Preparations are underway to celebrate the festive season in Swanage in Dorset, as organisations, charities and businesses all get into the Christmas spirit.
Not just a summer resort, the town is becoming established as a great place to enjoy a traditional Christmas, with twinkling decorations, independent shops filled with beautiful things and plenty of entertainment and festivities including the chance to meet a real reindeer on Swanage Pier.
Swanage station and the town’s beautiful Christmas tree
“Fabulous place for a really traditional Christmas”
This year, Santa is really busy and will be appearing, not only on his sleigh touring residential roads and visiting the Christmas Market, but also at Swanage Railway, Swanage Pier, and The Mowlem.
He’ll also be popping into Corfe Castle and Wareham town centres, as well as The Blue Pool near Wareham.
Swanage Town Council visitor services and business development manager Culvin Milmer said:
“We’re looking forward to Christmas already – it’s fantastic to see the Polar Express arriving at Swanage Railway for a second year and delighted that the show’s actors will be entertaining us at the switching on of the Christmas lights on the last Saturday in November.
“Along with our popular regulars, there’ll be some new stallholders taking part in the Artisans on the Beach market at the Shore Road beach huts, so do look out for them. It’s a great place to pick up some unusual gifts, as are all our amazing independent shops in Swanage and parking in our car parks is only £2 a day during the winter.
“Swanage is not only a fabulous place for a really traditional Christmas, but there’s also the fun of eating fish and chips on our award winning beach and cheap parking!”
All aboard for the Polar Express including Swanage town mayor Tina Foster
November 2024
Saturday 9th
- Friends of Swanage Hospital autumn fayre, 10 am to 12 noon at the Catholic Church Hall in Rempstone Road, Swanage
Saturday 16th
- Langton Matravers Christmas Fair 10 am to 2 pm at the village hall
- Christmas Tree Glass Fusion workshop, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm at Sandy Hill Arts, Sandy Hill Lane, Corfe Castle. Booking required
- Artisan Winter Fair, 10 am to 7 pm at Purbeck Artisan Yard, Church Street, Wareham
The Polar Express train ride returns to Swanage Railway for Christmas and the performers join residents for the big switch-on of the town’s festive lights
Saturday 23rd
- Swanage Railway The Polar Express train ride. Selected dates and times until Tuesday 24th December. Ticket prices in the range of £44 to £55 per person depending on dates
- Christmas Fayre, 10 am to 2 pm at Studland village hall
- Christmas bauble calligraphy workshop 10 am to 1 pm at Sandy Hill Arts, Sandy Hill Lane, Corfe Castle. Booking required
- Christmas Market, from 12 noon at Swanage and Wareham Rugby Club, Bestwall Road, Wareham
Thursday 28th
- Christmas wreath workshops run by Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, 2 pm to 4.30 pm and 6 pm to 8.30 pm at Swanage and Wareham Rugby Club, Bestwall Road, Wareham. £40 including materials. Booking required
Saturday 30th
- Christmas lights switch on 3 pm to 4.30 pm in Swanage town centre by The Mowlem
- Artisans on the Beach selling local unique hand-crafted items at Shore Road beach huts along Swanage seafront until Wednesday 1st Jan 2025
- Stalls in the Hall at Harmans Cross village hall 9.30 am to 12 noon
- Christmas wood engraving workshop, 10.30 am to 4 pm Durlston Country Park, Swanage
- St Aldhelm Benefice Christmas tree festival at St George’s Church in Langton Matravers until Monday 2nd December
- Winter Wassail 12 noon to 4 pm at Sandy Hill Arts, Sandy Hill Lane, Corfe Castle
Swanage’s independent shops never fail to make the town centre sparkle at Christmas
December 2024
Monday 2nd
- Santa’s Sleigh tours around the streets of Swanage and surrounding areas on selected evenings up to Saturday 14th December, helped by Swanage and Purbeck Rotary. Exact route details to be confirmed
Tuesday 3rd
- Christmas Tree Glass Fusion workshop, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm at Sandy Hill Arts, Sandy Hill Lane, Corfe Castle. Booking required
Wednesday 4th
- Swanage Town Band in Concert, 7.30 pm at Swanage Methodist Church. Free admission with a collection for band funds
Thursday 5th
- Purbeck Christmas Tree Festival at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Victoria Avenue in Swanage until Saturday 7th December with Lights of Love, a special service of remembrance at Emmanuel Church on Sunday 8th December
Swanage’s name in lights!
