High Summer in Bournemouth and Poole

This August, local residents and holidaymakers alike can experience a fantastic variety of festivals and events set against the backdrop of 10 miles of golden sandy beaches and breath taking views.

Kick off the summer holidays with a visit to the ever-popular Summer Live, a free event for all ages located in Bournemouth Square. Visitors, residents, students and shoppers can sit back, relax and enjoy live music every day while enjoying a tipple or two in the outdoor ‘Garden Bar’. Browse the art, jewellery and confectionery stalls or enjoy the many free craft workshops and live art demonstrations. Furthermore, in the last two weeks of August children can enjoy a variety of street entertainment with Dr Balloonman, Mr Merlin and many more.

As dusk falls every Friday in August, head down to Bournemouth Seafront to watch the spectacular Friday Fireworks, the perfect way to start your weekend during peak summer season. Meanwhile on the other side of the Harbour, Rockley’s summer fireworks take off from Poole Quay on Thursday evenings.

New for this summer is the Bournemouth & Poole Selfie Wall Trail. Located along our stunning seafront, from Sandbanks to Southbourne, are 11 magnificent pieces of art created by various artists – the perfect backdrop for a fun selfie! We are encouraging everyone to take amazing selfies in front of one of the 11 walls and at the end of the summer the best selfie will win a fantastic grand prize. Use #loveselfiewalls with your photos! Sun worshippers are also invited to Leave Only Footprints and take their rubbish with them after a lovely day on the stunning sandy beaches of Bournemouth and Poole.

A firm favourite on the summer events calendar is the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Proms In The Park, this year running 9^th, 10^th and 11^th August at Meyrick Park. The Classical Extravaganza, on the Friday, features a selection of the best music of the genre ever written, including Finlandia and Danse Macabre, alongside some iconic film scores, a spectacular fireworks ballet to Handel’s Fireworks Music, all topped off with an explosive finale accompanying Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

Meanwhile over at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum the Summer Holiday activities start at the end of July.This year you will all be encouraged to jump down the rabbit hole and embrace all things Alice in Wonderland. Come and play flamingo croquet in the wonderful garden, complete the treasure hunt, enter the competition or take part in a workshop. Poole Museum’s keynote 2018 exhibition, Drawn from Life, by Augustus John, probably Poole’s most eminent artist, continues its run through the summer alongside a host of talks, family fun activities and public art music trails on the nearby Poole Quay.

Cultural events can also be enjoyed at some interesting venues in Poole and its environs, with one of the most popular being Brownsea Island Open Air Theatre , which is showing Skakespeare’s Titus Andronicus until 10^th  August. Elsewhere, under-the-stars cinema can be enjoyed at Corfe Castle  during the August Bank Holiday weekend and at Lulworth Castleon the 15^th and 16^th August.  

The marquee event of the year is of course the Bournemouth Air Festival, Thursday 30^th August to Sunday 2^nd September 2018. This is Year 11 of the award winning and internationally renowned aviation event and festival goers can look forward to four memorable days of action and entertainment on land, at sea and in the air.