There’s plenty to do in the run up to Christmas in Swanage and the surrounding villages for 2022 in contrast to previous years restricted by Covid guidelines and lockdowns.
From Christmas fairs to Christmas tree festivals, as well as concerts, carols and festive performances there’s lots going on.
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Independent Swanage shop, Curiosity’s eye catching shop window in 2021
Plenty of shopping opportunities
As well as the events there’s plenty of opportunities to shop in Swanage’s independent shops, cafes and restaurants.
Parking is £1 per day throughout December at Main Beach car park and Broad Road car park in Swanage.
Christmas trees for sale at the Swanage Christmas Market organised by Swanage and Purbeck Rotary
November 2022
Saturday 5th
- Langton Matravers Christmas Fair, 10 am to 2 pm at the village hall
Friday 18th
- Purbest Christmas shopping event 5 pm to 9 pm and Saturday 19th November 10 am to 2 pm in the community room at The Mowlem in Swanage
Saturday 19th
- Friends of Swanage Hospital autumn fayre, 10 am to 12 noon at the Catholic Church Hall in Rempstone Road, Swanage
Sunday 20th
- Layers in the Landscape – Guided walk at Durlston Country Park 11 am to 12.30 pm discovering how geology, wildlife and history have shaped Durlston’s unique and beautiful landscape. £3
Tuesday 22nd
- Mindfulness walk with Dorset Forest Bathing 10 am to 12 noon at Durlston Country Park. £12 booking required
Wednesday 23rd
- Voices of Durlston exhibition until Thursday 1st December in the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park. A series of films by The Enchanted Cinema, featuring the voices of visitors, rangers and volunteers
Swanage Railway’s Steam and Lights festive train trip going past Corfe Castle
Saturday 26th
- 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 until Sunday 1st Jan 2023
- Christmas market 10 am to 1 pm at Swanage Town and Herston Football Club at Days Park in Swanage
- The Decatonics 7.30 pm at The Mowlem. Eight piece ska band from Dorset supported by Stacey Lou, a tribute act inspired by Amy Winehouse
- Guided walk 10.30 am to 12 noon from Durlston Castle to Swanage Pier learning about wildlife, geology and history. Meet at Durlston Castle. Adults £5, children £3, booking not required
- Christmas luncheons on the Swanage Railway – have a festive lunch during a three hour, steam hauled journey through the Purbeck countryside. Selected dates until Thursday 22nd December. Table for two £130, table for four £260, booking required
Sunday 27th
- Christmas craft fair 10 am to 2 pm at Corfe Castle village hall
Wednesday 30th
- Swanage Town Band in Concert, 7.30 pm at Swanage Methodist Church. Free admission with a collection for band funds
Artisans on the Beach sell crafts and handmade goods from the Shore Road beach huts
December 2022
Thursday 1st
- Victorian Durlston guided walk to discover Durlston’s curious Victorian past 11 am to 12.30 pm at Durlston Country Park. £3 booking not required
- Swanage and Purbeck Rotary Santa’s sleigh will be in Swanage and the surrounding area on weekdays between Thursday 1st and Monday 14th December.
Friday 2nd
- Karen ‘G’s Christmas Show with special guests Sue Bunyar and Aaron Hughes, 7.30 pm at The Mowlem
Saturday 3rd
- Swanage Christmas Market organised by Swanage and Purbeck Rotary, 10 am to 4 pm in Station Road. Shore Road will be temporarily open in one direction to allow traffic through to South Swanage
- Swanage Railway Steam and Lights until 23rd December – steam train covered with brightly coloured lights with heated carriage interiors festively decorated for the one hour evening round trip passing through illuminated stations. £23 per person, family of four (two adults and two children) £90, under 3s free. Booking required
- St Aldhelm Benefice Christmas tree festival at St George’s Church in Langton Matravers until Monday 5th December
- Pull a pine at RSPB Arne 10 am to 3 pm – take home a pine tree for Christmas while helping to restore the heathland. Also on Sunday 4th December. Booking required
- Corfe Castle Christmas lights switch on and arrival of Santa 4.30 pm to 6 pm in the Square
- Storytelling and tours of Corfe Castle by the Lord of Misrule, who was chosen to oversee the fun and frivolity of the Christmas feast in the 17th century. Gather around a fire pit with a warm drink and toast some marshmallows. All weekends in December and the school holiday 17th December to 23rd December and 27th December to 1st January 2023 with tours at 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 1 pm and 2 pm.
