Isle of Wight Event News July 2009:

1st July 2009:  An evening of Poetry with Andrew Motion , 7.30pm, at Farringford Further News from the Island Pulse HERE:

1st July 2009: Cornflower Walk on Wight:  Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust  and Natural England are giving farmers and those interested in farmland wildlife on the Isle of Wight a rare opportunity to visit one of the most important sites for cornflowers in the country.  An event  being held at Cridmore Farm, Chillerton on the Isle of Wight on Wednesday 1st July starting at 3.30pm, and  finishing at 5.30pm with a visit to the Isle of Wight Garlic Farm Café where drinks and light snacks will be provided by owner Colin Boswell. Read more news from the Island Pulse HERE:

2nd – 3rd July 2009: Royal Navy Regatta

4th – 5th July 2009: 120th Anniversary Regatta Weekend: Get along to the Island Sailing Club and support the Club’s 120th Anniversary Regatta on the 4th and 5th July.  Even if you are not sailing, there will be a fun on-foot Treasure Hunt setting off from the Club at 4pm on Saturday followed by a Grand Pirate BBQ from 6pm onwards in the Lower Marquee.  Music will be provided by the one man Caribbean act Steelasophical.  Everyone is invited to join in these events and there will be a prize for the best dressed male and female pirate.  There is no need to book – just turn up!   There will be Happy Hour prices from 6pm to 9pm on Saturday and for two hours around prize giving on Sunday.  More from the Island Pulse HERE:

4th – 5th July 2009: 120th Anniversary Regatta Weekend: Get along to the Island Sailing Club and support the Club’s 120th Anniversary Regatta on the 4th and 5th July.  Even if you are not sailing, there will be a fun on-foot Treasure Hunt setting off from the Club at 4pm on Saturday followed by a Grand Pirate BBQ from 6pm onwards in the Lower Marquee.  Music will be provided by the one man Caribbean act Steelasophical.  Everyone is invited to join in these events and there will be a prize for the best dressed male and female pirate.  There is no need to book – just turn up!   There will be Happy Hour prices from 6pm to 9pm on Saturday and for two hours around prize giving on Sunday.  More from the Island Pulse HERE:

8th July 2009:  Newman, Tennyson & Victorian Gothic, reading at St Mary’s Church Hall, Ryde 7.00pm including Tennyson’s poems.

9th July 2009:  Stranglers at  Ryde Theatre Book your tickets Online HERE:  or to book tickets for this event please call 01983 568099.

11th July 2009: Isleof Wight Primary School Island Games 2009: As the Isle of Wight builds up to hosting the 2011 NatWest Island Games, schools on the Isle of Wight this month will once again host their own annual Primary School Island Games. Read more from Island Pulse news here:

11th July 2009: Ryde Arts Parade: This is the Isle of Wight Carnival Learning Centre’s flagship event. Over 1000 costumed performers and musicians from local schools and community groups take part. This year’s theme Everyone’s Games: Starts 1pm Dover St to Ryde Esplanade, for more information visit the Isle of Wight carnival Learning Centre website HERE:

11th July 2009: British Red Cross,Basic First Aid Course. Could you save a life? If someone nearby were in crisis, how would you respond? Anyone can be a lifesaver, given the right skills. A key objective of the British Red Cross is to equip people with life-saving expertise, to enable every community to withstand an emergency or crisis. The Isle of Wight branch of the charity will be holding a first aid training course run by a friendly, experienced trainer. The programme focuses on key life-saving skills and provides an opportunity to learn how to respond to the most common accidents and situations. All our first aid courses are flexible and easy to follow.  Book online HERE:

10th – 12th July 2009: FolkStation is a special folk festival; certainly not the biggest but it is a unique experience. Located at the award winning Havenstreet steam railway, the festival has built up from a “fringe” group of folk musicians who gathered together to play at railway events over 34-year history of the railway.  Click HERE to see the acts already booked.

11th-17th July 2009: Swan European Regatta 2009: Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK.  The 14th edition of the biennial Swan European Regatta will consist of five days of Solent racing organised by the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron along with a customary programme of social events. For the first time, the Swan European Regatta will form a key event in the Club Swan 42 Northern European Circuit which will see its introduction in the new year. The event aims to provide enjoyable and competitive racing for all Swan yachts of whatever design or vintage, their owners, their families and friends and to provide a varied and entertaining social programme ashore. More  news from the Island Pulse

12th July 2009: Sunflower Classic Car Run.  Sunday. The run takes you all over the island. The route itself remains secret until the day itself, starting at Osborne House, car’s assembling 9.30am.  All models and ages welcome. Also if you would like to come and see the Cars at either the Needles or Sandown your more than welcome to come along. Entries £10 per car For more details and to get a registration form please call Hospice Fundraising on 01983 528989 or download form website. www.iwhospice.org

13th July 2009: Bembridge Carnival - 13th July

13th-18th July 2009: Isle of Wight Tour. ACE UK Study Tours: English Heritage: One of the central themes of this tour is Queen Victoria’s legacy on this beautiful island, and we take a private visit with afternoon tea at Osborne House. The Isle of Wight is not solely about Victoria, however, and this tour will take in sights as diverse as the Roman villa at Brading, and Carisbrooke Castle where Charles I was imprisoned. 
£790 visit tour guide here:

