Come and join YES! Creative Beats for a fun, interactive fully participatory samba drumming workshop on the grass at Sandham Gardens! All ages & abilities are welcome, we will get you up and playing a groove in no time!

It's free of charge and fun for all the family!

But that’s not all!

We also have our popular Sandown Bay Regatta Dog Show, on the same day also at Sandham Gardens starting at 10am!

And of course, our main Regatta day is on Sunday 11th August, with market stalls and entertainment along Sandown Esplanade plus our firework finale returns!

FREE ENTRY! Donations are gratefully appreciated, our amazing volunteers will be positioned around the esplanade with collection buckets. Donations can also be made online, follow the button above.

Key Information

🎆Firework Display

The display will be launched from the end of Sandown Pier, at 7:30pm. For safety reasons, the display cannot be watched from the outside area at the end of Sandown Pier.

⛔Road Closure

For the safety of spectators, Pier Street and Sandown Esplanade (as highlighted in red on the map below) will be closed from 6pm until 8.30pm on Saturday 30th March. The road will likely reopen sooner but only once crowds have dispursed safely.

🅿️Parking

Car parking is likely to be extremely busy in Sandown on the day: we advise you to arrive early and take advantage of Sandown's local restraunts, pubs and of course, Sandown Pier before the display. The closest public car parks are: St Johns Road, Station Avenue, The Heights, Fort Street and Dinosaur Isle. The final 3 in this list are larger and likely to have spaces for the longest. Please make sure you pay for a ticket if required and only park in marked bays.

Please check back here or on our Facebook page for any updates.

Photos by Shane Thornton

Come along to Sandown & Shanklin Rugby Football Club (Station Approach, PO36 9ES) on Friday 15th March and enter to represent Sandown in carnival parades across the Island through the summer.

Please arrive at 6.30pm to register, judging will commence at 7pm.

Boys and girls are welcome, all entrants must be aged between 8-17 on the day, live in the PO36 postcode area and be available for most carnivals this year.

Entry is FREE plus there'll be a disco. You've got to be in it to win it!

The bar will be open for soft drinks and small snacks.

Please Note: All entrants under 16 must be accompanied by an parent/guardian throughout the evening.

📢 Important Announcement
We’re extremely sorry to announce that, because of circumstances beyond our control, tomorrow’s fireworks display from the pier will not be able to go ahead.

We plan to reschedule the display in the coming months and will keep everyone informed as usual via our Facebook page and website.

We know this will be a big disappointment to many, as it is to us, and we wish you a Happy New Year.

Our illuminated carnival procession starts from Sandown Library at 8:30pm, leading on a route around the town and finishing back at the library - see the route below.

This year, we also have a Quiet Zone along Royal Cresent, where music and sound will be turned down when the procession passes through (see map). The idea is to offer an area for spectators who prefer to enjoy the parade without loud noise from the bands and floats, an initiative supported by Arts Council England.

The best viewpoints include: Beachfield Road, Royal Crescent, Melville Street, Fitzroy Street, Station Avenue and Albert Road.

Please donate to our official collectors, look out for the Sandown Carnival buckets or donate online.

Our Main & Children’s carnivals are on Saturday 30th July

For the route, see the map below. The route may need to change due to unexpected issues (e.g. roadworks) keep an eye on our Facebook Page and this event page for any changes.

Saturday 12th August 2023 - Dog Show @ Sandham Gardens

Whether you've got a Beagle or a Bulldog, a German Shepherd or a Golden Retriever, we'd love for you to enter this fun competition at Sandham Gardens. Entries are £2 per category, per dog and all proceeds go to Sandown Carnival to help fund our much loved events.

This year’s Sandown Bay Regatta Dog Show is kindly sponsored by Pawsitive Animal Care Ltd.

• The Best In Show award is Sponsored by Sandown Pet Store

• The Reserve Best In Show award is sponsored by Pawsitive Animal Care Ltd

Spectating is of course compeltely free! Categories are listed below.

Categories (Rosettes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd):

• Class 1: Fancy Dress (Beach/Sea Themed)

• Class 2: Regatta Hats on Dogs

• Class 3: Playful Puppy (Under 1 year)

• Class 4: Jolly Junior (2-6 yrs)

• Class 5: Golden Oldie (6+ yrs)

• Class 6: Best 6 Legs

• Class 7: Waggiest Tail

• Class 8: Junior Handler (Under 16)

• Class 9: Trick of the Day

Plus Best In Show & Reserve Best In Show: Judged from all 1st prize winners

• The Best In Show award is Sponsored by Sandown Pet Store

• The Reserve Best In Show award is sponsored by Pawsitive Animal Care Ltd

Whilst this is a ‘for fun’ competition, we do have some rules and guidelines:

• All dogs MUST be kept on a lead at all times

• Please clear up after your dog, bins are available

• Be mindful of nervous dogs and give them the space they need

• Water for your dog is available throughout the show, but please keep an eye on their welfare throughout, especially in hot weather

• The judges’ decicion is final, please respect this

• Any ‘dangerous dog’, defined under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 cannot take part in the show

• The event is run by Sandown Carnival, who run Sandown Bay Regatta

• Entry is a £2 donation per category, per dog and all proceeds go to Sandown Carnival Association

We’re excited to announce the date for Sandown’s Main Carnival 2023!

• Saturday 29th July 2023

Keep an eye on our Facebook Page and this event page for updates.

Parade entries assemble along Culver Parade from 5pm, with judging starting at 6pm.

Our main carnival procession leaves from Sandown Library at 7pm, leading on a route around the town and finishing back at the library - see the route below.

The best viewpoints include: Beachfield Road, Royal Crescent, Melville Street, Fitzroy Street, Station Avenue and Albert Road.

