Sandown’s cancelled New Year’s fireworks display will return later this year, with organisers announcing Easter Saturday as the new date.
The popular fireworks, scheduled for January 1, were called off due to 'circumstances beyond their organiser’s control' amid poor weather.
Renamed the Easter Fireworks Eggstravaganza, the display is now set to get underway from Sandown Pier at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 30 – the evening before the clocks go forward to British Summer Time.
Paul Coueslant, carnival chair, said: “It was a big disappointment for everyone that we couldn’t stage the display on that rainy, windswept day at the start of January.
“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.
Among the year’s highlights was securing a grant from Arts Council England for the Great Sandown Hat Revival, involving Island primary school pupils and care home residents, among thousands who enjoyed the return of 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 is on offer at the August event it took over in 2022.
Paul continued: “Our other summer events attracted the usual big crowds and Islandwide media interest. We’re planning to build on last year’s successes and hope for another bumper summer.”
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