13th – 21st July 2009:  Isle of Wight meetings of proposed new schools, and the venue of the meetings, are as follows. Each meeting begins at 1730 for a 1800 start and each will close at 2030. More News from the Island Pulse Here:

• 13 July – Cowes Secondary School – (Cowes High School)
• 14 July – Newport (Carisbrooke) Secondary School – (Carisbrooke High School)
• 15 July – Newport (Fairlee) Secondary School – (Medina Leisure Centre)
• 16 July – Sandown Secondary School – (Sandown High School, South Hall)
• 17 July – Ryde Secondary School – (Ryde High School)
• 20 July – Rural Amalgamation Primary School – (Medina Theatre)
• 21 July – East Cowes/Whippingham Amalgamation Primary School – (Medina Theatre)

16th July 2009: Sea Shore & Coastline, evening of readings, sea shanties and an Open Mic on the theme, St Thomas’s church, Ryde, 8pm.

17th-20th July 2009: Isle of Wight Open Studios:  A wealth of local artists open their studios and homes to the public each year.  What better way to spend a weekend than browsing, greeting and chatting with local artists. The annual event is running again in 2009 on the following dates: 17-20th July in South & West Wight and 24th-27th July in North & East Wight.  Read more:  Isle of Wight Open Studios 2009 Specific details of participating artists can be found in the Arts Directory 09/10 which is available online from March/April 2009.

18th July 2009: Newport Carnival - Saturday 18th July
Freshwater Carnival - TBC

18th – 19th July 2009:  The Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society Show 2009  This year the Society will be holding a Horse and Livestock Show. In addition, there will be displays by Shetland Ponies, Scurry Driving and the Driving for the Disabled Group. Livestock Classes for cattle, sheep and pigs will be taking place on the Sunday and the Poultry Club will be attending. Other attractions include a display by Gundogs and a Dog Show. The I.W. Foxhounds and the I.W. Beagles will be parading on each day. Entry to the showground will be free but a bucket collection will be made for donations. More News from the Island Pulse HERE:

22nd July 2009:  Police Community Support Officer, PCSO Katie Ralphs from the Ryde Town Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT), is holding a beat surgery in the old ticket office at Ryde Bus Station from 11.00am on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Local residents and visitors are welcome to discuss their concerns and queries with PCSO Ralphs.

22nd-25th July 2009: Trinity Theatre, Cowes is presenting the comedy ‘Elsie & Norm’s Macbeth’ by John Christopher-Wood. This hilarious comedy shows what can happen when faced with a boring night in front of the television. Performances are from Wednesday 22nd to Saturday 25th July at 7:30pm. Tickets are £5 & £6 with 3 for the price of 2 on the opening night. Tickets available from the Theatre box office open 11am to 2pm daily (not Sunday) from Friday 10th July. Telephone 01983-295229.

23rdJuly-30th August 2009: Ventnor Theatre Group proudly presents ‘My Girl’.  A brand new family musical set in the 1960’s, telling of the lives and loves of characters involved with an old theatre on Ventnor Esplanade called ‘The Gaiety’.  Although the story and characters are fictional, the location still exists in Ventnor and is now known as the Gaiety Amusement Arcade.  Thurs 23, Fri 24, Sat 25 July – 7.30pm and Sunday 26 July – 2.30pm. Thurs 27, Fri 28, Sat 29 August – 7.30pm and Sunday 30 August – 2.30pm. The Winter Gardens, Ventnor Box Office (01983 857581) Tickets: Adults £7.50, under 16’s £5.00. www.ventnorwintergardens.co.uk read more from Island Pulse HERE:

25th July 2009: The Isle of Wight Branch of The National Autistic Society (NAS) is holding a Thomas & Friends™ themed Train Walk in the Havenstreet Woods at IW Steam Railway on Saturday 25th July from 6.00pm – 8.00pm to help raise vital funds for the charity. Read more from Island Pulse HERE:

26th July 2009:  Race for Life 2009 on the Isle of Wight. It is one of the most prestigious charity events of the year, let’s make this year’s event the biggest and best yet.  Cancer Research UK are delighted to be hosting a Race for Life event on Sunday 26th July 2009 at 11:00 in Medina Playing Fields and Seaclose Park.  Last year Island Police Got In The Pink For Charity sadly Newport Sergeant Penny Deacon whose idea it was to participate and raise funds sadly passed away earlier this year. View Isle of Wight Race For Life Photos 2008  more news from the Island Pulse on Race For Life event click here:

26th – 31st July 2009: Cowes Dinghy Week 2009.  Gurnard Sailing Club hosts Cowes Dinghy Week, a six day family sailing event held immediately prior to the biggest sailing regatta of all, Cowes Week. Racing every day, Sunday to Friday with around 200 entries in more than 10 classes, this is an event not to be missed. Read more  news from the Island Pulse.

29th July 2009: Sandown Carnival – Wednesday 29th July

30th July 2009: Charles Darwin’s Great Great Grand-daughter, Poet Ruth Padel to give a poetry reading of poems from her latest book, ‘Darwin: A Life in Poems’ The Isle of Wight Zoo and the IW Writer’s Circle and Poetry Society have invited Ruth, to Dinosaur Isle read more news from the Island Pulse Darwin 200: A Life in Poems by Ruth Padel

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.