Events

The Isle of Wight International Jazz (Divas) Festival

The IW International Jazz (Divas) Festival 2008 looks all set to be the best yet, with a host of top performers.

Set in the delightful Victorian seaside town of Ventnor - the Deep South of the UK! Choose from major ticketed events to an exciting range of fringe, jazz café and workshops around the town. Tickets, information and accommodation details are available from 01983 863151 (Shanklin Tourist Information Office) or 01983 856206 (Jazz Festival Office). Visit the IW Jazz Festival website for full details.

Dates11/04/2008 - 13/04/2008

Note: Prices displayed are a guide only. When making an enquiry, please ensure that you check and confirm pricing directly with the operator.

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Isle of Wight Walking Festival

With around 200 walks, the Walking Festival is a great introduction to the Island - from its history and heritage to its people and landscape. Just select your walk or walks – there are around 6 per day for all ages and abilities - from the festival programme (available March 2008) or view on line at www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk

Introduced for the first time in 2006, the popular speed-dating walk will launch the festival on 5 May. There will be two walks with 50 people on each and new this year, participants will have also the opportunity to mingle later at an informal social evening. For more Information, contact the Island’s Cultural & Leisure Services department on 01983 203888

Dates 03/05/2008 - 18/05/2008

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Wight Diamond Mountain Bike Festival

Wight diamond is a party on two wheels with live music, beer tent, BBQ’s, plus some of the coolest trails and best riding around. Promising to be bigger, better and more extreme in its 13th year, anyone can take part – even if it’s just checking out the pubs and cafes along the way in the Trail Ale Trail! Once racing is complete, it’s back to base to carry on the fun, with music and activities to really make this a weekend to remember

Dates 23/05/2008 - 26/05/2008

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Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival

Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival will feature three days of free entertainment, craft stalls and a farmers market on Saturday and Sunday for the 20,000 plus expected visitors. The Old Gaffers - so called because of the traditional gaff rig - travel from all over the country to participate in the races on the Friday afternoon. This is an opportunity for visitors to see Island life at its very best – and it’s all for free. Ample parking is provided in the town as well as a ‘park and ride’ scheme at Bouldner, near Yarmouth, for this splendid weekend of festivities.

The popular location of Yarmouth has a Tudor castle, charming cottages, well-stocked chandlery, unique shops, fine pubs and good eating-houses, making it a favourite stop for yachts making their way east or west along the popular waters of the Solent.

Dates 01/06/2008 - 03/06/2008

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Round the Island Yacht Race

This event is an amazing one to watch, especially from Ventnor as the yachts pass here very close to land. Get an amazing view from your balcony or sipping wine at a seafront pub! The boats will be passing all day.

The annual JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, is one of the most popular fixtures on the Solent racing calendar. Competitors come from Europe and the USA, as well as all over the UK, to follow the 50 mile course round the Isle of Wight.

Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the fleet races westabout, to The Needles, round St Catherine's Point and Bembridge Ledge buoy back into the Solent. Spectators can find many vantage points, both on the mainland and Isle of Wight, to watch the race progress.

Over 60 prizes are awarded for the event and every boat completing the race receives a memento of the occasion.

Whether you compete regularly or are new to the sport, you will enjoy superb racing in some of the country's best sailing waters. Whilst the fastest multihull record stands at just over three hours, the bulk of the fleet crosses the line during the late afternoon or early evening and it is often the smaller craft that carry off the top prizes!

If you are a newcomer to the event the "First Timer's Guide" has more information and advice. Plus, of course, the staff at the Island Sailing Club will be happy to answer your questions – email rir@islandsc.org.uk or call 01983 296621.

Full details are published in the Notice of Race, Safety Booklet and Sailing Instructions which will be included on this website as soon as they are available.

Dates Sat 28th June 2008

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Skandia Cowes Week

Since 1826 Cowes Week has played a key part in the British sporting summer calendar and is one of the UK’s longest running and most successful sporting events. It now stages up to 40 daily races for over 1,000 boats and is the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world.

Skandia Cowes Week is a fusion of many exciting elements, with its great mix of competitive sailing and social activities. The 8,500 competitors range from Olympic and world class professionals to weekend sailors. In excess of 100,000 spectators come to watch the sailing, enjoy the parties and live entertainment, and to experience the unique atmosphere. It is genuinely a one-of-a-kind event – come and see for yourself!

Dates 02/08/2008 - 09/08/2008

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Isle of Wight Festival

In the music festival calendar, early June is now very much associated with the Isle of Wight Festival and 2008 will be no exception. Last year’s event had a line-up that included Coldplay, Foo Fighters and Prodigy. Previous years have seen top names such as REM, The Who, Faithless, Morrissey, Roxy Music, Snow Patrol and Embrace. But, it's more than just great, live music: the laid-back vibe (which the Island's famous for), the beautiful setting and the feeling of connecting with past festival history, all conspire to create a unique festival experience. Ask any of the 50,000 people who attended and they'll tell you the same.