Isle of Wight Events 2012
Welcome to our Isle of Wight Events Directory
Check out our Isle of Wight events listings below for your guide to what's happening on the Isle of Wight in 2012. There really are events for everybody from rock festivals to cycling and walking festivals, hedgelaying competitions to ploughing matches. Sign-up to My Red Funnel or follow us on twitter for the latest event news.
Isle of Wight Family Fun events
Many events on the Island are family friendly and of interest to children of all ages but we've highlighted below some of our family favourites.
- Half-Term Open Week | 13-17 Feb 2012 | Havenstreet
- Steam Train Mothers Day Specials | Sun 18 March 2012 | Havenstreet
- Memorial Ploughing Match | 1 Apr 2012 | New Wolverton Farm, Shorewell
- Steam Train Easter Fun & Teddy bears Outing | 6-9 April 2012 | Havenstreet
- Fairy Festival | 1 May 2012 | Fairy Land at Blackgang Chine
- Olympic Torch visits the Isle of Wight | 14 July 2012 | Island wide
- Farmer Jack's Maize Maze | 20 Jul to 30 Sep 2012 | Arreton Old VIllage
- 'Day out with Thomas' | 21-24 July 2012 | Havenstreet
- HM Queen visits the Isle of Wight | 25 July 2012 | Cowes
- Fantasy Fireworks Parties | 27 Jul, 3/10/12/17/24 Aug 2012 | Blackgang Chine
- Pirate Island | 28-29 July 2012 | Yarmouth
- Isle of Wight Steam Show | 24-27 Aug 2012 | Havenstreet
- IoW Conker Championships | 9 Oct 2012 | Blackgang Chine
- Steam Train Wizard Week | TBC 2012 | Havenstreet
- Witches & Wizards Half-Term Treat | 25-27 Oct 2012 | Blackgang Chine
- A Victorian Christmas | TBC 2012 | Osborne House, East Cowes
- Santa Steam Train Specials | TBC 2012 | Havenstreet
- Mince Pie Steam Train Specials | TBC 2012 | Havenstreet
Exhibitions, Shows & Rallies
From steam shows to scooter rallies, the Isle of Wight calendar is jam packed with shows, exhibitions and rallies.
- Bustival - Cavalcade of vintage vehicles | 15 Apr 2012 | Newport
- Isle of Arts Festival | 20-22 Apr 2012 | Ventnor
- ORP Blyskawic 70th Anniversary | 4-7 May 2012 | Cowes
- Old Gaffers Festival | 25-27 May 2012 | Yarmouth
- The 1940's Steam Railway Experience | 30 Jun & 1 Jul 2012 | Havenstreet
- 4th Annual Isle of Wight Quilt Show & Fabric Sale | 4 Aug 2012 | Newport
- Steam Railway Victorian Weekend | 4-5 Aug 2012 | Ryde/Island-wide
- Ventnor Carnival | 12 Aug 2012 | Ventnor
- Cowes Carnival | 11 Aug 2012 | Cowes
- V-Dub Island 2012 | 2-6 Aug 2012 | Newport | BUY TICKETS
- Ryde Carnival | 11 Aug 2012 | Ryde
- Yarmouth Carnival Week | 18-25 Aug 2012 | Yarmouth
- National Scooter Rally | 24-27 Aug 2012 | Ryde/Island-wide
- Island Steam Show | 24-27 Aug 2012 | Havenstreet
- St Helens Carnival | TBC 2012 | St Helens
Food & Drink, Arts & Film, Gardens & Crafts
The Island has a great reputation for fresh food and organic produce and the many food related festivals and garden show's offer a great way to see and taste what's available.
- Sweetcorn Fair | 29-30 Sep 2012 | Arreton Old Village
- Ryde Farmers Market | Every Saturday 8:30-12:30 | Ryde Town Centre
- Isle of Arts Festival | 20-22 Apr 2012 | Ventnor
- Spring Garden Show | 28-29 Apr 2012 | SHOW CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
- Spring Real Ale Festival | 5-7 May 2012 | Havenstreet
- Isle of Wight Artists' Open Studios | 13-16 Jul 2012 | S & SW Wight
- Isle of Wight Artists' Open Studios | 20-23 Jul 2012 | Central, N & E Wight
- Ventnor Fringe Festival | 15-18 Aug 2012 | Ventnor
- Isle of Wight Garlic Festival | 18-19 Aug 2012 | Nr. Arreton
- Wolverton Manor Garden Fair | 1-2 Sep 2012 | Wolverton
- Apple Day Festival | 15-16 Sep 2012 | Afton Park
Music Festivals & Concerts
The Isle of Wight host's two multi-award winning music festivals, the legendary Isle of Wight Festival takes place each June and Bestival every September. In addition, there are many smaller more intimate music events and festivals.
