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.
🗓️ Sunday 12th July 2026 Come and grab a bargain at The Swanage School’s car boot sale today, or book a pitch to sell your unwanted items. There’ll be refreshments available and proceeds from the event will go to The Friends of The Swanage School (PTFA).
🗓️ Tuesday 14th July 2026 If you live in Harman’s Cross, join the community this evening for a special summer celebration. There’ll be children’s games and the bar will be open – and if you’re a new resident to the village within the last two years, claim your free welcome drink at the bar! Bring […]
🗓️ Thursday 16th July 2026 Enjoy a traditional summer school fete at St Mark’s Primary School this afternoon. There’ll be fun for all the family, including:
🗓️ Friday 17th – Sunday 19th July 2026 Along with Swanage Carnival, nearby Wareham has its own summer carnival each July, the week before. There’s a street procession – this year the theme is Your Natural World – along with live music, food and entertainment across the weekend at Wareham Recreation Ground. Carnival Procession Entries […]
🗓️ Saturday 18th July 2026 Come to an enchanted fairy gathering in Harman’s Cross today and make your very own fairy to take home with you. The magical morning includes refreshments and workshop craft materials.
🗓️ Wednesday 22nd July – Wednesday 12th August 2026 Get out into nature at Durlston this summer and explore the Marvellous Meadows Children’s Trail. Use your activity booklet to guide you around the park and learn all about what makes Durlston’s meadows so special – answer the questions to win a prize!
🗓️ Wednesdays between 22nd July – 26th August 2026 Come to Studland Bay on Wednesdays throughout the summer for outdoor games and sports in Knoll Beach’s sand bowl. There’ll be fun for all the family, including: Children must be supervised.
🗓️ Thursday 23rd July 2026 Join Craig from Squashbox Theatre as he brings the wondrous world of trees to life for little ones in this funny, educational family show. As the forest ranger, it’s Craig’s job to keep the peace among the trees – but he’s being hampered by cheeky squirrels, the mysterious Wizard of […]
🗓️ Friday 24th – Sunday 25th July 2026 Get ready for three evenings of entertainment with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at Corfe Castle this summer. Enjoy live music from a 14-piece BSO ensemble, alongside light shows against the castle’s dramatic ruins at sunset, with a different theme each day. Bring your own blanket or chair […]
🗓️ Saturday 25th July – Saturday 1st August 2026 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. There’s a different carnival theme each year – the theme for 2024 was Jurassic […]
🗓️ Sunday 26th July 2026 Get the date in your diary for a brand new family-friendly event at The Blue Pool this summer. Expect live characters, creative activities and stalls at this family-oriented day out. The nature reserve’s first ever Fairy Day is a celebration of “nature, wonder and enchantment”, packed with fun events and […]
🗓️ Sundays between 26th July – 1st November 2026 Join a magical morning walk at RSPB Arne today and watch the sun rise over Poole Harbour. You’ll stroll through the morning woodland and heathland to the shoreline, experiencing the sights and sounds of the early morning wildlife, from birds singing to catching a glimpse of […]
🗓️ Thursday 30th July – Sunday 2nd August 2026 Camp Bestival is back at Lulworth Castle this summer, with a brand new line-up and festival theme. The family-friendly music festival returns to Dorset from Thursday 30th July – Sunday 2nd August 2026 and this year’s theme is The Seaside. Tickets are on sale now – […]
🗓️ Sunday 2nd & Sunday 23rd August 2026 Leap, dash and climb your way through a rainbow of colour at Dorset Adventure Park’s ultimate colourful muddy adventure. Navigating an exciting mix of challenges, including balance beams, monkey bars, slides and tunnels. From slippery climbs to daring crawls, there’s something for everyone. Tickets & Booking You […]
🗓️ Thursday 6th August 2026 A reimagining of the classic story of Pinocchio by outdoor theatre company Illyria comes to Corfe Castle today. The adaptation follows Carlo Collodi’s wooden puppet as he longs to become a real boy. Tickets Booking: Book tickets online: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle/events/2a017413-8ac9-41b3-a536-7c747ef494af
🗓️ Thursday 6th August 2026 Swanage & Purbeck Rotary’s annual summer fête is held on Sandpit Field, overlooking Swanage Bay. Enjoy a range of traditional stalls, entertainment, live music and food & drink. After perusing the stalls for a locally-produced gift and trying your hand at some traditional lawn games, you can take some shade […]
