Always eagerly anticipated, the Swanage Carnival programme with all the details of the events for 2023 has just gone on sale and it’s had a complete redesign.
The biggest event in the Swanage calendar and one of the largest in Dorset, takes place over eight days from Saturday 29th July to Saturday 5th August 2023.
The newsagent Swanage News in Station Road was quick off the mark to display a poster in its window
Carnival beer pong new for this year!
The programme reveals all the new events including carnival beer pong – like ping pong but with cups and beer, a ‘we’re a knockout’ tournament for some team fun in the showground, and the band Wildboys which is new to Swanage Carnival and who will be closing the week on the marquee stage.
Back for 2023 are the carnival classics including firework displays over three evenings, the seafront procession and the not-to-be-missed wheelbarrow race, alongside a daily live music programme including the chilled out EHM house music event on Prince Albert Gardens.
The Swanage Carnival committee and volunteers raised a record £29,150 for charity in 2022
Pull a fire engine along the seafront returns
Oh and who could forget Granny Tourismo – the two ladies who go out with their shopping trolleys and somehow always end up getting caught up in all the carnival excitement.
Some other popular events from past years are returning like the AeroSupaBatics Wingwalkers and the carnival zip line. The organisers are also bringing back the fire engine pull, where teams of 10 attempt to pull a 12 tonne fire engine along Swanage seafront.
Carl Cahill, along with his colleague Toby Felton has given the carnival programme a whole new look
“Completely new layout and design”
All the full details are in the carnival programme with a new simplified layout and stylish ‘at a glance’ pages.
Becky Mack from the Swanage Carnival team said:
“It was all change for our programme this year, as we’ve brought the production and design completely in house.
“Knowing that we had a huge task ahead, we started work on the programme at the end of last year with the hope of being able to make it available a little earlier than usual.
“This has been a great team effort, with carnival volunteers busy planning the week’s events, writing and proofreading copy for the events, securing advertising and sponsorship, designing the layout and of course integrating our ‘Under the Sea’ theme.
The programme is on sale at WPM Lettings…
…and at the estate agents Corbens
“Overwhelmed by people’s willingness to support the carnival”
The 2023 Swanage Carnival programme was distributed to local shops and businesses on Friday 30th June 2023 and went on sale almost immediately, with many proudly displaying the programme in a prominent position.
The programme cover draws inspiration from the carnival theme ‘Under the Sea’ which celebrates 2023 as the Year of the Coast, as well as marking the release of the Disney film The Little Mermaid.
Becky added:
“We are lucky to have such a skilled bunch of volunteers and particularly grateful to one of our newer members Carl Cahill who offered his design services through his company Salo Creative, along with his colleague Toby Felton who created a completely new layout and design.
“We also asked for help from local supporters to provide editorial content related to our theme along with some wonderful ‘Under the Sea’ images from local photographers. Our thanks to the talented Milly Haines and Paul and Alison Pettitt.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by people’s willingness to support the carnival and are delighted to have the programme on sale already!
“Our long standing volunteer Dave Pascall had been producing the programme for more than 20 years and his efforts have made the programme the popular publication it is.
“After Dave stepped down from carnival last year, we knew we had a big job ahead. It’s been a hard slog, but we are very proud of this year’s finished product and we hope you like it!”
Something to read over a coffee in The Salt Pig Too
Swanage Carnival raffle tickets are also on sale at the estate agents Albury and Hall
Further information
- The programme is available to buy for £3 in shops and businesses in Swanage and in various locations across Purbeck. It’s also available to order online
