Swanage Lifeboat Week AUGUST 2026

🗓️ Saturday 8^th – Sunday 16^th August 2026

The annual Swanage Lifeboat Week returns this summer for eight days of RNLI festival fun, both on the water and on land at Prince Albert Gardens and around town.

Swanage Lifeboat Week has a packed programme of activities and entertainment, from the much-loved build-a-boat competition and family-friendly charity duck race to the popular lifeboat quiz, gig racing, live music and lots more.

The event raised just over £29,000 for Swanage RNLI in 2025.

Programme

Saturday 8^th August

• 10am – 4pm: Ducks on sale in town today & tomorrow for tomorrow’s annual Charity Duck Race (£2.50)
• 11am – 4pm: Boathouse open day, with lifeboat launches & demos, plus refreshments at the angling club. Lifeboat launches at 11.30pm & 1.30pm
• 6pm – 9pm: Angling competition

Sunday 9^th August

• 10am – 4pm: Ducks on sale for today’s race
• 4pm – 4.30pm: Charity Duck Race (start point: The Con Club; finish point: The Mowlem)

Monday 10^th August

• 7pm – 10.30pm: Outdoor theatre performance: The Pickwick Papers at Prince Albert Gardens
• 8pm – 10pm: Darts trophy at the Legion (teams of four can register from 7pm)

Tuesday 11^th August

• 6.30pm – 8.30pm: Fun sailing race – Start & finish point: The Mowlem

Wednesday 12^th August

• 7pm: Lighthouse Loop 5k trail run (register from 6pm)

Thursday 13^th August

• 10am – 12pm: Crabbing competition, Lower High Street (postponed from Tuesday)
• 6.15pm: Lifeboat launch
• 6pm – 9pm: Gig race, Swanage Central Beach
• 6.30pm – 8.30pm: Swanage Sailing Club senior race
• 8pm – 11pm: Fun quiz at the Legion

Friday 14^th August

• 9am – 1pm: Flag Day street collection
• 6pm: Rescue the Damsel raft race, Swanage Beach (register from 5.30pm) or online: www.eventbrite.com/e/swanage-lifeboat-week-rescue-the-damsel-raft-race-2026-tickets-1992788701651
• From 6pm: Lifeboat bar & BBQ at Prince Albert Gardens
• 6.45pm: Live music from Kelp
• 7.30pm: Jazzknots
• 9.30pm: Stone Cold Sober

Saturday 15^th August

Today’s events are all based at Prince Albert Gardens:

• 11am – 4pm: Lifeboat Fayre & refreshments
• From 1pm: Lifeboat bar & BBQ
• 1pm: Life music with Velcro Pompom
• 2pm: Lobster raffle draw
• 2pm: Love Soul Choir
• 3.30pm: Lifeboat Fayre raffle draw
• 4pm – 5pm: Build-a-Boat race (the Stone Quay) – get tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swanage-rnli-build-a-boat-competition-2026-tickets-1994125263343
• From 6pm: Lifeboat bar & BBQ
• 7pm: Sundrunk band
• 9pm: The Reptiles

Sunday 16^th August

• 5.30pm: Lifeboat church service on Swanage Pier

For the latest updates, follow Swanage Lifeboat on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swanagelifeboat/