Find fun-filled activities and events for the whole family to enjoy in and around Swanage, from free festivals & outdoor nature trails, to creative craft workshops and seasonal fetes & fairs.
You’ll find a busy programme of cinema, theatre shows and regular weekly & monthly family days out to be had all year round.
Keep an eye out for one-off entertainment too, such as when the circus or touring performers visit town, or when the Swanage Railway has special visitors.
🗓️ Thursday 26th December 2025 The Boxing Day Swim on Swanage Beach is an annual community tradition, which sees dozens of swimmers head to the water for a fun, festive dip. Fancy dress isn’t compulsory, but there are prizes up for grabs for the best Christmas costume. The Swanage Boxing Day Swim is also a […]
🗓️ Saturday 6th December 2025 One of Purbeck’s top winter attractions is the Swanage Christmas Market, where Dorset traders line the streets around Station Road. There’s always plenty of bargains to be had, as well the chance of finding a one-off handmade gift from one of the stalls. Younger children can enjoy merry-go-round rides and visit […]
🗓️ Saturday 29th November 2025 Get the date in your diary for this year’s Christmas lights switch-on in Swanage. Grab a mulled wine, join in with some festive songs and get ready for the countdown before the town sparkles with the magic of Christmas once more. There’ll be live entertainment, a formal countdown, and as always […]
🗓️ Sunday 14th September 2025 Calling all Dorset dogs (and holidaying hounds!) – the annual Margaret Green Animal Rescue Centre’s Country Dog Show is back. Humans and their furry friends are invited to take part in a range of fun classes – the top five in each one will win a coveted rosette. Classes Classes […]
🗓️ Saturday 13th September 2025 Swanage Lifeboat Station is holding a special open day today to celebrate its 150th anniversary. Members of the public are invited to come and explore the station, where there will be various activities throughout the day remembering significant events over the years. More details to follow closer to the time.
🗓️ Saturday 6th – Sunday 7th September 2025 This weekend, Corfe Castle will once again be taken over by The English Civil War Society, which will perform dramatic re-enactments for visitors of the castle’s famous 1946 ‘siege and betrayal’. Step back in time as the castle’s inhabitants and Lady Bankes go about their daily lives, […]
🗓️ Friday 5th – Sunday 7th September 2025 Head down to the annual Classic Steam & Vehicle show at its new location of Norden for a weekend of all things classic – from cars, tractors, motorbikes and camper vans to vintage steam engines. There’ll be loads to see and do, with plenty of trade stands and […]
🗓️ Saturday 23rd August 2025 Pack your marmalade sandwiches and a picnic blanket and come and watch Paddington in Peru (PG) at Corfe Castle this evening. This screening is part of the Purbeck Film Festival’s Cinema Under the Stars programme. Tickets
🗓️ Friday 22nd August 2025 Enjoy an outdoor Harry Potter movie screening in the historic setting of Corfe Castle this summer. The second instalment of the franchise – Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets (PG) – is being shown as part of the Purbeck Film Festival’s Cinema Under the Stars programme. Dressing up as […]
🗓️ Thursday 14th – Sunday 18th August 2025 This family-friendly, intimate festival is set on a farm just outside Swanage and is one of the most popular events of its kind on the Jurassic Coast. Kick back to the sounds of world and roots music, and dust off your dancing shoes for some toe-tapping traditional […]
🗓️ Saturday 9th – Sunday 17th August 2025 The annual Swanage Lifeboat Week is back this summer for nine days of RNLI festival fun both on the water and on land at Prince Albert Gardens and around town. It’s a packed programme of activities and entertainment, from the much-loved build-a-boat competition and family-friendly charity duck […]
🗓️ Thursday 31st July – Sunday 3rd August 2025 The annual Camp Bestival in Lulworth is arguably the largest festival on the Isle of Purbeck and brings some of the UK’s biggest names in music to Dorset. The brainchild of DJ Rob Da Bank and wife Josie, Camp Bestival’s top names for 2025 include Sir Tom Jones, […]
🗓️ 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 is the proud winner of the Bronze award […]
🗓️ Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th July 2025 Join the team from the Ancient Technology Centre at Corfe Castle this weekend and learn all about medieval swords – from how they were made to the art of swordsmanship. You’ll get a chance to have a go with special safety swords at this historical experience for […]