Please donate to our official collectors, look out for the Sandown Carnival buckets or donate online.

For the route, see the map below. The route may need to change due to unexpected issues (e.g. roadworks) keep an eye on our Facebook Page and this event page for any changes.

Family Entertainment @ Sandham Gardens - 10.30am till 4.30pm

We’re delighted to be able to offer our FREE family entertainent programme from our stage at Sandham Gardens, before & after the Children’s carnival! Check out the lineup below:

Children’s Carnival Parade - 11am

Setting off from Sandown Pier at the earlier time of 11am, The procession will be led by the Sandown Carnival Queens float, along the special route shown below. Finishing at Sandham Gardens where judging will take place and prizes will be presented.

Please donate to our official collectors, look out for the Sandown Carnival buckets or donate online!

The procession is followed by our Main Carnival!

For the route, see the map below for the Children’s route. The route may need to change due to unexpected issues (e.g. roadworks) keep an eye on our Facebook Page and this event page for any changes.

Come along to the Sandown Methodist Church Hall on York Road and enter to represent Sandown across the Island throughout the summer!

Please arrive from 6.15pm until 6.45pm to register, judging will commence at 7pm.

All entrants must be aged 9 or above, live in the PO36 postal code and be available throughout the summer holidays.

Entry is FREE, there will be a disco and nibbles & drinks will be provided for entrants.

You've got to be in it to win it!

Please Note: All entrants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult throughout the selection evening.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT OUR QUEENS’ SELECTION

A fun evening with music and refreshments.

Our would-be Queens can come dressed as they choose...comfortable casual wear is absolutely fine.

An independent panel of judges will be invited to choose five Sandown Carnival Queens to represent the town at the 2023 carnival parades around the Island.

Be prepared to answer a few friendly questions from our DJ and judges, and complete a short form so we know a bit more about you.

We’re sorry that not everyone can be chosen, but we do hope all who come along have an enjoyable time.

Remember that entrants must:
✔ be aged 9 or over on the day of selection (1 April 2023);
✔ live in the PO36 postcode area;
✔ be available for most Island Carnivals between July and September 2023;
✔ if under 16, be accompanied by an adult throughout the evening;

We look forward to seeing you!

Join us on 1st January 2023 as we celebrate the new year with a spectacular fireworks display, launched from the end of Sandown Pier at 6pm! For the best viewing spots, find a space along Sandown Esplanade and be in the front row of the display!

FREE ENTRY! Donations are gratefully appreciated, our amazing volunteers will be positioned around the esplanade with collection buckets. Donations can also be made online, follow the button below.

Photos by Shane Thornton

Road closures - The Esplanade and Pier Street will be closed before, during and after the display for crowd safety. This will last approximately 1 hour. Please note: Vehicles parked within the road closure will have to wait for crowds to disperse before being allowed to leave.

Please check back here or on our Facebook page for any updates.

Our illuminated carnival parade around the town!

Our illuminated carnival procession starts from Sandown Library at 8:30pm, leading on a route around the town and finishing back at the library - see the route below.

The best viewpoints include: Beachfield Road, Royal Crescent, Melville Street, Fitzroy Street, Station Avenue and Albert Road.

Please donate to our official collectors, look out for the Sandown Carnival buckets or donate online.

Our Main & Children’s carnivals are on Saturday 30th July

For the route, see the map below. The route may need to change due to unexpected issues (e.g. roadworks) keep an eye on our Facebook Page and this event page for any changes.

A whole day of free family oriented fun culminating in our costume parade around the town!

Family Entertainment at Sandham Gardens

Our entertainment acts this year includes the close harmony 1940’s vocal group Company B (10am), our Children’s Procession (Midday), entertainment from Stevo & Kai (2pm) and finishing the entertainment with Derek Sandy (4pm). All from our stage in Sandham Gardens! Then, preparations for our main carnival procession begin, which sets off at 7pm - see below for all the details!

Main Procession

Assemble along Culver Parade from 5pm, judging starts at 6pm.

Our main carnival procession starts from Sandown Library at 7pm, leading on a route around the town and finishing back at the library - see the route below.

The best viewpoints include: Beachfield Road, Royal Crescent, Melville Street, Fitzroy Street, Station Avenue and Albert Road.

We also have family friendly entertainment all day at Sandham Gardens- timings above.

Please donate to our official collectors, look out for the Sandown Carnival buckets or donate online.

Also on Saturday 30th July is our Children’s Procession at Midday!

For the route, see the map below. The route may need to change due to unexpected issues (e.g. roadworks) keep an eye on our Facebook Page and this event page for any changes.

A whole day of free family oriented fun culminating in our costume parade around the town!

Family Entertainment at Sandham Gardens

Children’s Parade

From Sandown Pier to Sandham Gardens. Assemble at Sandown Pier from 11:15am.

Parade Leaves: 12 Noon

The procession will be led by the Sandown Carnival Queens float, along the special route shown below. Finishing at Sandham Gardens where judging will take place and prizes will be presented.

We also have family friendly entertainment all day at Sandham Gardens- timings above.

Please donate to our official collectors, look out for the Sandown Carnival buckets or donate online!

The procession is followed by our Main Carnival!

For the route, see the map below for the Children’s route. The route may need to change due to unexpected issues (e.g. roadworks) keep an eye on our Facebook Page and this event page for any changes.

Come along to The Broadway Centre and enter to represent Sandown across the Island throughout the summer! 🌞

Please arrive from 6pm until 7pm to register, judging will commence at 6.30pm.

All entrants must be aged 9 or above, live in the PO36 postal code and be available throughout the summer holidays.

Entry is FREE, there will be a disco and nibbles & drinks will be provided for entrants.

You've got to be in it to win it! 😃