The festive season is quickly approaching with plans to celebrate in Swanage and the surrounding Purbeck villages well underway, and there’s some new events popping up for 2025.
Swanage Railway is offering a refreshed traditional experience with its Father Christmas Yuletide Express arriving in time for the festive period, and there’s a wealth of new Christmas-themed shows and concerts booked to appear at The Mowlem in Swanage.
The beach huts and crafters will be back opening up shop on Swanage seafront for 2025
Beach hut artisans starting earlier
The Swanage Artisans on the Beach, now in its 11th year, is opening a week earlier than previously, on Saturday 22nd November 2025 in order to catch more of the Christmas shopping period.
There will be 25 beach huts from 29 different crafters offering local unique hand-crafted gifts, open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the five weekends up to Sunday 21st December 2025, weather permitting, from 10 am to about 4 pm.
Priding itself by offering a traditional Christmas, Swanage has twinkling street decorations, independent shops filled with beautiful things, and plenty of cafes offering hot chocolate and mince pies.
Christmas is fast approaching
Long stay car parks £2 a day
Park in the Swanage Town Council long stay car parks for £2 a day and have plenty of time to browse for Christmas gifts and enjoy fish and chips on the seafront.
This year, Santa is really busy and will be appearing, not only on his sleigh touring residential roads and visiting the Swanage Christmas Market, but will also be at Swanage Railway, Swanage Pier, and Swanage Carnival’s event in Rempstone Road.
He’ll also be popping into Corfe Castle and Wareham town centres, as well as The Blue Pool near Wareham.
Santa is expected to return to Swanage Pier, as well as other Purbeck locations
November 2025
Saturday 22nd
- Artisans on the Beach selling local unique hand-crafted items at Shore Road beach huts along Swanage seafront until Sunday 21st December
- The Goose and Mrs Frost puppet show for children 3 to 8 years, 11 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 3 pm at The Mowlem Studio. Ticket prices child £6, adult £8, booking required
- Christmas Fayre, 11 am to 2 pm at Catholic church hall, Rempstone Road, Swanage
- Christmas Fayre, 10 am to 2 pm at Studland village hall
- Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair 10 am to 4 pm at The Springfield Country Hotel, Grange Road, Stoborough, also on Sunday 23rd November
Thursday 27th
- Alice in Cuckoo Land panto by Double Act, 7.30 pm each day plus a 2.30 pm Saturday matinee at Corfe Castle village hall until Saturday 29th November. Ticket prices child £5 (under 5s free), adult £10, booking required
Saturday 29th
- Christmas lights switch on 3 pm to 4.30 pm in Swanage town centre by The Mowlem
- Swanage Railway Father Christmas Yuletide Express. Selected dates and times until Monday 24th December. Ticket prices from £24.95
- The Big Christmas Assembly with James B Partridge at 7.30 pm at The Mowlem. Suitable for children 8 years and over. Ticket prices £22, booking required
- The Elves and The Shoemaker family show from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm at The Mowlem Studio. Tickets £10 suggested donation. Booking required
- Handel’s Messiah by Purbeck Arts Choir 6.30 pm at St Mary’s Church, Swanage. Ticket prices £12
- The Twelve Days of Christmas festive trail, 10 am to 3 pm daily, starting at Knoll Beach, Studland. Free event until Sunday 4th January 2026
- Stalls in the Hall from 9.30 am to 12 noon at Harmans Cross village hall
- Purbeck Artists and Stallholders’ Christmas Fair at 11 am to 4 pm daily, at Worth Matravers village hall until Sunday 7th December
- Pull a Pine,10 am to 3 pm at RSPB Arne. Take home a pine tree. Ticket prices £2.75 to £17.50, booking required. Also on Sunday 30th November
- Artisan Christmas Fair, 10 am to 5 pm at Purbeck Artisan Yard, Church Street, Wareham, also on Sunday 30th November
Sunday 30th
- Reindeer Repair workshop 12 noon to 4 pm at Durlston Country Park. Repair or buy a handmade wooden reindeer at The Shed with tea and cake
- Wreath Making workshop from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm at The Blue Pool, Furzebrook, near Wareham. Price £65 (£55 Blue Pool members) including cream tea. Booking required
Watch out for Santa and his sleigh travelling around Swanage’s streets accompanied by the Swanage and Purbeck Rotary elves!
