Hot off the press Swanage Carnival programme hits the streets

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.

Advertisement 
Swanage carnival programme goes on sale

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.

Swanage Carnival committee at Carnival presentation evening 2022
Murray Lambert

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.

Swanage carnival programme goes on sale

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.

Swanage carnival programme goes on sale

The programme is on sale at WPM Lettings…

Swanage carnival programme goes on sale

…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!”

Swanage carnival programme goes on sale

Something to read over a coffee in The Salt Pig Too

Swanage carnival programme goes on sale

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

Share this story

Contact us

Do you have anything to add to this story?

We like to keep everything up-to-date, so if you know more, please help us by getting in touch.

Advertisement 

Top stories

Actor Robson Green wraps Jurassic Coast filming for TV walk show Granchester star Robson Green has just finished three weeks filming along the Jurassic Coast from Studland to Lyme Regis in Dorset for a new eight part TV series which is ... 1 month ago Kindness of Purbeck keeps Tiff in the house her Jack built 1 month ago New plans for Swanage seafront and Shore Road unveiled 3 weeks ago Reopened pub at Norden aims to pull in custom all year round 3 weeks ago Man in his 50s dies after climbing incident at Anvil Point 3 days ago

Most recent

Bonfield back for fifth term as Swanage mayor Councillor Tina Foster has stood down as Swanage town mayor and passed the chain of office over to councillor Mike Bonfield, who was elected for a fifth term as mayor 15 hours ago Perfect day for Swanage Railway’s 140th anniversary 2 days ago Man in his 50s dies after climbing incident at Anvil Point 3 days ago Offspring thank Swanage wartime hero for saving parents’ lives 4 days ago Tributes paid to Swanage former mayor after unexpected death 5 days ago