Swanage Carnival 2025: Eight Glorious Days of Fun, Frolics and Fireworks

If you're looking for an excuse to sack off the usual summer routine and head to the seaside, look no further than Swanage Carnival 2025. This isn’t just any old town fête with a tombola and a soggy sponge throw—this is eight full days of full-throttle fun, from Saturday 26th July to Saturday 2nd August.

We’re talking airshows, acrobats, robots, beach games, live music, parades, and yes—fireworks that’ll make your socks rattle.

What’s On? Pretty Much Everything

The 2025 theme is Cirque Du Swanage, and it promises to transform this charming Dorset town into a festival of colour, circus spectacle, and full-on family-friendly chaos. Expect jugglers, stilt-walkers, and possibly a unicyclist or two. Here’s a taste of what’s in store:

• Red Arrows Display (26th July) – Swanage gets the Top Gun treatment as the RAF bring their world-famous aerobatic magic to the skies.

• The Carnival Procession (27th July) – Floats, costumes, marching bands and more than a few sequins. It’s a proper community affair, and one of the biggest processions on the south coast.

• Fireworks Displays – Of course, this is what we’re really here for. Three nights of explosive glory: Saturday 26th July, Wednesday 30th July and Saturday 2nd August. Head to the bay for a front-row seat to the sky show.

• Live Music All Week – With local bands and artists keeping things bouncing well into the evening. Entry's free, the vibes are good, and the beer’s cold. What more could you want?

• Family Entertainment Galore – The Steamship Circus returns with its acrobatics and audience antics, plus Titan the Robot (he's back, he's big, and he still somehow dances), BMX stunt shows and craft workshops to keep all ages smiling.

Feed Me

Feeling peckish? You’ll find no shortage of sustenance here. Sandpit Field will be brimming with local food vendors serving up everything from fish and chips to proper street food fare. For grown-ups, there’s the Carnival Arms, Pimms, Prosecco and Gin Bars, because what's a seaside festival without a cheeky tipple?

Entry’s Free – But the Impact Isn’t

While most of the live entertainment won’t cost you a penny, Swanage Carnival is all about giving back. Last year, they raised £30,900 for 23 local charities – not bad for a week by the beach. Every programme you buy, every pint you sip, every donation you drop helps support brilliant causes around Dorset.

Want to get involved? You can volunteer, take part in competitions, or just turn up and soak in the atmosphere. Trust us, there’s nothing quite like it.

Don’t Miss the Fireworks (We Wouldn’t)

We’d be remiss not to give another nod to the carnival’s three blockbuster firework nights, because let’s be honest—that’s the cherry on top of this glorious coastal cake. There’s something truly magical about standing on the beach, sand between your toes, ice cream in hand, watching the sky erupt above Swanage Bay.

These displays aren’t just a tacked-on extra—they’re a key part of what makes this carnival such a beloved event. Professionally fired, expertly timed—this is how you do fireworks properly.

Want More Fireworks in Your Life?

If you find yourself watching Swanage Carnival’s fireworks and thinking, "I want a bit of this at home", you’re in luck. Here at Epic Fireworks, we stock the good stuff — top-quality, safety-checked, sky-filling fireworks for every occasion.

We don’t do dodgy bangers in paper bags or mystery boxes from social media sellers. What we do offer is:

• Unbeatable variety

• Expert advice

• Fireworks that’ll knock your socks off (in a good way)

Fancy putting on your own mini Swanage at home? Check out our range or dive into our blog for tips, guides, and more firework wisdom than you can shake a sparkler at.

Want More Firework Events Like This?

This isn’t the only explosive date in the calendar. From beachside festivals to historic castle displays, there’s a sky full of events happening around the UK this year. You’ll find all the unmissable ones in our handy guide: Your Ultimate Guide to UK Firework Events in 2025.