🗓️ Saturday 26th July – Saturday 2rd August 2025
Swanage Carnival is one of the main highlights of the year in Swanage and Purbeck, with eight days of entertainment taking over the town in one of Dorset’s most popular family-friendly festivals.
With over 100 events across the week, highlights for 2025 are set to include the RAF Red Arrows and the Global Stars Airshow, plus returning favourites the Steamship Circus, BMX stunt show and Titan the Robot.
There’s a different carnival theme each year – the theme for 2024 was Jurassic Rocks, which brought lots of prehistoric and dinosaur-inspired fun to town.
The theme for 2025 is ‘Cirque du Swanage’.
Each day of Carnival is packed with family-friendly entertainment, day and night, which takes over the town’s streets and beachfront, with a festival hub at its central showground, overlooking Swanage Bay.
With live music, fireworks, games & competitions and the famous annual procession, there’s something for the whole family at Swanage Carnival, from traditional fun runs, friendly competitions and dog show, to the more unique events such as the wheelbarrow race, dinosaur derby and fire-engine pull.
The carnival’s showground at Sandpit Field is home to an array of street food stalls, a beer & pimms tent, children’s fairground games and an annual craft & produce market.
Swanage’s bars, cafĂ©s and restaurants all enter into the party spirit too – you’ll find carnival-themed gigs, pub games and quiz nights throughout the week.
The carnival has grown year-on-year since its inception in the 1800s to now being a major attraction on the south coast, with over a hundred different events across the eight days – ranging from special performances from visiting acts to the simple pleasures of sand sculpture competitions and carnival games.
Swanage Carnival remains completely free to attend, with small entry fees for various activities and competitions.
The event raises thousands of pounds each year (ÂŁ30,900 in 2024), which is given to a range of local charities and good causes.
Swanage Carnival was the proud winner of the Bronze award for Tourism Event/Festival of the Year at the Dorset Tourism Awards 2024/25.
“To be nominated again with such other great events is testament to our hard-working and very dedicated volunteers, without whom the event simply wouldn’t happen.
“As a totally self-funding organisation with a long and rich history, Swanage Carnival has now become a much anticipated date in the Dorset calendar.
“We really couldn’t run this event without the generosity of our sponsors and all the people who help us without hesitation.
“A huge thanks also to the people of Swanage who support us unconditionally.
“We are looking forward to this year’s carnival with new and exciting events.”
DARREN STRONG Swanage Carnival Chairman
Programme of Events for 2025
Here are the main Carnival events for 2025 by date and location.
For timings, please refer to the Carnival programme, or download the Swanage Carnival app, which will also give you live updates in case of amendments.
Entry forms, where relevant, can be found on the Swanage Carnival website: swanagecarnival.com/entry-forms/
Saturday 26th July
Seafront
- Red Arrows air display
- Fire engine fun
- Global Allstars air display
- Fire Engine Pull
- Raw Samba
- Fireworks
Arena
- Circus skills workshop
- Black Eagles acrobats
Marquee
- Photographic competition start
Main Stage
- Jess Upton & the Guilty Pleasures
- Jai Amore – The Tribe
Ballard Stage
- Kelp!
