The annual Swanage Regatta and Carnival Week starts on Saturday and runs until 2 August.

This year’s theme is a ‘little bit of latin’ and there will be over 100 events throughout the week including live music, the sailing regatta, fireworks and the magnificent carnival procession.

Saturday’s entertainment includes the Swanage Half Marathon and children’s activities from 10am, the 2CR Thunder Roadshow at 1.30pm and It’s a Knockout at 3pm. There will also be live music (Creep, The Cruisers, The Mustangs & The Martin Johnson Band) from 8pm and a fireworks display at 9.45pm.

The pre-carnival procession entertainment on Sunday includes The Red Arrows flying over Swanage Bay at 12 noon, the Carnival Queen at 1.30pm, Carnival judging at 2pm before the 2.5 mile procession starts with a big bang at 3pm.

The party continues on Sunday night with a Salsa party at 7pm and live music in the Live Music Marquee (The Firebirds, Tom Canning is Tom Jones) and Live Music stage (Rock Pirates & Headrush) from 8pm. There will be Carnival Bar and Pimm’s Bar to wet your whistle whilst watching all the entertainment.

You can purchase the full programme of events from any Purbeck bookshop or Tourist Information Centre.

All proceeds go to local charities for which over £20,000 was raised last year so dig deep when you see the carnival buckets as it costs thousands of pounds to put on these free events.

Swanage Regatta & Carnival: 26 July-2 August