SUMMER 2021 is looking a lot more promising than 2020.
While many events got cancelled last year due to the pandemic, a number of festivals are hoping to go ahead this summer.
If you’re looking for something to look forward to over the coming months, here’s our round-up of events that are expected to take place.
Of course, the situation may change so we will update this list should events be cancelled.
You can email us with any changes to digital@bournemouthecho.co.uk.
Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim
The British Heart Foundation's Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim is back on this summer.
One of the Europe's biggest charity swimming events, the swim was set to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2020 – before the pandemic forced its cancellation.
Now the swim, which takes place between Bournemouth Pier and Boscombe Pier and has raised £10,000s for the BHF, has been scheduled for the weekend of July 3 and 4.
Poole Harbour Festival
Three-day music spectacular Poole Harbour Festival will take place between Friday, July 30 and Sunday, August 1.
Festival goers will be able to enjoy entertainment from 50 acts across three stages at Baiter Park.
Headlines include 90s Britpop legends Dodgy and Toploader, as well as superclub DJs Brandon Block and Matt Darey.
Free activities and shows for children include dinosaur shows, the Passion For Laughter street shows, Mad For Animals and Jamie Jambo.
Bournemouth 7s
Billed the world's largest sports and music festival, Bournemouth 7s will take place later than its usual date during the late May bank holiday.
The 14th Bournemouth 7s will now be held over the August Bank Holiday weekend between August 27 and 29.
Speaking earlier this year, founder and CEO Roger Woodall said: "I’d really like to thank everyone for their amazing support for the festival to date. With over 80 per cent of tickets for 2021 already sold, we cannot wait to welcome you all to our biggest ever festival later this summer."
SandPolo
Poole's popular two-day SandPolo event is due to take place on July 9 and 10.
SandPolo 2021 is centred around the British Beach Polo Championships and features two beach party events.
An event organiser said: "Providing the four national tests for easing restrictions are met, as set out in the Government road map, the social event of the summer, Sandpolo, should be able to make a welcome return to your calenders on July 9/10 (under step four guidelines)."
"Should there be any delay to this easing, we have back-up dates in place on September 17/18."
Bournemouth Air Festival
Last year’s event had to be held virtually but organisers are still hopeful that this year’s event will go ahead as planned.
Taking place between September 2 and 5, at this stage no details have been revealed about which displays are lined-up.
Speaking to the Echo earlier this month, organisers said they remained "confident" that they will be able to host this year's event.
- Read more: Bournemouth Air Festival still set to go ahead (as other air shows ground 2021 events)
- Read more: The Bournemouth Air Festival is back for 2021, but will it look like before?
Bournemouth Air Festival director Jon Weaver said if the government’s road map continues as planned, the organising team believe the event can take place.
The festival is the biggest event in Bournemouth’s annual calendar and attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the area.
Camp Bestival
Family music festival Camp Bestival is set to go ahead at Lulworth Castle between July 29 and August 1.
Headline acts already confirmed include Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Kelis and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Other acts featured on the line-up include Vengaboys, Louise Redknapp, The Wurzles and Heather Small.
There's also lots to keep the kids entertained including Dick and Dom, Sam & Mark, Mr Tumble and Mister Maker & Rebecca Keatley.
The final wave of tickets are now on sale. If for any reason the event does not go ahead as planned, ticketholders would have the option to roll over their tickets to 2022 to secure places at the festival at this year’s prices or, receive a refund from their ticket provider.
Sandfest
Picture: rockstarimages.co.uk
Popular music event SandFest is due to take place on Sandbanks beach on Sunday, July 11 and has already sold out.
Organisers already have a second back-up date in place of Sunday, September 19 should it not be able to go ahead as planned.
Should the July date not go ahead, tickets will be carried over to September.
However, if the September date also can't go ahead, tickets will be carried over to 2022 or refunded.
Rudimental will be headlining and other acts include Danny Howard and Mista Jam.
Christchurch Food Festival
Christchurch Food Festival will go ahead at a later date this year.
The free foodie feast, which is usually held during the early May bak holiday, will instead run between Saturday, August 28 and Monday, August 30.
It will take place on Christchurch Quay instead of in the high street to allow organisers to better enforce social distancing measures, if they are still required.
The popular event, which will celebrate its 21st instalment this year, attracted nearly 75,000 people to the streets of Christchurch in 2019.
Bourne Free
Bournemouth's Pride Festival Bourne Free will be held on Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21.
Organisers had to cancel an event due to be held in Meyrick Park on July 9 and 10.
The 2020 event was due to return to Meyrick Park for the first time in ten years, however, the two-day affair will now be moved back at the Triangle for one last celebration.
In a Facebook post earlier this week, organisers said: "We are still very much hoping to have a parade as part of Bourne Free 2021.
"It is likely that it will be a walking parade and we are awaiting on the government guidelines that will be announced on May 17th. We will then update everyone via social media within a few days after that date."
Shake and Stir, Southbourne
Southbourne's vintage festival Shake and Stir will be coming to Fisherman's Walk on August 7 and 8.
The event, which celebrates retro music, vehicles, dancing and fashionm, has been taking place for nearly a decade.
Last year's event was held as a virtual event due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Foodies Festival
Touring gourmet food and drink event Foodies Festival is heading to Bournemouth for the first time this September.
Foodies Festival will take place at Kings Park from September 17-19 and will feature gastronomic delights from around the world.
MasterChef and Bake Off champions will take part as well as a wide variety of music acts.
Tickets cost £29 for the weekend or £19 for a day ticket. Children aged 12 and under go free when accompanied by an adults. Tickets are on sale now at foodiesfestival.com.
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