Poole Events and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Poole, Dorset, England, UK)

During the summer months, Poole comes alive when it welcomes crowds of tourists, who come here for its quayside festivals, shopping, waterfront restaurants and plentiful water sports. Many further events take place in nearby Bournemouth and Swanage, often being close to their respective beachfronts and including annual carnivals, live music and seaside fireworks displays.

Things to do during the summertime holiday season include the Poole Crescent Dream Machines gathering and its huge array of motorbikes, and the Summer Breeze, where live music and a party atmosphere arrives in town on Thursday nights.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Good Friday / Easter Monday - late March or early April
• First and last Monday in May
• Last Monday in August
• 25th December - Christmas Day
• 26th December - Boxing Day

(If Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next weekday becomes a public holiday).


Poole Summer Breeze
The Summer Breeze is the town's largest beach party and is held every Thursday night from June to August, including live music, a fun zone for families, barbecue areas and a spectacular fireworks display at 22:00.

Poole Crescent Dream Machines
This exciting event is staged on Poole Quay and literally thousands of bikers gather to show off the motorbikes and also to compete for 'Motorbike of the Year', which is held on the final night. The Crescent Dream Machines event takes place every Tuesday evening from April 6th to September 28th, between 18:00 and 22:00.

Flowers by Candlelight
Close to Poole, the Lower Gardens of Bournemouth are transformed every Wednesday evening during the summer holiday season, when families gather to light more than 15,000 candles within individual coloured glass jars, forming enchanting, twinkling pictures throughout the gardens.

Summer Fireworks Displays
During the summer months, the nearby seaside town of Bournemouth hosts dramatic firework displays each Friday night from its pier, drawing crowds of onlookers from far and wide. These seafront fireworks are especially impressive and generally start at around 21:00, lasting for some 15 minutes. On November 5th, Poole Quay comes alive with street entertainment and an impressive fireworks display at around 20:00.

Boscombe Arts Festival
Held in mid-July, the Boscombe Arts Fest boasts sizeable exhibitions of art created by local and international artists. This festival includes a number of art-related events and activities.

The World Showband Championships and Music Festival
The summer World Showband Championships and Music Festival takes place on an annual basis at Bournemouth and draws many tourists. Those in attendance can expect parades, concerts and workshops.

The Great Dorset Steam Fair
Based roughly 35 minutes away and to the north, the Great Dorset Steam Fair takes place in the neighbouring village of Tarrant Hinton at the beginning of September.