The Equals IW Illuminated Carnival Team 2019 are taking part in the Ryde Illuminated Carnival being held on
- Saturday 31st August 2019
The team will meet at LA Bowl Car Park at 6.15pm.
For further information please click on the links below
The Equals IW Illuminated Carnival Team 2019 are taking part in the Newport Illuminated Carnival being held on
- Thursday 22nd August 2019
The team will meet at Riverside Centre Car Park at 6.30pm.
For further information please click on the links below
The Equals IW Illuminated Carnival Team 2019 are taking part in the Ventnor Illuminated Carnival being held on
- Saturday 17th August 2019
The team will meet at Dudley Road Car Park 7pm.
Links:
Thousands of people stepped out on the hottest day of the year so far to celebrate the Isle of Wight Mardi Gras. The annual parade made its way through the streets of Ryde on Saturday 29th June 2019. Hundreds of revellers with costumes and floats linked by the theme ‘Biosphere Island’ were brought together. The natural beauty of the island was celebrated in true carnival style.
The theme ‘Biosphere Island’ was a collaboration between Island based event organisers, the New Carnival Company and the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (IW AONB). The IW AONB has bid for the Island to become a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Celebrations got underway at Ryde School as the hot summer sunshine shone down on the Island and the many different group and schools.
Around a thousand participants from 23 island schools and 34 community groups danced in the streets. They proudly showcased their amazing artistic creations marking the culmination of months of preparation work. Each school and group worked under a heading such as Historic Environment, Food and Farming and Dark Skies. Local organisations and businesses partnered with the groups including Robin Hill, the Isle of Wight Zoo, Archaeology Discovery Centre, Hampshire and IW Wildlife Trust, Dinosaur Isle and Briddlesford Farm.
The Isle of Wight Filipino British Community in partnership with the IW NHS Trust and Equals IW are holding a celebration of Philippine Independence Day on
12 June 2019 from 12pm to 2pm
Full Circle Restaurant at St Mary's Hospital
Come along and enjoy the day.
The session on Wednesday 29th May 2019 session at the New Carnival Company Centre in Ryde was extremely successful. Two members have taken up the lead roles to help teach all the team the dance routine.
Some changes have been made to the base clothing and footwear of the costume. We are changing from white to brown and green to represent the costume theme of a tree from the forest woodlands.
Team Sessions
- Wednesday 5th June 18:00 to 21:00
- Wednesday 19th June 18:00 to 21:00
Both sessions are at the Riverside Centre Medina Room. The Riverside Centre has free parking accessed by Medina Road if the bridge is still closed.
Next Team Sessions
- Wednesday 19th June 18:00 to 21:00
At the Riverside Centre Medina Room. The Riverside Centre has free parking accessed by the bridge which has been re-opened.
Saturday 29th June 2019 is Mardi Gras Time for Equals IW.
Thanks to the team whom have been brilliant at making the costumes, we are almost done.
This Wednesday a small team are meeting at 6pm at Coppins Bridge Car Park to travel over to Bonchurch to transform the Dragon to a Lizard.
Thanks to Shirley who has been helping to prepare the mobile woodland and been helping over the weekend build and paint the feature.
Thanks to Sam of MCEnhancement who has the new PA system up and running and has helped put together a wonderful range of music featuring many styles of music associated with Mardi Gras.
According to the long range forecast the weather is looking good for Saturday,
The details of times to meet and places to park for Saturday will be published here on Tuesday June 25th 2019.
Saturday 29th June 2019 is Mardi Gras Time for Equals IW.
We have two places for anybody who wants to join in at the last minute. We need a Group Safety Marshal and spare hands to carry the banners.
Team members whom are performing as part of the main group need to be at Ryde Private School for 1.30pm.
Those who have equipment and materials will be informed of their arrival times on Wednesday evening* when we transform the Dragon to a Lizard.
Please all meet up at the Equals IW base camp (number 23) in the main field.
There will be no parking at the school for those performing team members who are not bringing equipment.
There is paid parking at either LA Bowing Car Park or at Ryde Canoe Lake. From there it is a walk up to to the school but note that your car will be near where the procession ends. Please be aware of parking charges. Alternatively park in either East Hill Road or West Hill Road where there are no parking charges and walk through Ryde to the School.
Team members are invited to the Captain's Table Café next to Ryde Swimming Pool after the Mardi Gras for a free drink as a massive thank you from the trustees. Everyone's help made it possible for us to take part in the Mardi Gras 2019 .
Maybe we can dance along to the café and relax in friendship.
The weather on Saturday looks wonderful so remember sunscreen and water bottles.
* Wednesday June 26th 2019 is when a small team are meeting at 6pm at Coppins Bridge Car Park to travel over to Bonchurch to transform the Dragon to a Lizard.
The Trustees of Equals IW are delighted with the amazing contributions by the 2019 Mardi Gras Team.
They would like to encourage the team members to enter the Mardi Gras theme in the 2019 island Illuminated Carnivals.
The aim is to further promote Equals IW and support other community events whilst developing friendships of group members and encouraging others to join Equals IW.
The dates for the IW illuminated carnivals are
- 10/08/2019 Shanklin
- 17/08/2019 Ventnor
- 22/08/2019 Newport
- 24/08/2019 Cowes
- 28/08/2019 Sandown
- 31/08/2019 Ryde
If you are interested please download this short form and