Festivals, Events and What's On
Lot's happening throughout the year. The highlights are often the special festivals (listed below), which are all organised by enthusiastic local residents. You can find a list of what is happening each month on the website Virtual Swanage. The Tourist Information Centre also publishes a list
Red Arrows over Swanage Bay
Swanage Regatta and Carnival is the biggest event of the year. 8 days with every kind of activity you can imagine.
The highlights of the Swanage Carnival are the Red Arrows display, the Carnival Parade, plus a sensational fireworks display held every Saturday night in August, plus an additional show on Wednesday during Swanage Carnival week. |
Purbeck Arts Week Purbeck is a timeless landscape of ever changing light and colours. Our Festival celebrates this through art: painting, sculpture, music, dance, film, story-telling and other forms.
Purbeck Arts Week is held for 2 weeks at the end of May and early June.
Purbeck Arts Week is held for 2 weeks at the end of May and early June.
Swanage Walking FestivalSwanage Walking Festival is held in the spring, 9 days of guided walks. The first event was a big success in 2011. The next Swanage Walking Festival is 26th April to 6th May 2012
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Swanage Folk FestivalSwanage Folk Festival offers a whole weekend of performances, dancing and participation. The friendly Swanage Folk Festival keeps on getting better and better and is now an established fixture on the town's calendar. It is held on the 2nd weekend in September
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Swanage Lifeboat weekThe lifeboat supporters put on a whole week of events, fun and games in the middle of August. Events include outdoor theatre, races, quizzes, lifeboat trips and tours, music performances. Check the website Swanage Lifeboat Week
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.Swanage Jazz Festival The aim of the Swanage Jazz Festival is to put on lots of quality music in many jazz styles from New Orleans and mainstream to modern and contemporary. Swanage Jazz Festival offers 3 days and nights of Jazz on the 2nd weekend in July |
Swanage Gig GuideSwanage Blues provides you with a comprehensive listing of all music events that happen each month. Their Gig Guide tells you about music in pubs, halls, outdoors or wherever it is happening. The guide is produced by Steve Darrington who runs the Blues Festival and frequently performs and organises events in the area
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Swanage Blues Festival.Swanage Blues Festival. This year we are celebrating the 11th year of Swanage Blues Festivals - or as some call them, the Big Blues Parties on the South Coast!
If you’ve been to any of the previous 15 Swanage Blues Festivals in March or October, you’ll know what a wonderful time there is to be had here. |
Outdoor TheatreThroughout the summer, some very professional acts visit the area and perform outdoor theatre. Some is Shakespeare, some is funny, some is both. It always good fun. Here are some of touring groups you can expect to see. Outdoor theatre has a magical quality
Click on each image to go to the relevant website and check dates. |
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The Quarterdeck. Page describing Swanage Carnival, Swanage Fireworks, Swanage Red Arrows, Swanage, Folk Festival, Swanage Comedy Festival, Swanage Comedy Festival, Swanage outdoor theatre, Swanage Blues Festival, Swanage lifeboat week, Purbeck Arts week, Swanage Walking Festival, Swanage Gig guide, Swanage Music