With schools out for summer, there’s a full programme of events in Swanage and across Purbeck, with many happening for the first time in two years following the disruption caused by the pandemic.
In Swanage, the carnival is back! From Saturday 30th July there’s eight days of music, events, competitions, displays and fireworks, as well as the carnival procession through the town.
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Swanage Carnival procession for 2022 will be on Sunday 31st July
Swanage Carnival and Lifeboat Week are back!
With only a week to recover, then there’s Lifeboat Week, raising money for the RNLI with music, events and competitions based around Prince Albert Gardens in Swanage.
In Wareham, their carnival is back too and taking place from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th July. There’s also Wareham Wednesdays in August with live music and fireworks at Wareham Quay.
On top of that, there’s a number of exhibitions to visit, as well as plenty of outdoor theatre and cinema to see.
Swanage Lifeboat Week back by popular demand
July 2022
Friday 22nd
- Wilkswood Reggae Festival at Wilkswood Farm near Langton Matravers. Three days of reggae music with more than 40 acts across three stages until Sunday 24th
- Wareham Carnival – Live music, bar and food from 7 pm at Wareham Recreation Ground
Saturday 23rd
- Outdoor theatre Wuthering Heights at Prince Albert Gardens by SISATA. Performances Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th and Monday 25th at 2.30 pm
- Wareham Carnival – Annual flower, produce and craft event from 10 am at Wareham Recreation Ground.
- Wareham Fire Station family fun day 10 am to 4 pm
- Live underwater camera explores Kimmeridge Bay as part of National Marine Week, organised by Dorset Wildlife Trust from 11 am to 3 pm at Wild Seas Centre on Kimmeridge Beach until Sunday 24th July
Sunday 24th
- Wareham Carnival – Grand Procession starts at 1 pm on the North Causeway and ends at 2 pm at Wareham Recreation Ground
- Tea and cake at the Peveril Point NCT Lookout from 10.30 am
Tea and cakes from 10.30 am on Sunday 24th July 2022 at Peveril Point
Monday 25th
- Into the Woods art exhibition celebrating the importance and magic of woods from 10.30 am to 5 pm at the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Castle until Monday 8th August
- Display of Edward Lear’s work in the Belvedere at Durlston Castle until Monday 15th August
Thursday 28th
- Tonight at the Musicals by Paul Burton Productions with songs from popular musicals at 7.30 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage. Also on Friday 29th
- Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle. Family friendly music festival until Sunday 31st
- Outdoor theatre Cinderella from 7 pm at National Trust Corfe Castle
- Outdoor cinema A Quiet Place presented by Purbeck Film Festival from 8.30 pm at Durlston Country Park
Friday 29th
- Outdoor cinema Captain Fantastic presented by Purbeck Film Festival from 8.30 pm at Durlston Country Park
- Swanage Pier photography exhibition to mark the 125th anniversary of the ‘new’ pier. Located at the end of the pier until Sunday 4th September
- Commotion on the Ocean – Rhymetime and ocean-themed craft session on Swanage Pier organised by Swanage Library from 11 am to 11.45 am
Saturday 30th
- Swanage Carnival – start of eight days of exciting events across Swanage. Carnival kicks off with the beer tent opening at 11 am and the Pimms bar at 12 noon. Black Eagles acrobatic display team in the afternoon and fireworks in the evening
- Anglo Saxon re-enactment event 10 am to 5 pm at Durlston Country Park
- Swanage Painting Club summer exhibition at the Catholic Church Hall in Rempstone Road, 10 am to 5 pm until Sunday 7th August
Sunday 31st
- Swanage Carnival – carnival procession in the afternoon, along with Rich Goodwin’s aerobatic air display
- Festival of Archaeology organised by Council for British Archaeology and the National Trust from 10 am at Corfe Castle
- Rockpool ramble organised by Dorset Wildlife Trust from 2 pm to 3.30 pm starting at the Wild Seas Centre at Kimmeridge Beach
Restored to its full glory, Swanage Bandstand will be hosting a number of performances in 2022
August 2022
Monday 1st
- Eco-crabbing organised by Dorset Wildlife Trust from 2.30 pm to 4 pm at the Wild Seas Centre on Kimmeridge Beach
Wednesday 3rd
- Swanage Carnival – Dog show in the afternoon and fireworks in the evening
- Swanage Town Band perform 6 pm to 8 pm at Swanage Bandstand
- Fish and chip cruise to Poole from Swanage Pier. Departs 6.30 pm returning at 8.45 pm in time for carnival fireworks. Proceeds go to Swanage Pier Trust
- Wareham Wednesdays – live music from 6.30 pm from Dave Griff and The Trouser Band followed by firework display at 10 pm at Wareham Quay
Thursday 4th
- Swanage Carnival – Electro house masquerade, EHM at Prince Albert Gardens with new start time of 3 pm
- Outdoor theatre Peter Pan from 7 pm at National Trust Corfe Castle
Friday 5th
- Swanage Carnival – The iconic wheelbarrow race
- Dorset Arts and Crafts Showcase 2022 at The Purbeck School in Wareham 10 am to 5 pm until Tuesday 9th
Saturday 6th
- Swanage Carnival – Dinosaur show throughout the day with the Lancaster air display in the afternoon and fireworks in the evening to close the event
- Live underwater camera explores Kimmeridge Bay as part of National Marine Week, organised by Dorset Wildlife Trust from 11 am to 3 pm at Wild Seas Centre on Kimmeridge Beach until Sunday 7th August
