Here is a list of the activities involved with Mardis Gras costumes, there is a cost this year to attending the workshops and limited places.
Apolgies for the poor display of this table on a mobile phone. We are working to correct this.
Activity |
DATES AND TIMES |
VENUE |
FEE |
Notes |
Basic Carnival Skills Beginners Level |
Thursday 22 February for 5 sessions 6pm to 9pm |
The Coaching House |
£40 full fee £25 concession fee for Mardi Gras Groups (limit of 2 adults per group) |
Maximum of 12 people on course Limited to 2 places per group (Option to move venue, if necessary, to accommodate a larger group) |
Backpacks and Structures for Carnival Intermediate Level
|
Thursday 19 April for 4 sessions 6pm to 9pm |
The Coaching House |
£50 full fee £30 concession fee for Mardi Gras Groups (limit of 1 adult per group) |
Maximum of 12 people on course Limited to 1 place per group |
Creative Leaders for community group leaders, parent helpers or volunteers - to acquire a variety of skills needed to plan and manage a safe and stress free carnival workshop!
|
Saturday 10 March 10am to 4pm |
Salisbury Gardens Dudley Road Ventnor PO38 1EJ |
£6 only |
Maximum of 20 people on course Limited to 2 places per group |
Major Costumes and Individual pieces For adults and older children, working with visiting carnivalist Ray Mahabir from Sunshine Arts London
|
Half Term week Weds, Thurs, Friday May 30/31/1st 10 am to 4pm |
tbc |
Free of Charge Pay for materials used only |
Space and support to create those show-stopping pieces! You will need to submit your designs and plans at least one week before the workshop. |
For further detaills please contact Sandra Trigg by email at
The next few meetings of the Equals IW Ladies Friendship Group are planned for
January's meeting covered mostly administrative and planning activities for the coming year.
The next meeting will be held on the Thursday 22nd of February at 6:30pm in the Police Station.
1 January – New Year's Day
2 January – Local Bank Holiday
3 January – Classes Resume
16 January – Trust Board Seminar to endorse LCB reco to be ratified at the Trust Board
27 January – Equals Committee ‘Oriental Night’
27 January – Holocaust Memorial Holiday
9 to 19 February Spring Half Term
13 February – Shrove Tuesday and Maha Shivaratri Hindu holiday
14 February – Ash Wednesday/Valentine’s Day
16 February – Chinese New Year
8 March – Women’s Day
11 March – Mothering Sunday
25 March – Daylight Savings Time starts
29 March to 16 April Easter School Break
30 March to April 7 – Jewish Passover
1 April – Easter Sunday
4 to 8 May – May Day Holidays
7 May – Monday Bank Holiday
25 May to 2 June – Summer Half Term holidays
21 May – Diversity Day
28 May – Spring Monday Bank Holiday
14/15 June – Eid al-Fitr Muslim Holiday
30 June – IW Mardi Gras Festival. The theme is Global Biospheres - ‘Connecting people with nature and cultural heritage’
21 July – UK Pride in Ryde
29 July – Asian Day 2018 at Arreton Barns
4 to 11 August – Cowes Week
18 August – IW Wildlife Themed Event for Kids
27 August – Bank Holiday
30 August – Main Ryde Carnival Parade
10 to 11 September – Jewish holiday
18/19 September – Yom Kippur Jewish fast day
24 October – United Nations Day
28 October – Daylight Savings Time ends
5 November – Guy Fawkes Day
2 to 10 December – Hanukkah
25 December – Christmas Day
26 December – Boxing Day
Equals IW committee meetings are announced on this website..
Tickets cost £7 for adults, £5 for 6-12 yrs old and free for children under 5
For tickets and further details contact either
Here is our flyer (pdf) for the event
Come and Join our New Equals Men’s Friendship Group. Our next informal meet and greet session is on
Free parking front and rear of centre.
Come and find out how you can get involved with the following island events, Mardi Gras Parade, IW UK Pride and Asian Day and other group activities for men. We are particularly keen to have members coming from an ethnic background. You can purchase refreshments from the café throughout the evening.
To find out more or confirm you are attending contact
The Equals Men’s Friendship Group Coordinator Mark Cox
Here is our pdf flyer for the current event.
The Ladies' Friendship Group meetings are to be held at
Next meeting will be held on Saturday 20th of January 2018 at 2.30pm at Newportt Police Station
Main points of interest
The Ladies' Friendship Group next meeting will be at WoW, Newport on Wednesday 22nd November 2017 from 10 am to 12 pm. This is partly due to difficulties getting to the Cowes Scout Hut following the suspension of the Cowes chain ferry.
The Official Launch Event for IW Mardi Gras 2018 will take place at Ryde Academy in their new studio/theatre on
Thursday 16th November at 5.30pm.
Due to extensive construction works still taking place at Ryde Academy the former main car park at front of school is not in use.
Please use the temporary car park at the far end of site where access is via Pell Lane, past main entrance to the junction with Mountbatten Drive. The Car Park will be on your left and the way to the Studio Theatre will be signed from there.
As the site is restricted please allow extra time for parking up and car share where possible.
We shall be serving teas and coffees from 5.15pm.