Friday 6th
- Lighting up Lives on Swanage Pier – Live music from Kelp! and All Sort’d Choir plus Christmas entertainment from 5.30 pm with the switch on of the Swanage Pier illuminations at 6 pm. Illuminations until Monday 6th January 2025. To dedicate a light to someone special go to the Swanage Pier website
- Greengage Community Garden Christmas open day at Prospect Crescent, Swanage, 11 am to 2 pm with plants and wooden reindeer to peruse plus a Christmas raffle
- Swanage and Purbeck Rotary charity Christmas mail, Friday 6th to Saturday 14th. Post boxes at the Rotary pop up Christmas shop at 12 Station Road in Swanage, Swanage Information Centre on Shore Road, Studland Stores, Norden Farm Shop, and Salt Pig Café at Putlake in Langton Matravers.
- Corfe Castle CE Primary School Christmas Fair, 3.15 pm to 5 pm at the school in East Street
- Christmas Time, an Artsreach performance from 7.30 pm at Corfe Castle village hall in East Street
Saturday 7th
- Swanage Christmas Market organised by Swanage and Purbeck Rotary, 10 am to 4 pm in Station Road and Institute Road. Traffic on Kings Road East will be two-way for the duration of the event.
- Santa’s Grotto at Blue Pool, Furzebrook Road near Wareham, until Monday 23rd December 2024. £15 per child (includes a gift)
- Harmony Rocks Choir will be Singing for Christmas 2 pm to 3 pm at St James’ Church in Kingston. Free entry
- Monty Mouse’s Hunt for a Festive Feast – family trail around National Trust Corfe Castle until Sunday 7th January 2024. Free, normal admission charges apply
Santa will be zooming around town, including making a visit to The Mowlem
Sunday 8th
- Christmas tree decoration drop-in from 11 am to 4 pm at The Learning Centre, Durlston Country Park, Swanage. £2 per child
- Wareham Christmas Parade and arrival of Santa from 4 pm through the town centre
Wednesday 11th
- Carols on the Bandstand with Swanage Town Band, 6.30 pm at Swanage Bandstand on the Recreation Ground. Financial collection for Julia’s House
Saturday 14th
- Santa’s grotto on Swanage Pier opens for selected dates and times until Monday 23rd December. Tickets £10 per child (Early bird tickets on selected dates £9). Under 2s free if not receiving a gift. Booking required
- The Belvedere Singers Christmas concert, 7.30 pm at St Mary’s Church, Church Hill, Swanage. The annual Christmas concert featuring a mixture of traditional and newer carols and Christmas songs. Tickets £9 available on the door, under 18s free
Friday 13th
- Winter Lights at National Trust Corfe Castle. From 4 pm to 8 pm on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th. Normal NT admission applies
Donkeys on Swanage Pier will be back and there will be a reindeer as well!
