There’s loads of fun-filled events happening for kids throughout the year in Swanage – from art workshops & educational activity trails in nature, to seasonal games & special events during school and festive holidays.
Find a family-friendly event or activity to keep the children entertained whatever the weather, whether you live here or are visiting on holiday – and there’s loads of free options too.
🗓️ Sunday 7th December 2025 Santa has a pirate problem in this action-packed family Christmas show at The Mowlem today. They’ve robbed his reindeer, nicked his Naughty List and nabbed a very special red nose – is Christmas about to be cancelled? After the show, you’ll get the opportunity to post your Christmas wish list […]
🗓️ Saturday 29th November 2025 Back by popular demand, performer and singing teacher James B Partridge returns to The Mowlem this November as he brings his UK tour of The Big Christmas Assembly back to Swanage. It promises to be a fun-filled evening of nostalgic Christmas songs, magical mash-ups and other festive surprises. Fun for […]
🗓️ Saturday 22nd November 2025 Meet Mrs Holly Frost – and her friend goose! – as they keep an eye on the world below in this heartwarming live action/puppetry performance at The Mowlem. The show explores intergenerational friendship, the changing seasons and the power of kindness against a backdrop of illustrated paper theatre, giant pop-up […]
🗓️ Thursday 14th August 2025 Come and decorate colourful, nature-themed banners at Sandy Hill Arts today at this summer art workshop. Join artist Susan Cox for the silk banner-painting session and bring a picnic for lunch afterwards.
🗓️ Tuesday 12th August – Wednesday 3rd September 2025 Learn all about the boats you can spot from the cliffs at Durlston on this kids’ activity trial this summer. Answer the questions in your activity booklet to win a prize. For more events at Durlston Country Park, visit their website: https://www.durlston.co.uk/whats-on
🗓️ 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. 2025 marks 150 years since the RNLI established a lifeboat station in Swanage, so there will be […]
🗓️ Wednesdays between 30th July – 27th August 2025 Head to Shell Bay in Studland this summer for some family fun on the beach. Held each Wednesday during the school summer holidays, you can enjoy a range of free games, including: Find more events at Studland Bay on the National Trust website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/studland-bay/events
🗓️ Saturday 26th July – Saturday 2rd August 2025 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. With over 100 events across the week, highlights for 2025 are set to include […]
🗓️ Friday 11th July 2025 Come along to St Mark’s annual summer fete this Friday for plenty of traditional fun, including:
🗓️ Saturday 5th July 2025 Enjoy a fun morning of dance at this free workshop for kids with Dorset Youth Dance at The Mowlem today. It’s a great opportunity for children aged 3 – 11 to try out dance through games, storytelling and creative exercises. No experience is necessary and sessions are suitable for all […]
🗓️ Friday 27th June 2025 Come along to Swanage Primary School’s annual summer fair this afternoon and enjoy a host of fun activities, including: Plus, there’ll be refreshments including an ice cream van, treats and a bar for the grown-ups.
🗓️ Sunday 8th June 2025 Come along to a family fun day at Knoll Beach in Studland today to celebrate World Ocean Day. There’ll be a big beach clean party, plus lots of of other fun activities including: The Clean & Green Family Day is a partnership event between Project Planet Earth, Planet Purbeck 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 artisan stalls […]
🗓️ Friday 30th May – Sunday 1st June 2025 Join Peppa Pig for her next big adventure – as they welcome a new baby to the family! The cinema experience at The Mowlem is promised to be fun and heartwarming, as you sing and dance along with Peppa, George and their family and friends. Tickets
🗓️ Wednesday 28th May – Wednesday 27th August 2025 (Selected dates) Head to The Blue Pool for some fun and educational bushcraft activities this spring. The nature reserve’s Wild Wednesdays offer children the chance to try a range of outside activities including: Dates & Timings There’ll be two bushcraft sessions between 11am – 12pm and […]
🗓️ Tuesday 27th May 2025 Discover Swanage Pier’s special history this half-term on this guided tour for kids. There’s so much more to the pier than meets the eye – with true tales of pirates, smugglers, sunken treasure and shipwrecks to be heard. Adult admission to the pier applies. For more events on Swanage Pier, […]
🗓️ 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 […]
🗓️ Saturday 24th May – Sunday 1st June 2025 There’s plenty of fun to be had for the whole family at Corfe Castle this May half-term. The Corporal of the Castle will be running interactive storytelling tours, plus there’s a fun family quest and a chance for kids to get green-fingered with some gardening. Storytelling […]
🗓️ Saturday 24th – Sunday 1st June 2025 Get outdoors and explore the natural world of Studland Bay this half-term. Nature Detective Bags are free to borrow and will help you discover Knoll Beach’s natural environment. Each bag contains an activity sheet, binoculars, magnifying glasses and bug pots. A small number of sensory bags are […]
🗓️ Wednesday 21st May – Wednesday 4th June 2025 Discover Durlston’s marvellous marine live that hides beneath the waves on this fun kids’ trail. Your activity trail pack will take you on a trip around the park – answer the questions to win a prize!
