Swanage Carnival JUL/AUG 2025

🗓️ Saturday 26th July – Saturday 2rd August 2025

Swanage Carnival is one of the main highlights of the year in Swanage and across the Isle of Purbeck, with eight days of entertainment taking over the town in one of Dorset’s most popular family-friendly festivals.

  • Swanage Carnival parade, Shore Road
  • Dinosaur Derby race, Swanage Carnival
  • Granny Turismo, Swanage seafront
  • Dinosaur on Banjo Pier
  • Rampage Mas, Swanage
  • Swanage mayor at Carnival

Swanage Carnival is 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

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.

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 the town.

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.

  • Swanage Carnival parade costumes
  • Rampage Mas Band dancer
  • Swanage Carnival balloon float
  • Minion-themed inflatable slide in Swanage
  • Princess & the Pea fancy dress at Carnival wheelbarrow race in Swanage
  • Emu fancy dress at the Swanage Carnival parade

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.

Programme of Events for 2024

Below is a list of Carnival events which you can book your place on in advance, along with some key dates to remember, including the Carnival procession and fireworks nights – for the full list of what’s on during Carnival week, pick up a copy of the Swanage Carnival programme or download the app, via which you can also make a donation.

Entry forms can be found on the Swanage Carnival website: https://swanagecarnival.com/entry-forms/

We’ll also update timings daily, as Swanage Carnival posts updates on its Facebook page.

Saturday 27th July

Photo Marathon Competition

Shore Runners

Indoor Rowing Challenge

Dinosaur Derby

Live Music: Sussex Steel Band

  • Start time: 12pm

Live Music: Kelp!

Swanage’s premier sea shanty singers!

  • Start time: 12.30pm

Totally Unleashed Dinosaur Experience

Fire Engine Fun

Live Music: Phoenix Rock n’ Roll

  • Start time: 3pm

Fire Engine Pull

Live Music: The Skimmity Hitchers

‘Scrumpy & Western’ Dorset band.

  • Start time: 7pm

Live Music: Raw Samba

  • Start time: 8.30pm

Live Music: Fluke

Local band playing pop, rock & soul classics

  • Start time: 9pm

Fireworks Display

The first of three fireworks displays during Carnival week.

  • Start time: 9.45pm approx.
  • Location: Swanage seafront

Sunday 28th July

Carnival Praises

  • Start time: 10.30am

Rexy the Dinosaur

Live Music: Sussex Steel Band

  • Start time: 12pm

Live Music: Old Hat

  • Start time: 12.30pm

Granny Turismo

Live Music: Bournemouth Carnival Band

  • Start time: 1.30pm

Martin Hobdell Poetry

  • Start time: 1.30pm

Beach Buggy Club & Top Hat Riders

  • Start time: 2.45pm

Carnival Procession

Live Music: Jess Upton & the Guilty Pleasures

  • Start time: 7pm

Live Music: Sway Allstars Orchestra

  • Start time: 9pm

Monday 29th July

Market Day & Table Top Sale

Regatta Trophy Bowls Drive

  • Start time: 10am
  • Location: Beach Gardens

Live Music: Swanage Jazz Machine

  • Start time: 11.30am

Open Mic Poetry Session

  • Timings: 12pm/1.30pm – 3pm (please check timings at venue)
  • Location: Ballard Stage, Sandpit Field

Go Kart Grand Prix

Open Putting Championship

  • Timings: 2.30pm – 6.30pm
  • Location: Beach Gardens

Food Demo – Swanage Bay Fish

The first of three food demonstrations this Carnival Week.