Beer Garden
- Sussex Steel Band
Sunday 27th July
De Moulham Road
- Procession judging
- Procession start
Arena
- Walk entries procession judging
Beach Gardens
- UK B B Club / Top Hat Riders
Beer Garden
- Sussex Steel Band
Marquee
- Carnival Praises – Churches Together
Seafront
- Giant Seagulls walkabout
Marquee Stage
- Sway Allstars
Monday 28th July
Marquee
- Arts & crafts fair/table top sale (marquee/arena)
- Photographic competition finish
- Food demo: Swanage Bay Fish
- Bingo
Beach Gardens
- Bowls
- Putting
Seafront
- Go Kart Grand Prix
Stone Quay
- Swanage Bay Swim
British Legion
- Darts: Mens & ladies’ singles
Tuesday 29th July
Marquee
- Community Corner: Parkinson’s awareness
- Food Demo: Salt Pig
- Art auction
Arena
- Wacky Races
- Dinosaur Derby
Stone Quay
- Junior crabbing
Seafront
- 4-mile fun run
Recreation Ground
- French boules singles tournament
Beach Gardens
- Junior tennis
- Putting semi-finals
British Legion
- Pool competition
Marquee Stage
- Dorset Gene Pool
- Black Sheep Barn Dance
Commercial Road
- Art for Fun
Wednesday 30th July
Arena
- Dog show
- Swanage Gymnastics display
Main Beach/Seafront
- Biathlon
- Community fireworks
Marquee
- Community Corner: Zumba
- Photographic competition: Presentation to winners
- Food demo: Burnt Toast
- Silent Disco
Beach Gardens
- Senior tennis
- Putting final
Main Stage
- Stone Cold Sober
- Pop up Bowie
Ballard Stage
- Swanage Musical Theatre
- Newton Manor Hall showcase
- Remix
Commercial Road
- Art for Fun
Thursday 31st July
Main Beach
- Children’s/adult sand sculpture
- Gig racing
Marquee
- Community Corner: Defib & first aid awareness
- Children’s party & disco
- Galaxy Thief
Main Stage/Stage 1
- The Reptiles
- Carnival’s Got Talent auditions
Arena
- Circus skills workshop
Lower High Street
- Fancy dress street party
Swanage Tennis Club
- Junior table tennis competition
The White Horse
- Yard of Ale
The Mowlem Showbar
- Beer pong
Isle of Purbeck Golf Club
- Footgolf
Friday 1st August
Arena
- Vintage & Classic Car Day
Seafront/Shore Road
- Pavement Artist
- Wheelbarrow race
Ocean Bay
- Paddleboard race
Marquee
- Childrens songs & storytime
- Bingo
- Carnival’s Got Talent final
Main Stage
- Bournemouth Ratpack
Recreation Ground
- French boules doubles tournament
Methodist Church Hall
- Adult table tennis competitions
Commercial Road
- Art for Fun
Saturday 2nd August
Arena
- BMX stunt team
- Circus skills workshop
- Titan the Robot
Seafront
- Shore Runners
- Fireworks
Marquee
- Silent disco
Main Stage
- Fluke
- Wild Boyz
Rowing Club Clubhouse
- Indoor rowing challenge
Volunteering
One of the best ways to get involved with the local community in Swanage is through volunteering – and what better way to start sharing your time and skills than Carnival.
It’s a great way to meet new people and see different aspects of the town, whether that’s helping out with the preparations in the months leading up to Carnival as a committee member, or simply becoming a Friend of Swanage Carnival and helping out during the fun-filled but busy week – either way the amount of time you give is flexible.
To enquire about becoming a Friend or committee member, send an email to the Swanage Carnival team here: swanagecarnival.com/volunteer/
History of the Carnival
From a simple sailing regatta back in the 1800s to the week-long extravaganza with over a hundred events throughout the week as it is today, Swanage Carnival has become a key event for the town’s tourism and a special place in the hearts of the people who live here and those who return year-on-year to enjoy the festivities once more.
As the original, historic regatta held in Swanage Bay gained in popularity it soon became a regular feature of the new seaside town, and a carnival to mark its finale was introduced in the 1900s.
Word soon spread of Swanage’s fun-filled Regatta & Carnival and soon a new element was added – the road race. This began to draw even more visitors, and by the mid-1900s festivities had grown into a week-long celebration similar to the carnival we know and love today.
In the 1950s the Swanage Carnival gained further renown when the children’s author of the moment, Enid Blyton, took up the position of Carnival President. Blyton was heavily involved in various aspects of Purbeck life – with her husband, Kenneth Darrell Waters, she owned the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club in Studland and many of her books are heavily influenced by the landscape of this, her favourite holiday destination. It’s recorded that Blyton also helped to organise the famous fireworks display that continues to be one the main attractions of the event to this day.
“I hope the Carnival and Regatta will be as successful as ever, with real summer come at last. But my main thoughts are, of course, with the children, whether resident or visitors. This year they have a very full and exciting programme, and will enjoy every minute. Happy days to you, children, and a great welcome to Swanage, if you are our visitors.”
Enid Blyton, in her Carnival Presidential foreword
In the following years, Swanage Carnival became a vital opportunity to raise money for local charitable organisations in Swanage and continues to contribute hugely to good causes, so if you see a donation point or friendly volunteer with a bucket, pop what you can in and know that it’s going to a good cause.