Swanage Carnival fireworks are on Saturday 30th July, Wednesday 3rd August and Saturday 6th August 2022
Sunday 7th
- Margaret Green dog show from 11.30 am at the animal rescue centre in Church Knowle
- The Under the Pier Show – a live guided video dive around Swanage Pier viewed from a screen at the end of the pier. Shows at 11 am, 12 noon and 2 pm
Monday 8th
- The Much Mission – Family show including free kids’ popcorn at 11 am and at 2 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage
Wednesday 10th
- Swanage Town Band perform 6 pm to 8 pm at Swanage Bandstand
- Wareham Wednesdays – live music from 6.30 pm from Navi, a Michael Jackson tribute act followed by firework display at 10 pm at Wareham Quay
- Fine Lines: An exhibition of prints and textiles by silk weaver Debby Kirby and printmaker Robin Mackenzie at the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Castle until Tuesday 30th August
- Beach Boyz tribute show at 7.30 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage
Thursday 11th
- Swanage and Purbeck Rotary summer fete and craft fair at Sandpit Field
- Outdoor theatre Twelfth Night from 7 pm at National Trust Corfe Castle
Friday 12th
- Eco-crabbing organised by Dorset Wildlife Trust from 2.30 pm to 4 pm at the Wild Seas Centre on Kimmeridge Beach
Saturday 13th
- Swanage Lifeboat Week – events throughout the week at Prince Albert Gardens
- Elton John tribute show at 7.30 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage
Sunday 14th
- Swanage Lifeboat Week – Duck race starts at 4 pm at the Swan Brook by the Post Office
- Wareham Saxon Festival 11 am to 9.30 pm at Swanage and Wareham Football Club in Bestwall Road in Wareham
Monday 15th
- Swanage Lifeboat Week – Outdoor theatre The Recruiting Officer 7 pm at Prince Albert Gardens
- Dustbin Doris – Family show including free kids’ popcorn at 2 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage
- Rockpool ramble organised by Dorset Wildlife Trust from 2.30 pm to 4 pm starting at the Wild Seas Centre at Kimmeridge Beach
Tuesday 16th
- Swanage Lifeboat Week – Outdoor cinema James Bond film No Time to Die at 8.30 pm at Prince Albert Gardens
Wednesday 17th
- Wareham Wednesdays – live music from 6.30 pm from The Leggomen followed by firework display at 10 pm at Wareham Quay
- Musician and comedian Richard Digance performs at 7.30 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage
Purbeck Valley Folk Festival is relaxed and friendly
Thursday 18th
- Purbeck Valley Folk Festival at Purbeck Valley Farm in Harmans Cross. Small family-friendly folk music festival and camping until Sunday 21st
- Outdoor theatre The Gunpowder Plot from 7 pm at National Trust Corfe Castle
Friday 19th
- Swanage Lifeboat Week – Live music, bar and food from 6 pm at Prince Albert Gardens
Saturday 20th
- Swanage Lifeboat Week – Lifeboat festival and fair from 11 am at Prince Albert Gardens including Build a Boat competition with race at 4 pm and live music, bar and food from 6 pm
- Swanage Town Band 2.30 pm to 4 pm at Swanage Bandstand
- dS:uK, Dire Straits tribute act at 7.30 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage
Sunday 21st
- Swanage Lifeboat Week – RNLI boathouse open day with lifeboat launches from 12 noon, followed by lifeboat service from 4 pm at Swanage Pier
Wednesday 24th
- South West’s Inflatable Theme Park at Sandpit Field in Swanage
- Wareham Wednesdays – live music from 6.30 pm from Absolutely Elton, an Elton John tribute act followed by firework display at 10 pm at Wareham Quay
- The Beatles for Sale tribute act at 7.30 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage
The Mowlem has a series of popular tribute acts, as well as a programme of films for the summer. See its website for details
Thursday 25th
- Mini fete for Lewis Manning Hospice Care from 10 am on the terrace area next to Swanage Information Centre.
Friday 26th
- Outdoor cinema Sing 2 presented by Purbeck Film Festival from 8.45 pm at National Trust Corfe Castle
Saturday 27th
- Pop Up Bowie tribute act at 7.30 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage
- Outdoor cinema James Bond film No Time to Die presented by Purbeck Film Festival from 7.30 pm at National Trust Corfe Castle
- Art4Action summer exhibition 10 am to 5 pm at Not Just Sundaes community cafe in South Street in Wareham until Sunday 28th
- Wareham Camera Club annual exhibition 10 am to 4 pm at Wareham Town Hall
Sunday 28th
- Outdoor cinema West Side Story presented by Purbeck Film Festival from 7.30 pm at National Trust Corfe Castle
Monday 29th
- Seriously Collins:The Phil Collins tribute show at 7.30 pm at The Mowlem in Swanage
- Harmans Cross field day and fayre from 12 noon at Haycrafts Lane, Harmans Cross
Tuesday 30th
- Rockpool ramble organised by Dorset Wildlife Trust from 2.30 pm to 4 pm starting at the Wild Seas Centre at Kimmeridge Beach
Wednesday 31st
- Swanage Pier history walk starting at the pier gatehouse at 2.30 pm
The first Music by the Sea concert took place in 2021
September 2022
Thursday 1st
- Bournemouth Air Festival to Sunday 4th September
- Purbeck International Chamber Music Festival with performances across Purbeck until Sunday 4th September
Saturday 3rd
- Dorset County Show at Dorchester Showground to Sunday 4th September
Sunday 4th
- Music by the Sea concert in memory of Henry and William with local bands and artists including Galaxy Thief, from 10 am at Prince Albert Gardens
If it’s all too exhausting with so much to do, there’s always the beach for relaxation!
