Easter Fireworks For Sandown After Carnival's Groundbreaking Year

Sandown Carnival has moved following the cancellation of its New Year’s Day fireworks display and announced Easter Saturday as the new date for the event.

Renamed the Easter Firework Eggstravanganza, the display is now scheduled to be fired from Sandown Pier at 7.30pm on Saturday 30th March, the evening before clocks go forward to British Summer Time.

"It was a big disappointment for everyone that we couldn’t stage the display on that rainy, windswept day at the start of January," says Carnival chair Paul Coueslant.

"Since then, we’ve been working with Sandown Pier and fireworks company Pains to give Easter crowds the chance to enjoy the spectacular occasion we had planned."

The announcement comes as Sandown Carnival celebrates 'a successful and groundbreaking year' in 2023.

In the annual report to its AGM this weekend, the 135-year old organisation says it has ‘forged new partnerships across the community, boosting participation at our events and adding to the entertainment we offer the town and its visitors’.

Among the year’s highlights was securing a grant from Arts Council England for The Great Sandown Hat Revival, involving local primary school pupils and care home residents among thousands who enjoyed a triumphant return for the town’s tradition of donning eccentric headwear at Sandown Bay Regatta.

The Carnival also staged the Regatta Dog Show for the first time, expanding what’s on offer at the August event it took over in 2022.

Paul Coueslant concluded:

"We’re planning to build on last year’s successes and hope for another bumper summer.

"‘We kick things off in March when we advertise for 8 to 17 year olds to join our 2024 Sandown Carnival float, with boys and girls welcome to apply."

Sandown Carnival’s AGM takes place upstairs at Sandown Library, 119 High Street, PO36 8AF on Saturday 27 January at 2.30pm. The meeting is open to members of the public.