bump into!  Saturday 29 – Monday 31 August10am – 5pm Normal admission prices apply: Adults £6.70, Concessions £5.70, Children £3.40, Family Ticket £16.80.  English Heritage Members free. Tel 522107, www.english-heritage.org.uk/carisbrooke

August 2010:  Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park:  Lots of action around the park and watch out for the woodland ambushes too! In addition,  falconry displays ), set against the stunning backdrop of the Arreton downs. Robin Hill is open daily, 10am to 6pm. Cost: £8.50, under 4’s free, concessions £6.50, Saver Ticket (4 persons) £31.00 – unlimited free return within 7 days. Tel. 01983 527352, www.robin-hill.com

August 2010: Grand Donkey Days Out:  Two fundraising, family days out at the Island’s donkey sanctuary, which provides a home for donkeys in need of care and attention. The entertainment includes live music, including Master of Ceremonies – ‘Elvis’, children’s rides, Punch & Judy, a magician, craft and retail stalls, plus lots of local food stalls and a beer tent. Cost: Adults £5, children (6-14) £3, children (5 & under) free. Senior Citizens £3, family ticket (2+2) £12.00, tickets available at the gate.  Tel. 01983 865554, www.iwdonkey-sanctuary.com

August 2010: Search for dinosaurs: With over 30 miles of ‘Heritage Coastline’, the Isle of Wight is famous for its amazing fossil discoveries. www.dinosaurisle.co.uk

August 2010: Kids Go Free at participating National Trust properties including Bembridge Windmill with its recently installed working model and the Needles Battery, built as a coastal defence and used as secret rocket testing site in the 1960’s. The delightful gardens at Mottistone Manor and Newtown Old Town Hall, once part of a thriving Island town, are also included in this offer. Booking in advance essential. Tel. 01983 741020, see website for terms & conditions, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/isleofwight

Kids Go Free on Wightlink ferries – August Bank Holiday:  Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries is offering some great family ferry deals to the Isle of Wight. Visitors to www.southeastoffers.com can download as many vouchers as they like, allowing free ferry travel for kids under the age of 15. Two full fare paying adult foot passengers can take up to five children with them at no extra cost. The same offer is available for two full paying adults travelling by car. Booking in advance is highly recommended Visit www.wightlink.co.uk for more special deals included discounted tickets to the Island’s top attractions.

FREE Entertainment and great summer fares from Red Funnel:  This August Bank Holiday, enjoy free entertainment on board Red Funnel Ferries when a variety of musical acts will be performing on selected Southampton to East Cowes sailings, and the fun doesn’t stop there! Kids can turn into tigers and come face to face with friendly creepy crawlies with free face painting and bug encounter experiences courtesy of the Isle of Wight Zoo. Tickets to the Zoo and many other top Island attractions can be purchased in advance from Red Funnel, with many available at a discount. Day return fares start at just £32, and short break fares are available for under £10 per person for a car and up to six passengers. Booking in advance is highly recommended. Visit www.redfunnel.co.uk or call 0844 844 9988 for more information.

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 2010:

Please Click on Specific Month to view Event Details.