About
Down on the Dorset coast, the friendly Folk Festival just keeps growing.
Now an established fixture on the calendar, the second weekend after the August Bank Holiday Monday, we continue to provide entertainment and fun, for all, much of it free! But please make donations in our collecting buckets as increasing costs make staying afloat even harder than before.
Many dance sides travel from all over the country to dance at Swanage the the dancers in their costumes add a vibrancy to the atmosphere in town.
A perfect place to relax and spend the last of the summer days or to take an active part through our many workshops.
The festival is self funding and is reliant on ticket sales and donations. Please bear this in mind if you come and enjoy the festival, please show your appreciation by making a donation. This will ensure we can keep the festival going for your future pleasure.
The festival is oranised and run by a small committee of volunteers who give their time freely. Please show your appreciation by a kind word to any committee member you meet. We also welcome any reviews/comments vial email swanagefolkfestival@hotmail.co.uk
A variety of activities for children take place on the Sandpit Field over the weekend keeping them happy.
Saturday at 3.30 pm features the procession of dance sides through the town, featuring somewhere in the region of 50 dance sides from the world of Morris, Apalachian, Clog, and maybe some more exotic dance styles.
Concerts and events are held at a variety of venues in the town centre, including, The Community Room in the Mowlem Theatre, St Mary’s Parish Church, and the main marquee on Sandpit Field.
Saturday night is the showpiece concert. 2010 features Vin Garbutt and Show of Hands!
For those with the energy to dance Saturday night away, our Sandpit Field Marquee will throb to the music of our ceilidh band with Gordon Potts as the caller. Swanage 2010 features the brilliant Tickled Pink as our ceilidh band.
Those wishing to perform themselves have opportunities at the White Horse Festival Folk Club Saturday lunchtime only, or at sessions in pubs round the town, singing at the small bar at the Red Lion with Derek Burgess & Kitty Vernon, an Irish music session at the White Swan, and English music sessions in the marquee behind the Red Lion. All sessions (apart from folk club) are Friday evening, Saturday lunch and evening, Sunday lunch time only.
For full weekend ticket holders we also have a late night session (after midnight) on Friday and Saturday with our festival artistes at the Red Lion. Come and meet some of the stars and join them jamming the night away. There is a late night mini menu on offer, with the bar open until 4 am!.
But if all this culture is too much we have the alternative delights of the colourful craft fair and events tent on Sandpit Field featuring a range of free to listen to bands over the Saturday and Sunday afternoons. However we do pay the bands to perform so please put a donation in the bucket if you have enjoyed the music.
The festival will be its usual diverse mixture of activities and experiences. There will be a feast of dancing on display throughout the town all weekend. A grand dance procession through the town will take place on the Saturday afternoon at 3.30 pm and Sunday morning will see the popular folk service at St Mary’s Church at 10.30am.
Once again we will be running a very wide range of dancing and music workshops over the weekend and the children will not be forgotten with a programme of activities and events. Learn circus skills or just watch the fun or become a prop in an impromptu play straight out of a bag!
Somewhere to Stay
You’ll need somewhere to stay and Swanage offers a wide range of holiday accommodation from posh hotels to more rustic campsites. If you would like some help finding the right place for you please contact the Tourist Information Centre. You can contact them by phoning 0870 4420680 or e-mail mail@swanage.gov.uk. For you IT buffs you can also visit the local web site at www.swanage.gov.uk. For those buying season tickets we have made special arrangements for you to book direct with a local campsite when booking your weekend tickets.
For many years we have had a close link with the Campsite at Tom's Field, Langton Matravers and we recommend this site for camping, despite it's distance from the Sea front of approximately 2.5 miles. It caters for touring caravans, campers and tents.
Herston Yard is closer to the town centre and railway halt, but has a lively bar that may cause some disturbance at night.
There are other campsites in and around Swanage and details of these can be found on http://www.touristnetuk.com/SO/dorset/accommodation/ac-camp/swanage.htm#swanage