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.
🗓️ 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 […]
🗓️ 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 2024 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 […]
🗓️ 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. Each day of Carnival is packed with family-friendly entertainment day […]
🗓️ 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 fairground 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 […]
🗓️ Thursday 27th February – Saturday 1st March 2025 Get your tickets now for The Swanage School’s performance of the hit dance/music drama Footloose. City boy Ren (originally played by Kevin Bacon in the 1984 film) moves to a small, conservative town where dancing and rock music have been banned – join the cast of […]
🗓️ Friday 10th – Saturday 18th January 2025 (Selected dates) Get the date in your diary for Swanage Drama Company’s next pantomime. The SDC’s retelling of Jack & The Beanstalk will be on at The Mowlem in January 2025. Dates & Times Tickets Book tickets via Ticketsource: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/swanage/the-mowlem-theatre/jack-and-the-beanstalk/e-ylybyk
🗓️ Thursday 9th January – Sunday 23rd February 2025 Step into the magical illuminated woodland trails at The Blue Pool for its annual winter Illuminate event. As well as the colour-changing lights amongst the trees, there will be moving waterside lights set to music, as well as atmospheric music along parts of the path. The […]
🗓️ Thursday 26th December 2024 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 […]
🗓️ Monday 23rd December 2024 Emmanuel Baptist Church is holding its annual Carols by Candlelight Service this evening. All are welcome to attend the Christmas service, which starts at 6.30pm.
🗓️ Sunday 22nd – Wednesday 25th December 2024 Following Swanage Baptist Church’s Purbeck Christmas Tree Festival and Light of Love service earlier this month, the following Christmas services are taking place:
🗓️ Friday 20th – Saturday 21st December 2024 Santa will be visiting the streets of Corfe Castle in the lead-up to Christmas. Listen out for Christmas songs as he makes his way around the village, culminating in the Square on the Saturday, where there’ll be carol singing, mulled wine and mince pies. Timings Friday 15th […]
🗓️ Friday 20th December – Thursday 2nd January 2025 (Selected dates) Watch the third instalment of Paddington at The Mowlem this winter. Paddington in Peru (U) will take you on an adventure into the Amazon rainforest and mountains of Peru as Paddington and the Brown family head off to visit his Aunt Lucy. The movie […]
🗓️ Wednesday 18th December 2024 – Wednesday 8th January 2025 Follow Durlston’s annual Christmas trail around the country park and get a festive fix of fresh air this holiday season. Collect your activity trail booklet from the castle reception – follow the map and complete the tasks to win a prize. Winter woodland fun As […]
🗓️ Saturday 14th December 2024 One of Purbeck’s top winter attractions is the Swanage Christmas Market, where Dorset traders line the streets around Station Road. *This event was originally scheduled for Saturday 7th December but was postponed due to forecast adverse weather conditions* There’s always plenty of bargains to be had, as well the chance of […]
🗓️ Saturday 14th & Saturday 21st December 2024 Swanage Pier is welcoming some very special festive visitors once again this year, during two days of Christmas entertainment. The friendly Christmas donkeys will be returning, ready to say hello for one day only, so make sure you head down to the pier between 11am – 4pm […]
🗓️ Saturday 14th December 2024 Join performer and singing teacher James B Partridge (Primary School Assembly Bangers LIVE) at The Mowlem this December as he brings his UK tour of The Big Christmas Assembly to Swanage. It promises to be a fun-filled evening of nostalgic Christmas songs, magical mash-ups and other festive surprises. Fun for […]
🗓️ Saturday 14th December 2024 Come and meet the cast of Swanage Drama Company’s upcoming Jack & The Beanstalk at this special breakfast at The Village Inn. You’ll get a sneak peak of the pantomime characters and the chance to have your photo taken with them – and they might even sing you a song […]
🗓️ Saturday 14th December 2024 Come and join this festive community Christmas celebration at The Greyhound in Corfe Castle this evening. Carols Beneath the Castle will feature Purbeck choir Local Vocals, who’ll be singing a selection of classic Christmas songs, along with West Gallery carols from Dorset and carols from around the world. The family-friendly […]
🗓️ Friday 13th – Saturday 14th December 2024 Experience the magic of Corfe Castle in winter at this special festive event. The castle will be illuminated with warm festoon lights and braziers from 4pm, creating a beautiful glow about the ruin as you explore. There will be fire pits around which you can gather and […]
🗓️ Friday 13th December 2024 Head to St Mark’s Primary School for some festive fun and Christmas shopping this afternoon. There’ll be lots of stalls including handmade crafts, games, a book fair, accessories and decorations, plus the chance to meet some animals. See what you can win at the tombola and treat yourself to some […]
🗓️ Thursday 12th – Friday 13th December 2024 Come along to this two-day, candlelit evening Christmas fayre at Swanage United Reformed Church. There’ll be gift stalls, a raffle, cakes and refreshments, plus musical entertainment. Enjoy music from a range of local groups, including: Thursday 12th December Friday 13th December
🗓️ Wednesday 11th December 2024 Come and support Langton Matravers’ primary school at its Christmas fair and have a festive family afternoon out. There’ll be craft stalls, raffle & tombola, kids’ games, cakes and refreshments.
🗓️ Sunday 8th December 2024 Bring your family to watch or take part in Wareham’s annual Christmas Parade. The town tradition, which has been going strong for over 60 years, is a festive community event that is free to attend. Children can also meet Father Christmas in his Santa’s Grotto and there will be refreshments […]
🗓️ Sunday 8th December 2024 Join in this special service of remembrance at Emmanuel Baptist Church and remember loved ones this Christmas. Come and light a candle during this traditional carol service, where you can take time to reflect and remember. The service will be followed by refreshments in the church café. There is also […]
🗓️ Sunday 8th December 2024 Come along to Swanage United Reformed Church this afternoon for a traditional christingle-making session and service. The family-friendly craft event is open to everyone – make your own decorated orange Advent candle holder to take home for Christmas. Refreshments will be available.
🗓️ Thursday 5th – Saturday 7th December 2024 Get into the festive spirit and help raise funds for charity at the Purbeck Christmas Tree Festival. Held each year at Emmanuel Baptist Church, trees are decorated by individuals, groups and organisations in the community, with donations and sponsorship proceeds going to the church’s nominated charities. This […]
🗓️ Saturday 30th November 2024 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. Full details for 2024 are yet to be released, but […]
🗓️ Saturday 30th – Monday 2nd December 2024 The annual Christmas tree festival in Langton Matravers is always a treat to get you in the festive spirit. St George’s Church is taken over on the first weekend of December for the three-day festival by community-decorated trees, each with an individual theme. All are welcome to […]
🗓️ Saturday 30th November 2024 Sandy Hill Arts’ festive Winter Wassail is back for its second year. Expect family-friendly fun and entertainment including: Find more events at Sandy Hill Arts on their website: sandyhillarts.co.uk/all-events/