Christmas tree festival at St George’s in Langton Matravers
Sunday 4th
- Carols by candlelight 5 pm at the United Reform Church in the High Street in Swanage
Tuesday 6th
- Victorian Durlston exhibition exploring the history of Durlston, George Burt and John Mowlem in the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park until Sunday 8th January 2023
Wednesday 7th
- Christmas stalls in the hall 5 pm to 8 pm at the United Reform Church in the High Street in Swanage. Also on Thursday 8th December and Friday 9th December 5 pm to 8 pm
Thursday 8th
- Purbeck Christmas tree festival at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Victoria Avenue in Swanage until Saturday 10th December
- Carols for everyone concert 7 pm to 9 pm at St Edwards Church in Corfe Castle
Lighting up Lives on Swanage Pier
Friday 9th
- Lighting up Lives at Swanage Pier – the switch on of the Swanage Pier illuminations at 5 pm with local bands Galaxy Thief and Kelp! and entertainment. Illuminations until Thursday 5th January 2023. To dedicate a light to someone special go to the Swanage Pier website
- Snow Angel, 7.30 pm at The Mowlem. A live festive cabaret show with Charlie Bicknell and Louise Innes. Age 13 plus
- Glass Engraving – engrave your own glass Christmas card in the Learning Centre at Durlston Country Park. Adults and children aged 8+, £10 booking required
Saturday 10th
- Candles on Swanage Beach at 5 pm organised by Lewis-Manning Hospice Care to remember those we love and care about. Suggested donation of £5 per candle.
- Carolsby candlelight with Purbeck Village Quire in aid of Chritian Aid, 4pm at the United Reform Church in the High Street in Swanage.
- Christmas entertainment including a juggling show and local music from 3 pm on Swanage Pier plus Santa’s grotto opens for selected dates and times until Friday 23rd December
Tuesday 13th
- Crazy Christmas children’s activity trail at Durlston Country Park until Tuesday 3rd January 2023. £3 per trail pack, booking not required
Wednesday 14th
- Carols on the Bandstand with Swanage Town Band, 6.30 pm at Swanage Bandstand on the Recreation Ground. Financial collection for Swanage Food Bank
Santa’s sleigh is popular every year
Friday 16th
- Christmastide songs from the Mayday Singers from 4 pm on Swanage Pier
Saturday 17th
- Christmas entertainment all day, including donkeys, juggling show and local music from 11 am on Swanage Pier
- Matilda The Musical – film released in 2022 starring Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull, showing at The Mowlem on selected dates until Saturday 31st December
Sunday 18th
- The Scrooge Diaries – a play by PMac Productions based around Dicken’s Christmas Carol. 4 pm at Studland Village Hall. Tickets £10, under 18s £5 or family ticket £25 available from Studland Village Stores
Tuesday 20th
- Salamanda Swing Band Christmas Concert, 7.30 pm at Swanage Methodist Church in the High Street.
- Kids Christmas drawing workshop with artist Mark Page learning to draw robins, reindeer and all things Christmassy in the Learning Centre at Durlston Country Park. £15, materials included, age 7+. Booking required
Wednesday 21st
- Winter solstice walk 7.15 am to 10 am – National Trust 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
- Wild Wednesdays – drop in between 11 am and 3 pm for children’s painting, crafts and activities in the Learning Centre at Durlston Country Park. Donations welcome. Booking not required
- Christmas card and cracker craft drop in, 11 am to 2 pm in the Learning Centre at Durlston Country Park. £3, booking not required
Station Road all lit up
Friday 23rd
- The Santa Show 2022: Santa Saves Christmas, 2 pm at The Mowlem. Family show most suitable for two to seven year olds with every child receiving a specially wrapped present from Santa
Saturday 24th
- Christmas Eve fancy dress 5k parkrun, 9 am to 10.30 am at Durlston Country Park. Free, registration required
Tuesday 27th
- The Snowman Live Score with the Enchanted Cinema – a tribute to Raymond Briggs, 3.30 pm to 5 pm in Durlston Castle at Durlston Country Park
Wednesday 28th
- Wild Wednesdays – drop in between 11 am and 3 pm for children’s painting, crafts and activities in the Learning Centre at Durlston Country Park. Donations welcome. Booking not required
Thursday 29th
- New Year bottle rocket launch – bring in the New Year with a bang by decorating a bottle rocket and then launching it into the sky. Meet at the Learning Centre at Durlston Country Park 2 pm to 3 pm. £3 booking required
Christmas Lights switch on in Swanage
Panto in January 2023…oh yes it is!
Friday 13th
- Swanage’s panto Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood at The Mowlem. Performances at 7.30 pm on Friday 13th, Saturday 14th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st January. Matinee performances at 2 pm on Saturday 14th and Saturday 21st January