🗓️ Saturday 8th August 2026 Come along to St George’s annual summer fete for a traditional afternoon of entertainment, stalls and refreshments – which is this year also celebrating the church’s 150th anniversary. There’ll be music, children’s games, cakes, book stalls, raffle, tombola and lots more. Jamie Jigsaw will be there to entertain the kids, […]
🗓️ Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th August 2026 An annual treat for railway enthusiasts – the Isle of Purbeck Model Railway Exhibition returns to Harman’s Cross Village Hall this weekend. In 2025 there were 14 exhibits, featuring highly-detailed designs and painstakingly-created layouts representing different eras of railway history. The highlight of the show was a […]
🗓️ Saturday 8th – Sunday 16th 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 […]
🗓️ Sunday 9th August 2026 The Margaret Green Animal Rescue Centre annual Country Fayre & Dog Show returns to its Church Knowle centre this Sunday. There’ll be a range of fun classes with rosettes for winners and runners-up, plus plenty of stalls, live music and food & drink vans. Pay on the day or find […]
🗓️ Thursday 13th August 2026 Come to Corfe Castle this evening for an enchanting adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny. The outdoor performance by Quantum Theatre follows Peter and Benjamin as they get up to mischief in Mr McGregor’s garden. Tickets Booking: Book tickets online: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle/events/bd767ad2-ef2e-4245-9744-cecd95c23a5b
🗓️ Thursday 13th August – Wednesday 2nd September 2026 Discover Durlston’s prehistoric monsters on this fun, family trail around the country park. The activity trail is in celebration of 25 years of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Collect your prize at the end!
🗓️ Saturday 15th August 2026 Head to the annual summer fete in Corfe Castle village for an afternoon of traditional family fun on the church lawns. Enjoy locally-made cakes & produce, a range of stalls inside and out of the church, and a raffle with great prizes donated from the community. There’ll also be children’s […]
🗓️ Saturday 15th August – Friday 4th September 2026 (Selected Dates) Check out the Purbeck Film Festival’s summer programme of outdoor cinema screenings for 2026: Programme Saturday 15th August The Blues Brothers (15) Friday 21st August The Magic Faraway Tree (U) Saturday 22nd August Jaws (12A) Friday 28th August Paddington 2 (PG) Saturday 29th August […]
🗓️ Thursday 20th August 2026 The Three Inch Fools return to Kimmeridge Bay this summer with a brand new production, King Arthur and the Holy Fail, in which “Arthurian Legend meets Monty Python.” Expect dashing knights and daring quests, amid jousting and battles as Camelot faces an unlikely threat, calling for King Arthur to step […]
🗓️ Thursday 20th August 2026 Enjoy an outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s As You Like It at Corfe Castle this summer. The comedy is performed by outdoor theatre company Illyria. Tickets Booking: Book tickets online: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle/events/fdfc20ef-e7db-4535-b8c6-b40847b5ecb1
🗓️ Thursday 20th – Sunday 23rd August 2026 Get the date in your diary for the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival 2026! The family-friendly festival, set on a farm just outside Swanage, returns for another year with a packed line-up of great bands, soloists and loads of fun things to do. Tickets are available now – […]
🗓️ Saturday 22nd August 2026 Come along to Swanage & Wareham RFC’s annual summer Family Fun Day at the club in Wareham today. There’ll be stalls, activities, entertainment and food & drink for the whole family throughout the day, including the famous fancy dress rugby match.
🗓️ Tuesday 25th – Thursday 27th August 2026 Head to Ulwell Holiday Park this week for its first ever Summer Fun Week and Fete. There’ll be lots of family-friendly activities and events, including a dog show, live music, food, garden games and raffle. Programme of Events Tuesday 25th August Wednesday 26th August Thursday 27th August […]
🗓️ Monday 31st August 2026 Head to Harman’s Cross to enjoy a traditional village fete this Bank Holiday Monday. There’ll be all the usual and much-loved attractions, including live music, dog agility, children’s games and magic show, and one of the highlights: the Flower & Produce Show, which has around 150 different categories of entry. […]