Big Events, Big Adventures!
This August, Christchurch is bursting with summer fun: jazz by the river, carnival celebrations, and brilliant activities for budding archaeologists and dinosaur hunters. And if you fancy a film, under-16s can enjoy £5 movies at the beautiful Regent or enjoy free family screenings by the river at Tuckton. If you’re ready to explore, we’ve got a whole month of adventures waiting.
Stompin’ on the Quomps
1 August at Christchurch Quay (the Quomps)
Stompin’ on the Quomps will be back on Saturday, 1 August from 11:30am until 10:15pm, offering an entire day of live jazz music all for a donation (by cash or card) on entry! Run by a voluntary, non-profit community group, Stompin’ is an independent, family-friendly festival. Food and drink is available on site, bring your own picnic blanket or chairs and settle in for a fantastic riverside day on Christchurch Quay!
Treehouse Theatre presents Alice in Wonderland
6 August at Red House Museum & Gardens
Treehouse Theatre’s summer show is colourful and interactive, filled with excitement, laughter and live music. Cheer the heroes, boo the bad guys, and help Alice save the day in this panto-style version of Lewis Carroll's crazy classic. The performance will take place in the gardens of the Red House Museum if warm and dry, so please dress for the weather. Waterproof floor mats will be provided, but feel free to bring cushions or low backed camping chairs. Refreshments are available on site.
Age guide: 4+
Suitability: Family (no inappropriate jokes)
Duration: 1 hour, no interval.
Accessibility: SEND friendly & SEND experienced cast. Embedded sign language throughout all shows to support understanding (Makaton). Performance opportunities are accessible (no raised stage)
£8 per ticket / £28 per group of 4 / babes in arms FREE!
RNLI Mudeford Fun Day
9 August at Mudeford Quay & Green
A fantastic fundraising family fun day with lots to do, see and enjoy: live music on the main stage from the Navy Larks, Lee Rosetti and the Coda Ukulele Band;
funfair rides; buy souvenirs, books, toys and jigsaws from RNLI Village on Mudeford Quay; get raffle and duck race tickets plus tombola; visit the RNLI cake stall on Mudeford Green; drop by the the Dorset Austin 7 club; watch lifeboat demonstrations in the Run; join the paddleboard races and grab a hot dog or burger (including veggie and gluten-free options) from the crew barbecue. Park and free ride shuttle bus is available from 10:30 at 2 Riversmeet leisure centre.
All activities and entertainment are in support of Mudeford RNLI Lifeboat Station, and all money raised goes to help the volunteer crew continue its vital work saving lives at sea.
Home - Christchurch Carnival
14-16 August at Christchurch Quay and High Street
Christchurch Carnival is one of the the south's oldest community festivals, taking place on Christchurch Quay with a carnival street parade through the town on Sunday afternoon. Enjoy free, family-friendly entertainment including live music, a funfair, and food stalls. Click to see full weekend event timings.
This year’s headliners include Fearlessly Taylor (a Taylor Swift tribute act), and The Green Day Experience. For young families, entertainment includes a Punch and Judy show, circus skills workshops, a 7-metre climbing wall, arts and crafts and many much loved characters.
Christchurch Carnival is free to enjoy, with no ticket needed. Volunteers are raising money this year for local charities MY TIME Young Carers and MacMillan Caring locally, and will welcome any donations (by cash or card payment). Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome, but please be aware there is not much shade on the Quay. Food and drink is available on site.
School's out for Summer
With the school holidays in full swing, Christchurch is the perfect place for little adventurers to run wild. Whether your kids love digging for ancient treasures and hunting for dinosaurs, splashing in the sunshine or settling in for a family film, there’s loads happening across town and beyond to build special memories all summer long. Here’s our roundup of specially selected local activities for young ones - of all ages!
Learn to be an archaeologist
19 August 2026 (various times) at Hengistbury Head
Unearth ancient secrets and become a history detective at thismock burial dig! Sessions last around 45 minutes, and are suitable for children aged 5-10. In this immersive workshop, guided by volunteers from our Iron Age Village, you canengage in the careful excavation of pots, flints, and bones, identifying artefacts and piecing together the enigmatic story of the people who lived here 2,000 years ago.
£7 family tickets (2 adults and 2-3 children) for one 1x1m excavation plot per group. All materials and tools will be provided. The activity will take place in outside sandboxes, so please wear suitable clothing and footwear, and remember to bring sunscreen, water and hats.
Dinosaur Dig
29 August at Mayor’s Parlour, Saxon Square
What will you uncover? Free interactive fossil excavation for budding palaeontologists, use brushes and tools to uncover buried dinosaur bones!
11am to 3pm underneath the Old Town Hall on Christchurch High street. Part of the Christchurch BID dinosaur trail.
Christchurch Quay Splash Park
Daily, 9am-6pm at Christchurch Quay
Christchurch Quay Splash Park (also known to locals as the Quomps Splash Park) is a free-to-use outdoor water play area in the heart of town, run by Christchurch Town Council. Open daily from 9am to 6pm, it features a large splash pad with water jets, sprays, and interactive water features (such as a pump, channels and sluices) as well as a paddling pool. Parents must stay with their children, and little ones who wear nappies must wear swim nappies. Updates are posted on the dedicated Facebook page.
£5 kids’ summer cinema tickets
Until 31 August at The Regent, Christchurch High Street
Our friends at The Regent on Christchurch High Street are offering £5 cinema tickets for under-16s until the end of August. There are plenty of films on offer, from animations for little ones through to live action remakes of classics and big screen blockbusters!
Dino Trail
Daily until 31 August through Christchurch
Our historic town centre has Christchurch has come alive with 10 huge dinosaurs! This free, family-friendly trek invites you to hunt all the hidden creatures, and finish with a fun selfie at the dinosaur egg in Christchurch Library. (Every child who completes the trail gets a roarsome surprise - plus huge memories and epic bragging rights!) Scan the QR code on any dinosaur for you free trail map, pick one up from The Regent on the High Street, or download one online. This is one summer activity that is sure to leave BIG memories (and fantastic photos!)
Top tip: check opening hours for the Red House Museum, Christchurch Library, and The Regent before you set off!
If you have a dinosaur fan in your family, why not make it a dino day by combining this with a trip to see the classic Jurassic Park at the Regent on 21 August? (Remember under-16s go for £5!)
Free outdoor family films
Wednesdays at Tuckton Tea Gardens, free entry
Head down to Tuckton Tea Gardens on the banks of the river, and take your pick from a range of fantastic family blockbuster films and sing along feel-good movies. Late morning, or early evening showing? Buy your food and drink on site. No booking required, and it’s free!
Solar-powered pick your own
Sopley Farm, daily (last time for picking your own is 4:30pm)
Just a couple of miles inland from Christchurch, you’ll find Sopley Farm on the edge of the New Forest, “where fresh really means fresh”! They grow up to 20 different fruits and veggies plus flowers, and you can check their social media to see what they currently have on offer. Then make sure to stop at the on-site bakery for fresh bread, cakes and savouries!