- Opera at The Garlic Farm | 10 & 11 May 2012 | The Garlic Farm, Newchurch
- Wolverton Folk & Blues Festival | 14 May 2012 | Wolverton Manor, Shorwell
- IW Radio Jubilee Garden Party with Level 42 | 4 June 2012 | BUY TICKETS
- Midsummer Jazz | 16 June 2012 | Havenstreet
- Isle of Wight Festival | 22-24 June 2012 | Newport | BUY TICKETS
- Folkstation | 6-8 July 2012 | Nr Newport | BUY TICKETS
- Newport Jazz Weekend | 20-22 July 2012 | Newport
- Rhythmtree Festival | 20-22 Jul 2012 | Calbourne | BUY TICKETS
- Last Night of the Osborne Proms | 21 July 2012 | Osborne
- STEPS in Concert | 28 Jul 2012 | Osborne, East Cowes | BUY TICKETS
- V-Dub Island 2012 | 2-6 Aug 2012 | Newport | BUY TICKETS
- Ventnor Fringe Festival | 15-18 Aug 2012 | Ventnor
- WOW Fest | 17-19 Aug 2012 | Shanklin
- Bestival 2012 | 6-9 Sep 2012 | Robin Hill, Newport | BUY TICKETS
Land based sporting events
From hedge laying and ploughing competitions to full on triathlons, randonnee's and walking festivals, the Isle of Wight offers a wide range outdoor activity events.
- Isle of Wight Hedge Laying Competition | 25 Feb 2012 | Calbourne Mill
- IoW Grand National & Ashey Scurry | 25 Mar 2012 | Nr Ryde
- Isle of Wight Football Festival | 7-8 April 2012 | Newport
- Wight Knights The Revolution Crusade | 21-25 Apr 2012 | Various Locations
- Isle of Wight Football Festival | 5-6 May 2012 | Newport
- Isle of Wight Walking Festival | 5-20 May 2012 | Island-wide
- Isle of Wight Randonnee | 6 May 2012 | Various Locations
- Walk the Wight 2012 | 13 May 2012 | Bembridge
- The Wight Challenge | 19 May 2012 | Porchfield
- Big Wight Enduro | 19 May 2012 | Yarmouth
- Wight Riviera Sportive | 20 May 2012 | Yarmouth
- Cycle the Wight | 18 Sep 2012 | Ryde, E Cowes, Yarmouth & Blackgang
- The Wight Challenge | 22 Sep 2012 | Porchfield
- Isle of Wight Cycling Festival | 22-30 Sep 2012 | Island-wide
- West Wight Triathlon | 30 Sep 2012 | West Wight
- Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival | 26-29 Oct 2012 | Island-wide
Water related events
Surrounded by water, the Isle of Wight offers some of the best sailing and water related sports found anywhere in the UK. Cowes Week is the highlight of the yacht racing calendar whilst The Big Splash and the Cowes Powerboat Festival are all about engine power.
- Titanic Commemorative Event | 10 April 2012 | Southampton
- Old Gaffers Festival | 25-27 May 2012 | Yarmouth
- Cunard's 3 Queen Celebrations | 5 Jun 2012 | Southampton
- JP Morgan Round the Island Race 2012 | 30 Jun 2012 | Solent
- P&O 175th Anniversary (7 ships together) | 3 Jul 2012 | Southampton
- Finish of Cllipper Round the World Race | 22 Jul 2012 | Solent
- Cowes Dinghy Week | 30 Jul-3 Aug 2012 | West Cowes
- Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2012 | 11-18 Aug 2012 | Cowes
- The British Powerboat Festival | 24-26 Aug 2012 | Cowes/Solent
- Little Britain Challenge Cup SB3 Challenge | 6-9 Sep 2012 | Solent
Editors Choice
Ventnor Fringe to host Isle of Wight Film Festival
We’ve just heard from Ventnor Fringe that they are running the Isle of Wight Film Festival this year as part of their event – here’s the latest in their own words – Eds. We’re delighted to announce that the Isle of Wight Film Festival, launched in 2008 as the Isle of Wight Short Film Festival, [...]
Events at Quay Arts
Acoustic Originals line-up Mon 21 May!
A great evening of quality new music...
Head Chef required...
Do you have excellent culinary skills and creative flair?..
Public Art Submissions Invited
‘Celebrating Milne’
Weather Forecast
Current weather: Partly Cloudy
Temp: 15°c (59°f)
Wind: NNW at 16 mph (26 kmph)
Today's weather: Sunny
High: 15°c (59°f); Low: 11°c (52°f)
Wind: NNW at 15 mph (23 kmph)
Tomorrow's weather: Sunny
High: 17°c (62°f); Low: 13°c (55°f)
Wind: WNW at 11 mph (17 kmph)