December 2025
Monday 1st
- Christmas Wreath workshops run by Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, 6 pm to 8 pm at Swanage Methodist church hall, 105 High Street. Price £40 including materials, refreshments and mince pies. Booking required
Tuesday 2nd
- Christmas Wreath workshop 2 pm to 4 pm at Swanage Pier. Price £45 including materials and a hot drink and mince pie. Booking required
Wednesday 3rd
- Santa’s Sleigh tours around the streets of Swanage and surrounding areas on selected evenings until Thursday 18th December, helped by Swanage and Purbeck Rotary. Route schedule
- A Christmas Carol with a one man performance by Mitch Benn, 7.30 pm at The Mowlem Studio. All proceeds to the Lantern Trust. Ticket prices £11, booking required
- Swanage Town Band Christmas concert, 7.30 pm at Swanage Methodist church, 105 High Street. Free admission with a collection for band funds and charity Admiral Nurse
Friday 5th
- POSTPONED TIL SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER DUE TO BAD WEATHER. Lighting up Lives on Swanage Pier – Live music from Kelp! plus Christmas entertainment from 5.30 pm and the arrival of Father Christmas to switch on the Swanage Pier illuminations at 6 pm. How to dedicate a light to someone special is on the Swanage Pier website. Normal admission charges apply
- Monty and Matilda Travelling Tales – festive family trail around National Trust Corfe Castle until Sunday 4th January 2026. Free, normal admission charges apply
Saturday 6th
- POSTPONED TIL SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER DUE TO BAD WEATHER. 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.
- Christmas Bazaar at Ranger School of Dance, from 12 noon at the Millpond Studio, Church Hill, Swanage
- A Christmas Singalong with Bournemouth Concert Brass, 2.30 pm at The Mowlem. Ticket prices £16. 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
- Swanage Railway Christmas Belle service, champagne and canapes in the Pullman Observation carriage. Selected dates until Sunday 21st December. Ticket prices £69 including chocolate gift from Chococo. Booking required
- St Aldhelm Benefice Christmas tree festival at St George’s Church in Langton Matravers until Monday 8th December
- Santa’s Grotto at Blue Pool, Furzebrook Road near Wareham, selected dates until Tuesday 23rd December. Price per child £15 plus booking fee (includes entry to The Blue Pool and a gift). Booking required
Sunday 7th
- Wareham’s arrival of Santa from 3.45 pm, with Christmas Parade from 4.45 pm through the town centre
- Santa and The Pirates (That Don’t Want Christmas!), 2 pm to 4.30 pm at The Mowlem. Family show for children aged 2 and over. Ticket price £11, booking required
- Wreath Making workshop from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm at The Blue Pool, Furzebrook Road, near Wareham. Price £65 (£55 Blue Pool members) including cream tea. Booking required
Monday 8th
- Christmas Quiz Night, 8pm to 10 pm at The Village Inn, Ulwell Road, Swanage
Tuesday 9th
- Festive Fun and Singalong in aid of charity Dorset Mind, 8 pm at The Con Club
Wednesday 10th
- Carols on the Bandstand with Swanage Town Band, 6.30 pm at Swanage Bandstand on the Recreation Ground. Donations for the Admiral Nurse
Thursday 11th
- Purbeck Christmas Tree Festival at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Victoria Avenue in Swanage until Saturday 13th December with Lights of Love, a special service of remembrance at 4 pm on Sunday 14th December at Emmanuel Church
- Swanage Railway Christmas Carol Train journey from 7 pm to 9 pm with live music, plus carols with a choir at Corfe Castle. Ticket prices £20 adult, £10 children aged 3 to 15 years, free for children under 3 years. Booking required
- Christmas Music Evening, 5 pm to 7.30 pm at Salt Pig the Farm, Putlake in Langton Matravers with live music, craft stalls, festive food and drinks. Free entry
- Christmas Quiz Night, 8 pm at The Scott Arms in Kingston
Friday 12th
- 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
- Cabaret with Claus, 7.30 pm at The Mowlem. Festive cabaret show suitable for 14 years and over. Booking required
Corfe Castle is hosting a variety of festive events including the chance to toast marshmallows over the fire
Saturday 13th
