Countdown to Isle of Wight Day – Sponsored by Wightfibre

By Zoe Hyett
August 25th, 2016

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The inaugural Isle of Wight day is an initiative of the Island’s High Sheriff, Robin Courage. He has asked the Isle of Wight to come together and celebrate everything that is fantastic about the Isle of Wight. Isle of Wight day will be taking place on Saturday the 24th September which is at the end of the summer season.

The organisers have this week received 100 miles of bunting which can be collected from various distribution points. These points are scattered around the Island and anyone is welcome to collect the bunting for FREE, whether for individual use or commercial purposes. All three of the cross Solent ferry services – Hovertravel, Wightlink and Red Funnel have joined forces to pay for the official bunting and this shows exactly the type of collaboration which the High Sheriff is hoping to encourage.

The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a ‘Best Dressed Business’ and ‘Best Dressed Town or Village’ competition for the most innovative, creative and spectacular use of the bunting. On Isle of Wight Day, the High Sheriff will announce his winner for each category and they will be awarded with an Isle of Wight Day trophy.

IOW DAY from Bob Ede on Vimeo.

High Sheriff Robin Courage said:

“As your High Sheriff, I have created Isle of Wight Day. A day for the Island to bring former Islanders back to our shores and to celebrate together. It will also be a day to support local causes and to share in all that is good about this Island.” – Robin Courage, High Sheriff

There are now over sixty confirmed events listed on IsleofWightDay.com from all over the Island and they are increasing daily. Events include the Vessels Value Round The Island Yacht Race, various open days, Bembridge Food Fayre and more. In the evening there is a Grand People’s Parade planned through Newport welcoming whoever would like to participate. Organisers are hoping that it will provide a great opportunity for children from around the Island to use their Mardi Gras costumes which they sadly never got to wear due to it being rained-off in June. As well as events happening on the Saturday, there are things happening throughout the week before and after Isle of Wight Day, such as BBC Solent’s Tim Daykin bringing Songs of Praise to Cowes Enterprise College on Sunday the 25th September.

To get everyone in to the spirit for Isle of Wight Day, organisers are also giving away FREE car stickers. If you’re spotted by one of their official ‘spotters’, you could win a ferry voucher for free travel.