🗓️ Saturday 3rd – Monday 5th May 2025 There’s medieval fun for all the family to be had at Corfe Castle this Bank Holiday weekend. Explore, adventure and get hands-on with history at the castle ruin, where there’ll be live music, garden games and a fun family quest. Kids can have a go at creating […]
🗓️ Saturday 19th April 2025 Hop down to The Village Inn at Ulwell Holiday Park this afternoon for a fun Easter trail and fancy dress competition. Crack the riddles (not the eggs!) as you explore the themed trail to receive your chocolate reward at the end, and join in the Easter fancy dress competition.
🗓️ Friday 18th – Monday 21st April 2025 If you’re travelling on the Swanage Railway this Easter, look out for the Easter Bunny’s missing eggs en route. Collect your Easter Egg Hunt activity sheet at any ticket office and look out the carriage windows as you travel to see if you can spot those Easter […]
🗓️ Tuesday 8th April 2025 Learn how to draw Easter bunnies and hares at Durlston with artist Mark Page. All materials needed are included in your ticket price. Book your space on Durlston’s website: www.durlston.co.uk/event/kids-easter-drawing-workshop–08-04-2025-1030
🗓️ Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th April 2025 Bluey is back for another visit at Swanage Railway this spring. Enjoy a fun-filled family day out on the railway and meet Bluey en route at Harman’s Cross. The Blue Heeler pup will be making appearances at Harman’s Cross village hall throughout the weekend at timed intervals. […]
🗓️ Saturday 5th – Saturday 19th April 2025 (Selected Dates) Come along to these special sea-themed art workshops just for kids at The Mowlem this Easter. Held on Saturdays throughout the Easter holidays the Under the Sea workshops are the perfect chance to get creative with a range of different media including cutting, sticking and […]
🗓️ Wednesday 2nd – Wednesday 23rd April 2025 Discover Durlston’s fairies this Easter at its special outdoor trail just for kids. Explore the country park’s woodland and see if you can find all the fairy doors to win a prize. Collect your booklet from Durlston Castle’s Reception.
🗓️ Selected Sundays between March – October 2025 Come and get creative and connect with nature at this special Nature Journalling for Kids activity in Studland. Children are encouraged to explore the dunes, woodland or beach – what can you hear, see, smell and feel in your surroundings? Use the inspiration that’s all around you […]
🗓️ Wednesday 19th -Thursday 20th February 2025 Learn the art of blacksmithing this February half-term at Sandy Hill Arts in Corfe Castle. There are two workshops available – one for children aged between 7 – 12 and one for teenagers (12 – 18). Both workshops are led by Sandy Hill’s resident blacksmith Alistair Butcher. You’ll […]
🗓️ Tuesday 18th February 2025 Join Squashbox Theatre this morning for a funny and fascinating trip around the world. Meet crazy characters and learn some incredible facts about our ‘wonderful world’ as explorer Craig follows clues across the globe to try and find his missing Great Aunt Gladys. Wonderful World is full of live music […]