  • Timings: 3pm – 4pm
  • Venue: Marquee, Sandpit Field

Live Music: Charlie Goodwin

  • Start time: 4pm

Swanage Bay Swim

Carnival Bingo

Open Darts Competition

  • Registration: 7pm
  • Timings: 8pm – 11pm
  • Venue: Swanage Royal British Legion

Tuesday 30th July

Crabbing Competition

Art for Fun

  • Timings: 10am – 4.30pm
  • Venue: Andy Knill art studio

Live Music: Pastimers

  • Start time: 11.30am

Wacky Races

  • Start time: 12pm
  • Location: Showground, Sandpit Field

French Boules Singles Tournament

Junior Tennis Tournament

Live Music: Swing Easy Too

  • Start time: 1pm

Food Demo – Burnt Toast

  • Timings: 2pm – 3pm

Carnival Art Auction

Carnival Biathlon

  • Registration: 6pm
  • Start time: 6.30pm
  • Meet point: Outside The Mowlem
  • Age groups: Under 8s, 8 – 10, 11 – 14, 15+
  • Cost: ÂŁ3

Putting Semi-Final

  • Timings: 6.30pm – 9pm
  • Location: Beach Gardens

Live Music: Dorset Gene Pool

  • Start time: 7pm

Pool Competition

  • Start time: 7pm (Registration 7.30pm)
  • Venue: Royal British Legion

Barn Dance

Wednesday 31st July

Community Performance Day

Live Music: Maiden Oak

  • Start time: 11.30am

Scruff’s Fun Dog Show – **CANCELLED**

Senior Tennis Tournament

Food Demo – The Salt Pig – **CANCELLED**

Today’s food demo has been cancelled due to illness.

  • Start time: 2pm
  • Venue: Marquee, Sandpit Field

Live Music: Remix

  • Start time: 3pm

Silent Disco

  • Timings: 5pm – 7pm

4-Mile Fun Run

Putting Final

  • Start time: 6.30pm
  • Location: Beach Gardens

Live Music – Mother Ukers

  • Start time: 7pm

Pre-Firework Entertainment

  • Start time: 8pm

Live Music: Imprints

  • Start time: 9pm

Fireworks Display

  • Start time: 9.45pm
  • Location: Swanage seafront

Thursday 1st August

Sand Sculpture Competition

Carnival’s Got Talent Auditions

Footgolf Competition

Golf with a difference – can you pot the ball with your foot?

  • Registration: 10am
  • Timings: 11am – 12.30pm
  • Venue: Isle of Purbeck Golf Club
  • Cost: ÂŁ10

Live Music: Keith Lockett

  • Start time: 11.30am

Live Music: Jurassic Rock n’ Roll

  • Start time: 12.15pm

Circus Skills Workshop

Children’s Party & Fancy Dress Disco

  • Timings: 6pm – 7pm
  • Venue: Marquee, Sandpit Field

Silent Disco

  • Timings: 7/7.30pm – 9pm
  • Venue: Marquee, Sandpit Field

Gig Racing

In the bay, with Swanage Sea Rowing Club.

  • Timings: 6pm – 8.30pm

Live Music: Swanage Town Band

  • Start time: 7pm

Beer Pong

Fancy Dress Street Party

Come along in your best fancy dress costume to the Swanage Carnival Street Party, where there’ll be stilt walkers, fire acts and live music.

  • Start time: 7/7.30pm – 9pm
  • Location: Lower High Street

Yard of Ale Challenge

Live Music: The Reptiles

  • Start time: 9pm

Friday 2nd August

Vintage & Classic Car Show

Pavement Artists’ Competition

Art For Fun

  • Timings: 10am – 4.30pm
  • Venue: Andy Knill Art Studio

Children’s Songs & Storytime

Supported by Swanage Library.

  • Start time: 11am
  • Venue: Marquee, Sandpit Field

Carnival Bingo

French Boules Doubles

Live Music: Swing Easy Too

  • Start time: 1.30pm

Fancy Dress Paddleboard Race

Carnival’s Got Talent Final

Wheelbarrow Race

Live Music: Tim Somerfield

  • Start time: 7pm

Carnival Karaoke

  • Start time: 9pm
  • Venue: East Bar, High Street

Live Music: The Bournemouth Ratpack

  • Start time: 9pm

Saturday 3rd August

Percy the Plesiosaur

Savage Skills BMX Stunt Show

Black Eagles Acrobatics

Silent Disco

  • Start time: 2pm
  • Venue: Marquee, Sandpit Field

Titan the Robot

Fireworks Display

  • Start time: 9.45pm approx.
  • Location: Swanage seafront

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.