Carnival spirit brings summer to Swanage!

With sunshine forecast, the heat is rising just in time for a sizzling eight days of Swanage Carnival festivities including competitions, games, displays, food and drink, music and of course fireworks.

Swanage Carnival runs from Saturday 27th July to Saturday 3rd August 2024 with events happening at Sandpit Field and along the seafront.

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Aerial shot of Swanage Carnival 2024
Andy Lyons

The stage is set for a week of fun in the sun

Jurassic Rocks

The theme for 2024 is Jurassic Rocks and there’s plenty of dinosaur action with the Dinosaur Derby, the Totally Unleashed Dinosaur Experience and guest appearances from Rexy the Dinosaur who starred in the film Night at the Museum and Percy the Plesiosaur who will be swimming in Swanage Bay!

Chair of Swanage Carnival Darren Strong said:

“I can feel the great atmosphere in Swanage already as carnival gets underway. We couldn’t do it without all the support from the town – all the shops that put on great displays in their windows and all the residents who put up with the extra traffic!

“There’s plenty of new events like the Silent Disco and the Art Auction but the star of the show is always the Wheelbarrow Race.

“We’ve introduced online entry forms and that’s been a big success – this year 50 teams have already signed up for the Wheelbarrow Race – it’s going to be a classic!”

Swanage Carnival 2024

Putting up the Swanage.News banners – Secretary of Swanage Carnival Kevin Langdon (left) and chair of Swanage Carnival Darren Strong (right)

Swanage Carnival 2024 funfair

Rory the Racing Car is ready for the event to start!

Bar team at Swanage Carnival 2024

Poised to pull a £5 pint – Left to right: Gerry Edwards, Tracey Broughton, Neal Diffey and Mari Watson

Event highlights

Saturday 27th July

  • 10 am to 12 noon: Sign up for the Photo Marathon Competition in the main marquee. 48 hours to take the best photos on specified themes. Winning photos will be featured on Swanage News
  • 11.30: Dinosaur Derby – a fun run in an inflatable dinosaur costume
  • 4 pm: Fire Engine Pull – teams of 10 test their strength against a fire engine
  • 9.45 pm: Fireworks

Sunday 28th July

  • 12 noon: Meet Rexy the Dinosaur on Banjo Pier
  • 3 pm: The Carnival Procession with decorated floats on the theme of Jurassic Rocks

Monday 29th July

  • 3 pm: Cooking demo by Julia Noon from Swanage Bay Fish. Back by popular demand!
  • 6.30 pm: Swanage Bay Swim
  • 8 pm: Bingo

Tuesday 30th July

  • 12 noon to 4 pm: Wacky Races for all the family
  • 2 pm: Cooking demo by the team from Burnt Toast
  • 5 pm: Art Auction
  • 7.30 pm for 8 pm start: Pool Competition at the Royal British Legion

Wednesday 31st July

  • 12.15 pm: Scruff’s Fun Dog Show
  • 2 pm: Cooking demo by the team from The Salt Pig
  • 5 pm: Silent Disco
  • 9.45 pm: Fireworks

Thursday 1st August

  • 12 noon to 5 pm: Circus Skills Workshop
  • 6 pm: Gig Racing in Swanage Bay
  • 6 pm to 11 pm: Fancy Dress Street Party in the lower High Street
  • 7 pm: Silent Disco

Friday 2nd August

  • 10 am to 4 pm: Vintage and Classic Car Day
  • 2.30 pm: Carnival’s Got Talent final
  • 7.30 pm: Wheelbarrow Race

Saturday 3rd August

  • 12 noon and throughout the afternoon: Savage Skills BMX Stunt Team
  • 1 pm and throughout the afternoon: Black Eagles Acrobats
  • 3 pm and throughout the afternoon: Titan the Robot
  • 9.45 pm: Fireworks
Swanage Carnival 2024

Dinosaur antics on a Jurassic scale are planned throughout the carnival

Swanage Carnival 2024 silent disco

Carnival volunteers get into the swing of the Silent Disco

Homegrown musical talent

There’s also a programme of music performances throughout the carnival with popular acts returning like the Sway Allstars and Black Sheep, to the best of Swanage’s homegrown musical talent like Kelp!, The Jazz Knots, Phoenix Rock ‘n’ Roll and Swanage Jazz Machine.

The week will appropriately end with the tribute band T-Rextasy on the marquee stage, after the final fireworks display.

Swanage Carnival 2023
Nadine Hudson-Featherstone

The Sway Allstars return for Sunday night

Darren Strong at Aerial shot of Swanage Carnival 2024
Andy Lyons

Chair of Swanage Carnival Darren Strong addresses the carnival troops

“Something for everyone”

Darren Strong added:

“We’re really looking forward to the carnival procession on Sunday with the weather looking very promising. There’s been more entries for floats than usual and some pretty unusual entries!

“So come on down to the carnival. If there’s one thing that Swanage knows how to do well, it’s how to party!

“There is a good range of live bands with something for everyone and it’s all to raise lots of money for charity, so there really is no excuse!”

In 2023, Swanage Carnival raised £27,650 which was distributed to charities and local good causes. With the weather forecast to be hot and sunny it should attract a bumper crowd and possibly record takings!

Swanage Carnival 2024 dinosaur window

Swanage shop windows join in the Jurassic Rocks theme

Swanage Carnival 2024 dinosaur window

Dinosaur spotting will be a thing all week

Further information

  • For a full list of all events, buy a programme from the Carnival Caravan on Shore Road or download the Swanage Carnival App
  • More on the Swanage Carnival website
Swanage Carnival 2024

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