Ringwood Carnival

About the event

Join us at Ringwood Carnival for a festival of fun supporting the local community!

This year we are excited to be collaborating with various organisations and art projects at Ringwood Carnival. There will be performances from Isle of Wight-based organisation Shademakers, who create amazing costumes and headdresses, and perform in carnivals across the UK and internationally. Come and see the beautiful silk flags created by young people at Ringwood and Burgate School as part of the River of Hope project – an arts-based learning project linking schools around the world through the study of rivers and environmental issues. We’ll also be bringing the streets of Ringwood to life with the vibrant sounds of CODA Street Band!

Alongside live music, community floats, craft stalls, and food and drink vendors, Shademakers and the Ringwood Musical and Dramatic Society will be performing in the two parades, at 2pm and 7:15pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

History of the Carnival

Ringwood saw its first carnival in 1928, originally set up to fund the purchase of a certain field from local man, Mr. Carver, as well as raise money for the Royal Victoria and West Hants Hospital. Carnivals followed in 1931 and 1934, when the Coldstream Guards marched through the town in full dress uniform.

The first Carnival after the war was in 1950 and has continued every year since. Today the Carnival is Ringwood’s largest and most important annual community event.