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Christchurch Carnival is a weekend long event which takes place each August in Christchurch. The highlights being an afternoon of music culminating in a firework display on Saturday and a parade through town on Sunday.

How to get to Christchurch Carnival

The main carnival site is on Christchurch Quay, or as it is known locally, the Quomps. Christchurch is situated 5 miles east of Bournemouth and can be reached via the A35/B3059. The Quomps is just past the bottom of the High Street.

By Bus

Several buses run between Bournemouth and Christchurch; buses number 1a/b/c plus the 82 New Forest Breezer and the 70 Beach Breezer. The festival site is at the bottom of the High Street, past the Priory. Alight at the Town Centre and walk down the hill for around 8 minutes.

By Train

Christchurch is on the main train line between London and Bournemouth. Christchurch Station is an 18 minute walk away.

Parking

The nearest car parks are Mayors Mead or Christchurch Priory. Parking costs £2.70 for two hours. It’s a popular event, so good luck finding a space!

Note: The carnival’s popularity can make parking tricky. Alternatively, parking is somewhat easier to find (and free) in the streets on the other side of the River Stour. You can then walk to the venue (around a mile up to Tuckton Bridge and back down the other side of the river) or take the Wick Ferry straight across the river to the Quomps. Ferries cross regularly throughout the day, with a one way fare costing £1.50.

Dates

The carnival takes place over a weekend in August. The dates for 2026 were:

• Friday 14th August, 6 pm – 8 pm
• Saturday 15th August, 10 am – 10 pm (with fireworks at 9.30 pm)
• Sunday 16th August, 10 am – 4 pm (with parade at 1 pm)

Details for 2027 are TBA.

Price

The carnival is a free community event. However, as the event aims is to raise money for local charities, there are collection buckets, a raffle and carnival merchandise on sale.

Details

There is a wide range of activities scheduled over the course of the weekend. Here are some of the highlights:

Saturday

Saturday offers a full day of entertainment, taking place mainly on the quayside. Bring a chair/blanket, relax and enjoy the entertainment.

Music

There is a wide of musical entertainment on stage, consisting mainly of local bands. This year’s headliners were two very popular tribute acts; Green Day and Taylor Swift.

Entertainment

There is plenty more entertainment on the programme, much of it aimed at children/families. This includes Irish dancing, circus skills a Punch & Judy show and a children’s disco. Activities available throughout the day include crafts, a climbing wall and meeting TV characters.

Food & Drink

There is a large selection of food and drink vendors with pizza, burgers, Thai and Greek amongst the options. Unlike many events, you are also permitted to bring your own food and drink on site.

Fairground

Adjoining the carnival site is a large Fairground with rides, stalls and more food and drink concessions. The rides offer something for all ages and all levels of bravery/stupidity. From merry-go-rounds to the Booster, which will spin you round in a cage 40 metres up in the air.

Fireworks

Saturday evening usually ends with a Firework Display at 9.30 pm. Unfortunately, this had to be cancelled in 2026 due to the drought and was replaced with a DJ set.

Sunday

Parade

The highlight of Saturday is a Parade through the town, ending on the quayside.

Entertainment

Additional entertainment throughout the day is split across two venues:

quayside

Entertainment starts on the Quayside at 10 am, with the parade due to finish here around 2 pm. Activities include climbing wall and circus skills. There is also more live music and dance displays.

High Street

Another good vantage point to watch the parade from is the High Street. Here, you can get parade ready with face painting and glitter tattoos. There is also live music including a marching band and dragon dancing.

Christchurch Carnival for Children

The carnival is very much geared around families and, as detailed above, there is plenty on offer for children. From fairground rides to face painting. On Saturday, the firework display is very popular with children. As darkness descends, you can purchase some shiny lights of your own to add to the illuminations.

On Sunday, kids love to watch (or even join in) the parade. The route starts by Leisure Centre, then goes up the High Street before turning left and left again to reach the quayside.

With so much to do, much of it free, the carnival offers a great day(s) out for old and young alike.

• Updated: August 2026

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth here.

For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth with young children, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth with Babies and Toddlers here.