Our Folktastic Isle: Celebrating folk traditions through community and carnival
We invite guests to tell us a little about how they work with folklore. This is a guest blog post by Hannah Ray, Director of New Carnival, Isle of Wight.
New Carnival is an arts organisation on the Isle of Wight, specialising in outdoor celebratory arts. We work with communities to foster creativity, wellbeing, and a shared sense of place. Each year, we engage thousands of people through two main events: the summer IW Mardi Gras, a youth-focused parade with over 20 schools and community groups, and the winter Merry and Bright: Festival of Light.
Isle of Wight college students wassailing perfomance, Ryde Merry and Bright 2024. Photo by Tracy Curtis.
The Isle of Wight is steeped in folklore and tradition — from its 1887 carnival roots to being known as one of the most haunted islands. It hosts six Morris dancing sides and the unique Giltern Market, where a prize bull is gilded with gold. The Island’s status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve highlights its natural and cultural significance, making it an ideal place to explore folk heritage.
Our Folktastic Isle: a two-year folk project
In 2025 and 2026, we’re launching ‘Our Folktastic Isle’ to delve into local folklore. In 2025, we’ll explore the folk wheel of the year, celebrating seasonal customs and rituals. In 2026, we’ll focus on folk stories, myths, and legends. The project was inspired by the 'Making Mischief' exhibition by the Museum of Folklore, which showcased costumes and the evolving nature of folk traditions.
Donkey Burrokeets made by New Carnival Creative Volunteers 2024. Photo by Gemma Mallinsin.
We’ll work with partners like Folk on Wight, Isle of Wight Cultural and Education partnership: Museums and Schools, IW Music Hub, IW Natural Landscape, Ryde Town Council, and IW Adult and Community Learning. Up to 800 children and young people will learn about local folklore, create costumes inspired by their findings, and perform in the IW Mardi Gras.
The legend of the dragon tree, Brighstone. Crossing the Bar project 2021. Photo by Hannah Ray.
New Carnival’s artists and volunteers will help bring folklore to life, crafting large-scale costumes like four seasonal puppets and a Jack-in-the-Green. Our artists will also learn heritage crafts like straw work, promoting sustainability in costume-making.
Green Man at Ventnor Carnival 2024. Photo by Ben Francis.
Why folk, and why now?
We’re witnessing a resurgence of interest in folk traditions across the UK — a response to the need for connection, sustainability, and authenticity in an ever-changing world. The UK’s ratification of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention underscores the cultural importance of these practices, placing them alongside historic landmarks and artefacts.
Our work with young people since 2023 shows that folklore resonates. In 2024, ‘Mayday’ celebrations were the most popular theme choice for school and community groups, revealing a real desire to explore local traditions.
Living traditions, evolving practices
Folk isn’t static — it evolves with each generation. Groups like Boss Morris fuse dance with contemporary aesthetics, performing to music by Isle of Wight band Wet Leg. The Demon Barbers band reimagine sword dances with pool cues and mops. These adaptations show that folk remains vibrant and relevant.
Through Our Folktastic Isle, we’re not just preserving traditions — we’re empowering communities to shape their own. By engaging with folklore, we honour the past while making space for new interpretations, ensuring these practices continue to inspire future generations.
We invite everyone to join us in this celebration of folklore — to discover, contribute to, and map out the Isle of Wight’s unique cultural heritage for all to enjoy.
Hannah Ray,
Director, New Carnival.