- Festive fun day 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. Plus Santa’s grotto on Swanage Pier opens for selected dates and times until Tuesday 23rd December. Tickets £13 per child (includes one adult). Under 2s free if not receiving a gift. Booking required
- Swanage Carnival’s Santa’s Grotto, 2 pm to 5 pm, Caythorpe House, 7 Rempstone Road, Swanage, £4 per child
- Mayday Singers’ Winter Concert, 3.30 pm at St George’s Church, Langton Matravers. Ticket prices £8
- Winter Lights at National Trust Corfe Castle. From 4 pm to 7.15 pm. Normal NT admission applies
- Winter Wassail 12 noon to 4 pm at Sandy Hill Arts, Sandy Hill Lane, Corfe Castle
- Harmony Rocks Choir Christmas Concert from 2 pm to 4 pm at St James’ Church, Kingston
Monday 15th
- Christmas Karma (PG) film, 7 pm at The Mowlem until Wednesday 17th December
Tuesday 16th
- 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 17th
- Castle Voices Christmas Concert, 7 pm at The Mowlem Showbar. Free event, donations welcome
- 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 7th January 2026
- The Churchfitters’ Christmas Cracker Show, 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm at Harman’s Cross village hall. Ticket prices £15
Thursday 18th
- Swanage Railway Christmas Carol Train journey from 7 pm to 9 pm with live music, plus carols with a choir at Corfe Castle. Ticket prices £20 adult, £10 children aged 3 to 15 years, free for children under 3 years. Booking required
- Oscar’s Ultimate Christmas Quiz, 8 pm at The Mowlem Showbar
- Purbeck Sounds Presents a Christmas Show and fundraiser, 7 pm at Newton Manor Hall,170 High Street, Swanage. Ticket prices £10, booking required
The Mowlem has plenty of Christmas shows, films and a new Castle Voices Christmas Concert in The Showbar
Friday 19th
- Wicked: For Good (PG) film, 7 pm at The Mowlem on selected dates until Wednesday 31st December
- 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 Lights at National Trust Corfe Castle. From 4 pm to 7.15 pm. Normal NT admission applies
- Carols Under the Castle with Mad Melodies Pop and Rock Choir, from 6 pm, with music starting at 7 pm at The Greyhound Inn in Corfe Castle. Family-friendly event in the pub’s garden with views of the illuminated National Trust Corfe Castle
Saturday 20th
- Christmas parkrun, 9 am to 10.30 am at Durlston Country Park, Swanage. Free, registration required
- Christmas crafts at the castle, 10 am to 3 pm daily until Sunday 23rd December at National Trust Corfe Castle. Free event, normal admission applies
- 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
Sunday 21st
- Festive fun day on Swanage Pier from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm with Christmas reindeers between 11 am and 4 pm
- Have a Very Merry Durlston guided walk, 11 am to 12.30 pm at Durlston Castle, Swanage. Ticket price £6. Booking required
- Winter solstice walk at National Trust in Studland, 7.15 am to 10 am early morning walk to view the sunrise from Old Harry on the shortest day of the year followed by breakfast at Knoll Beach cafe at Studland. Children £15 and adults £25, booking required. NT event now sold out but access to Old Harry is free to everyone
- 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.
Friday 26th
- Boxing Day swim 11 am at Swanage Beach by The Mowlem organised by the charity #Willdoes
Swanage Railway lets off the steam with its new year winter warm up event
January 2026
While Christmas may be over, there’s still some events early in the new year to look forward to!
Saturday 3rd
- Swanage Railway Winter Warm Up. Steam and diesel locomotives travel up and down the branch line over the weekend. Until Sunday 4th January 2026
Friday 9th
- Aladdin pantomime at The Mowlem, Swanage. Performances at 7.30 pm on Friday 9th, Saturday 10th, Friday 16th and Saturday 17th. Matinee performances at 2 pm on Saturday 10th and Saturday 17th. Tickets adult £15, concession £14, child £10, family £45 plus booking fees
Saturday 10th
- Illuminate at The Blue Pool, Furzebrook Road near Wareham. The gardens are lit up in the evenings with a multi-coloured light display until Sunday 22nd February 2026
If there’s any more Christmas events to be included please send the details to info@swanage.news