Saturday 14th
- Meet the pantomime cast of Jack and The Beanstalk over breakfast, 9.30 am to 11.30 am at The Village Inn, Ulwell
- Magical Christmas entertainment on Swanage Pier from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm with the Christmas donkeys back by popular demand between 11 am and 4 pm
- The Father Christmas Experience, 11.30 am to 5.30 pm in The Studio at The Mowlem, Swanage. Seaside-themed Christmas wonderland, complete with Santa’s grotto. Tickets £14 including gift
- The Big Christmas Assembly, festive performance suitable for children over 8 years, 7.30 pm at The Mowlem, Swanage
- Carols Beneath the Castle with Purbeck choir Local Vocals, 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm at The Greyhound Inn in Corfe Castle. Family-friendly event in the pub’s garden with views of National Trust Corfe Castle
Tuesday 17th
- Celebrate Christmas with the Salamanda Swing Band, 7.30 pm to 10 pm at The Studio at The Mowlem, Swanage. Tickets £10 in advance from Sue’s Cards in Institute Road, or £12 on the door
Wednesday 18th
- Crazy Christmas children’s activity trail at Durlston Country Park. Take a trip around the park to help Santa get Christmas back on track. £3.50 per trail pack. Until Wednesday 8th January 2025
Friday 20th
- Paddington in Peru film at The Mowlem, Swanage, on selected dates until Thursday 2nd January 2025
- An evening of Christmas Sparkle with Karen G plus special guests, 7 pm at Newton Manor Hall, 170 High Street, Swanage. Tickets £10
- Santa visits the residential roads of Corfe Castle, 5 pm to 7 pm. Santa’s sleigh will start out at Halves Cottages, before heading along East Street and the side roads
Winter solstice walk to Old Harry in Studland
Saturday 21st
- Magical Christmas entertainment on Swanage Pier from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm with a visit from one of Father Christmas’s reindeer between 11 am and 4 pm and music from singer Karen Grant at 12 noon
- Festive fancy dress 5k parkrun, 9 am to 10.30 am at Durlston Country Park, Swanage. Free, registration required
- Have a Very Merry Durlston guided walk, 11 am to 12 noon at Durlston Castle, Swanage Tickets £6
- Winter solstice walk at National Trust in Studland, 7.15 am to 10 am early morning walk to view the sunrise from Old Harry Rocks on the shortest day of the year followed by breakfast at Knoll Beach cafe at Studland. Children £10 and adults £19.50. Booking required
- Winter solstice sunrise at National Trust Corfe Castle. Castle gates open at 7 am. Event is free but normal admission charges apply. NT members free.
- Corfe Castle Christmas carol singing in The Square with mulled wine and mince pies. Santa starts in West Street at 5 pm and then makes his way in his sleigh to The Square 6.15 pm to 7 pm
- Christmas festivities at National Trust Corfe Castle with the storyteller Lord of Misrule giving tours of Corfe Castle plus toasting marshmallows round a fire pit. Saturday 21st to Monday 23rd December and Friday 27th to Sunday 5th January 2025. Free event, normal admission charges apply
Sunday 22nd
- National Trust Tinsel10. A 10k trail run in Studland starting at Knoll Beach, uphill to Ballard Down, past Old Harry and back down to finish at Knoll Beach. Fancy dress is encouraged. Starts 8.50 am to 11 am. Free event
Tuesday 24th
- Kids Christmas drawing workshop with artist Mark Page learning to draw robins, reindeer and all things Christmassy 10.30 am to 12 noon in the Learning Centre at Durlston Country Park. £17, materials included, age 7+. Booking required
Thursday 26th
- Boxing Day swim 11 am at Swanage Beach by The Mowlem organised by the charity #Willdoes
Bringing a splash of colour to January, The Blue Pool gets lit up
January 2025
While Christmas may be over, there’s still some events early in the new year to look forward to!
Saturday 4th
- Swanage Railway Winter Warm Up. Steam and diesel locomotives travel up and down the branch line over the weekend. Until Sunday 5th January 2025
Thursday 9th
- Illuminate at The Blue Pool, Furzebrook Road near Wareham. The gardens are lit up in the evenings until Sunday 23rd February 2025
Friday 12th
- Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime at The Mowlem, Swanage. Performances at 7.30 pm on Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Friday 17th and Saturday 18th. Matinee performances at 2 pm on Saturday 13th and Saturday 20th. Tickets adult £14, concession £13, child £9, family £40 plus booking fees
More events?
- If there’s any more Christmas events to be included please send the details to info@swanage.news
