The Swanage Fish and Food Festival has been rescheduled for August 2024, after being cancelled at the last minute due to bad weather, so it’s back and taking place over the summer along with lots of other events in Swanage, Dorset.
While the town is becoming increasingly an all year round resort, as many discover the winter beauty of Purbeck, it’s the sunny days that attract the crowds and give the place a buzz.
Swanage Carnival – eight days of daytime and evening entertainment!
Swanage Carnival – biggest event along the South Coast
Undoubtedly the greatest draw of the summer is Swanage Carnival taking place over eight days from Saturday 27th July to Saturday 3rd August 2024.
Not only has it survived the pandemic, when other major events in Dorset have bitten the dust, but thrived with a new energy and lots more attractions
One of the popular events not to return post pandemic has been the Great Dorset Steam Fair which used to take place near Blandford Forum.
Lots of summer events at Corfe Castle
Outdoor theatre and cinema
However a more local event has risen from the ashes – the Swanage Railway Roads to Rail steam rally which takes place from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th June 2024. Expect to see some unusual sights on the roads!
While there’s plenty of films and live performances at The Mowlem in Swanage, if anyone wishes to venture outside, there’s lots of outdoor theatre and cinema events, as well as plenty of music throughout the summer.
Durlston Castle has exhibitions in its gallery and activities in the learning centre
June 2024
Friday 28th
- Roads to Rail Steam Rally – to Sunday 30th, Swanage Railway
Saturday 29th
- Coastal Rowing Regatta – Swanage Seafront
- Friends of the Downs open day – Swanage Downs
- Summer Swing Concert – Swanage URC 4.30 pm
- Chilled Cider Festival – to Sunday 30th, Square and Compass pub, Worth Matravers
Sunday 30th
- Swanage Triathlon – Sandpit Field
Ice cream – an essential part of a Swanage summer
July 2024
Tuesday 2nd
- Swanage Swift Group talk – Durlston Learning Centre 7.30 pm
Wednesday 3rd
- Hierarchy and other Stories exhibition by artist Josh Holligshead – to Thursday 18th, Durlston Fine Foundation Gallery
- Purbeck Young Musicians in Concert – The Mowlem 6.30 pm
Thursday 4th
- Victorian guided walk – Durlston Country Park 11 am
- Foley contemporary circus show – Prince Albert Gardens 7 pm
- Summer Music with Gordon Stewart – St Mary’s Church, Swanage 6.30 pm
Friday 5th
- The Creative Path Display by artist Emma Scattergood – to Monday 15th, Durlston Castle
- Kelp! and Savage Underdogs sea shanty singers – The Showbar at The Mowlem 8.30 pm
Saturday 6th
- Meet a moth – Durlston Castle 11 am
- Comedy Night – The Fonc Lounge, lower High Street 9 pm
- Food and Drink Festival – to Sunday 7th, National Trust Corfe Castle
- Dinosaur Adventures – to Sunday 7th, Corfe Castle station, Swanage Railway
Sunday 7th
- Swanage Pier to Park walk – Durlston Country Park 10.30 am
- Rockin’ the Joint – Swanage Legion, High Street 3.30 pm
- Wareham Town Band – Swanage Bandstand 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Wednesday 10th
- Jay Miller’s Circus – to Sunday 14th, Herston Village Green
- Swanage Town Band – Swanage Bandstand 7 pm to 8.30 pm
The Swanage Jazz Festival fills the town with music
Friday 12th
- Swanage Jazz Festival – to Sunday 14th
Sunday 14th
- The Jack Gillespie Cup – Swanage Town and Herston FC 2 pm
Wednesday 17th
- Harmony Rocks Choir summer concert – Emmanuel Baptist Church 2 pm
Thursday 18th
- Wilkswood Reggae Festival – to Sunday 21st, Langton Matravers
Friday 19th
- Stars in the Grass: Glow-worm walk – Durlston Country Park 9 pm
Saturday 20th
- The Wild Swimming Festival – to Sunday 21st, Prince Albert Gardens
- Devizes Town Band – Swanage Bandstand 1 pm to 3 pm
Sunday 21st
- Summer flower walk – Durlston Castle 2 pm
- Wareham Town Band – Swanage Bandstand 2 pm to 4 pm
Monday 22nd
- Our Journey to Net Zero photo exhibition – to Thursday 1st August, Durlston Castle
Wednesday 24th
- Ranger School of Dance presents Showtime, to Saturday 27th, The Mowlem
- Swanage Town Band – Swanage Bandstand 7 pm to 8.30 pm
Friday 26th
- Aaron and Karen Sing Together – Royal Oak pub, High Street 8 pm
Saturday 27th
- Swanage Carnival – to Saturday 3rd August
- Myths and Monsters Artsreach performance – Langton Matravers village hall, 10.30 am
- Kids’ drawing workshop – Durlston Learning Centre 10.30 am
- Wildlife Safari walk – Durlston Castle 2 pm
Swanage Beach with it’s mat to make the beach accessible as possible for buggies and wheelchairs