🗓️ Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th July 2025 Come and meet Peppa Pig on the Swanage Railway this weekend. She’ll be waiting to meet you at Harman’s Cross village hall, which is next door to Harman’s Cross Station on the heritage railway line. To make the most of your adventure, the Railway recommends starting your […]
🗓️ Friday 27th – Sunday 29th June 2025 Step back in time at Swanage Railway’s annual family-friendly Roads to Rail event and experience steam-powered engines and vintage children’s rides. There’ll be demonstrations across the weekend featuring traction engines, road rollers and showman’s engines, along with a range of stalls, live music and children’s entertainment. Food stalls […]
🗓️ Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd June 2025 Pack a marmalade sandwich and hop aboard a Swanage Railway train this June to meet Paddington Bear. Paddington will be waiting to meet you at Harman’s Cross village hall (next to Harman’s Cross Station) at the following times across the weekend: Tickets & Booking Don’t worry if […]
🗓️ Saturday 14th June 2025 Head to Corfe for a fun-filled family afternoon at the annual Corfe Castle PTFA summer fete. Held in the village hall and field, there’ll be stalls, kids’ games, competitions and a bouncy castle, plus live music entertainment. Food stalls and a bar will be available throughout the afternoon and evening. […]
🗓️ Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th June 2025 Come and be entertained at Corfe Castle and try out some fun activities at a special circus-themed weekend with Fiery Jack Entertainment. Watch a show and try your hand at some circus skills at a range of free workshops throughout the day. Fiery Jack will be joined […]
🗓️ Monday 9th – Tuesday 10th June 2025 Join in this annual beach clean at Studland as part of the UK’s Great Big Green Week. It’s a chance to come together with the community and help look after the important habitats of Studland Bay’s coastline and sand dunes. Dates & Times For more information and […]
🗓️ Friday 30th – Saturday 31st May 2025 See Swanage’s Sandpit Field transformed by a sprinkling of fairy dust and a whole lot of mermaid magic during the Swanage Fairy Festival. It’s a feast of colour with mischievous pixies, swashbuckling pirates, magical mermaids and of course beautiful fairies – find them dotted about the craft stalls […]
🗓️ 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 fire, parade through town and show off their sword-fighting skills at the Battle of the Beach. There’ll […]
🗓️ Sunday 27th April 2025 The annual Swanage Classic Motor Show is a great, family-friendly spring day out and charitable event run by the Swanage Carnival committee. Experience a fantastic selection of vintage vehicles including cars, motorcycles and bicycles, mostly dating pre-2000 – and vote for your favourite. The event, held each year in Swanage’s […]
🗓️ Sunday 20th April 2025 Bring the whole family along to the Legion this afternoon for an Easter-filled fun day. There’ll be horse, dog and pig-racing, plus Bebop Bingo, Play Your Cards Right, raffles and an Easter grand draw.
🗓️ Friday 18th – Monday 21st April 2025 Come along to The Blue Pool this Bank Holiday weekend for its first ever Easter Hunt. Follow the clues around the nature reserve to find the giant painted eggs along its woodland trail. Spot them all and claim your special treat from the tearooms. Admission
🗓️ Wednesday 16th April 2025 It’s a festival vibe at The Mowlem tonight with local community group All Sort’d. The group, which supports and champions young adults with learning and associated difficulties in the area, will be joined by support acts (more info coming soon) in an uplifting night of music, dance and drama. Proceeds […]
🗓️ Monday 14th April 2025 Volcano bubbles, soap carousels and even a bubble ghost! – are just some of the extraordinary creations you can witness by ‘bubbleologist’ Ray Bubbles this afternoon at The Mowlem. Ray is a Guinness World Record-holder and is coming to Swanage to delight and amaze with his unique show as he […]
🗓️ Saturday 12th April 2025 Swanage Skate Jam is back this spring with another community day of wheel-based fun, workshops and demos. Hosted by the Swanage Skatepark Community Project and held in memory of Will Paddy (#WillDoes), the community is invited to come together once more to enjoy an afternoon of skateboard, scooter and BMX […]
🗓️ Wednesday 9th & Thursday 17th April 2025 Get crafty and have a hopping-good time at Swanage Pier’s drop-in family fun sessions this Easter. There’ll be Easter-themed games and crafts along the pier, suitable for all ages, making this a great family day out – plus the chance to meet the Easter Bunny. Easter games […]
🗓️ Saturday 5th – Monday 21st April 2025 The annual Easter egg hunt at Corfe Castle is a great way for the whole family to explore the ruin this spring. The egg hunt, which will lead you around the castle, includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and a chocolate egg (vegan & Free From […]