Swanage Pirate Festival

🗓️ Saturday 24th – Sunday 25th May 2025

Invading the beach and taking up post at Sandpit Field, the pirates are back in Swanage for another weekend of swashbuckling shenanigans and skirmishes.

Watch as they practise their musket and cannon fireparade through town and show off their sword-fighting skills at the Battle of the Beach.

  • Pirates of the Caribbean - Captain Edward Teague cosplay
  • Beach battle pirate re-enactment on Swanage beach
  • Pirate parade on Shore Road in Swanage

There’ll be living history encampments at Sandpit Field, along with craft stalls, face painting and food & drink stands.

  • Entry: Free

2025 Programme

Saturday 24th May

  • 10am: Site open
  • 10.30am: Pirate parade
  • 11.30am: Cannon display
  • 12.30pm: Beach battle
  • 1.30pm: Sea shanty singing
  • 2.30pm: Field battle
  • 4pm: Sword training
  • 5pm: Site close

Sunday 25th May

  • 10am: Site open
  • 10.30am: Pirate training
  • 11.30am: Cannon display
  • 12.30pm: Beach battle
  • 1.30pm: Sea shanty singing
  • 2.30pm: Field battle
  • 4pm: Sword training
  • 5pm: Site close

Special notices

  • Beach battle timings are approximate due to tides
  • Cannon fire is extremely loud – if pets or children are scared of loud noises, it’s best to move away until after the display

Stallholders

Applications from stallholders are now open, and any offers of sponsorship for the event, whose reenactors provide their services free of charge, are welcomed.

Email pirate-festival@outlook.com for information.

Find out more on the pirates’ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/purbeckpiratefestival/