August 2024
Thursday 1st
- Swanage Town Band – Swanage Bandstand 7 pm to 8.30 pm
- The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck outdoor theatre – National Trust Corfe Castle 7 pm
- Family orienteering – Durlston Learning Centre 10.30 pm
- Fragile Earth exhibition – to Tuesday 6th, Durlston Fine Foundation Gallery
Friday 2nd
- Swanage Railway murder mystery evening – Swanage station 6.30 pm
- Love Riot outdoor performance – Kimmeridge Bay 6 pm
Saturday 3rd
- Three Parishes Fete – The Old Rectory, Church Knowle 2 pm
- Barbie outdoor cinema – Knoll House Hotel, Studland 8.45 pm
Sunday 4th
- Country Dog Show – Margaret Green Animal Rescue, Church Knowle
Monday 5th
- Supersonic Queen tribute band – The Mowlem, 7.30 pm
Tuesday 6th
- Peter Pan SISATA outdoor theatre – to Wednesday 7th, Prince Albert Gardens
Wednesday 7th
- Simon and Garfunkel Through The Years – The Mowlem, 7.30 pm
Thursday 8th
- Rotary Summer Craft Fair and Fete – Sandpit Field
- The Hound of the Baskervilles outdoor theatre – National Trust Corfe Castle 7 pm
Friday 9th
- Swanage Lifeboat Week – to Sunday 18th, Prince Albert Gardens
Saturday 10th
- Gary and Robbie Live tribute act – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
- St George’s Church Fete – Langton Matravers 2 pm
Sunday 11th
- Cider Sundae Festival – Dorset Cider Farm, near Corfe Castle BH20 5JP
Monday 12th
- The Importance of Being Earnest outdoor theatre – Prince Albert Gardens 7 pm
- Take a Chance on Us: Abba tribute act – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
Wednesday 14th
- RNLI Lighthouse Loop Run – Swanage Lifeboat Station 7 pm
- The Carpenters Experience tribute act – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
Thursday 15th
- Romeo and Juliet outdoor theatre – National Trust Corfe Castle 7pm
- Purbeck Valley Folk Festival – to Sunday 18th, Harman’s Cross
Friday 16th
- Jurassic Dance Festival – to Sunday 18th, Wilkswood Farm, Langton Matravers
Saturday 17th
- Swanage Railway murder mystery evening – Swanage station 6.30 pm
- Ghostbusters outdoor cinema – Durlston Country Park 8.45 pm
- Complete Madness tribute act – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
- Swanage Town Band – Swanage Bandstand 2.30 pm to 4 pm
Monday 19th
- The Alter Eagles tribute act – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
Wednesday 21st
- Singer Steve Brookstein X Factor winner 2004 – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
Thursday 22nd
- The Secret Diary of Henry VIII – National Trust Corfe Castle 7 pm
Friday 23rd
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone outdoor cinema – National Trust Corfe Castle 8.45 pm
Swanage Fish and Food Festival has been rescheduled and will move to its new venue, Sandpit Field
Saturday 24th
- Swanage Fish and Food Festival – to Sunday 25th, Sandpit Field
- Charity musicevent – Swanage Bandstand 11 am to 5 pm
- Beach Boyz tribute show – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
- Wonka outdoor cinema – National Trust Corfe Castle 8.45 pm
Sunday 25th
- KEM Concert Band – Swanage Bandstand 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Bank Holiday Monday 26th
- Soul Kinda Wonderful tribute act – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
- Harman’s Cross Field Day – Harman’s Cross village hall
Thursday 29th
- Purbeck International Chamber Music Festival – to Sunday 1st September
Saturday 31st
- Music by the Sea – Prince Albert Gardens, 12 noon to 8 pm
September 2024
Monday 2nd
- Paddle Steamer Waverley cruises – Selected dates to Wednesday 25th, Swanage Pier
Friday 6th
- Swanage Folk Festival – to Sunday 8th
- Made in Tennessee country music – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
- Classic and Steam Vehicle Show – to Sunday 8th, Harman’s Cross station
- A Room with a View outdoor cinema – The Blue Pool, near Wareham 8 pm
Saturday 7th
- Moulin Rouge outdoor cinema – The Blue Pool, near Wareham 8 pm
Friday 13th
- Swanalulu Music Festival – Headline act N-trance, Prince Albert Gardens 4 pm to 10 pm
Saturday 14th
- Swanalulu Music Festival – Headline act Toploader, Prince Albert Gardens 12 noon to 10 pm
- Planet Purbeck Rewilding Our Seas event – Emmanuel Baptist Church 7 pm
Friday 20th
- Planet Purbeck Festival – to Sunday 22nd, Swanage
Saturday 28th
- Swanage Supervets Rowing Regatta – Swanage Bay
- Last Night of The Proms with Bournemouth Concert Brass – The Mowlem 7.30 pm
Beach huts Swanage style!
Further information
- What’s on at The Mowlem
- Events at Swanage Railway
- Activities at Durlston Country Park
