Join in the Poole Town Wide Multi-Faceted Festival…

Ladies and gentlemen, residents and visitors to Poole Town, Poole Business Improvement District (BID) would like to welcome you to get ready to immerse yourselves in a spectacular weekend of festivities on the 16th and 17th of September 2023! The town is abuzz with excitement as we unveil a lineup of FREE events that promises fun, entertainment and unforgettable memories for all.

Firstly, throughout both days Poole Town will come alive with Inside Out Dorset bringing you a vibrant and diverse range of free performances and activities helping to bring the town to life.

The Dolphin Shopping Centre, Falkland Square and along the High Street will be adorned with this international outdoor arts festival with live performances ranging from awe-inspiring acrobatics showing feats of balance, agility and pure skill, to moving stories of women told through Indian dance. These performances and lots in-between can be found in unexpected places and the experiences will touch hearts and minds like nothing else. 

Inside Out co-Artistic Directors Kate Wood and Bill Gee commented:

“Bringing great art and audiences to some of Dorset’s most remarkable rural and urban locations is at the heart of the Inside Out Dorset festival. Poole High Street really is special and as former winners of ‘best event’ with Poole Tourism, we are delighted Poole BID, along with Lighthouse, Poole and BCP Council, are supporting our festival this year. The programme in Poole on 16^th and 17^th September will showcase a diverse mix of exceptional UK and international artists and the unique work they have created – from Dorset-based twins, The Working Boys Club, to artists Chloe Loftus and Rodney Bell all the way from New Zealand, the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band from India, and our very own Dorset Youth Dance and The Remix. Poole High Street will come alive with a superb family-friendly programme of awe-inspiring performances.”

It does not stop there! A brand-new event ‘Seafood & Sounds’ organised by the business community of Poole Old Town and The Quay will also see Poole’s heritage of seafood and music come together for an amazing weekend which will see live music throughout both afternoons and evenings with specially created seafood dishes at participating local hospitality businesses. If this is not enough, there will be a daily ‘Fisherman’s Market’ in Hennings on the Quay featuring fish, shellfish stalls and local produce suppliers too.

Truly Scrumptious owner and event organiser Jeanette Walsh said: “The traders along Poole Quay have always worked together, but funding cuts and wider financial business pressures in 2023 has made us all determined to join together to create what we hope will be an annual community event”

This delightful Arts, Seafood and Music Festival will captivate your senses and inspire your creativity and will be joined together by a Street Music Poole special located in the middle of the high street with the incredibly talented and unique musical group – Mother Ukers, who are a three-piece pioneering Ukulele band making Poole Town transform into a haven for artists, musicians, and seafood enthusiasts alike.

This extravaganza starts each day from 11am onwards and so immerse yourselves in a world of celebration which will ensure that there is something for everyone, bring your family and friends along to experience the joy of community unity as we celebrate the diverse talents and cultures that make Poole Town so special. Join in the festivities, show your creative side, and revel in the lively atmosphere.

Jacqui Rock, Lead of Poole BID said: “Having events like Inside Out Dorset festival in Poole and Seafood & Sounds alongside the Street Music Poole special provides a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to experience unique and diverse artworks, along with our trademark seafood and our local musical talents too. We are so excited to be supporting this festival and cannot wait to see thousands of people visit Poole over the weekend.”

Jacqui continues: “This free family-friendly extravaganza will bring everyone together and create a great atmosphere on Poole High Street, so why not come and enjoy and combine this by making a day of it utilising the hospitality and shopping that Poole Town has to offer too”

For specific programme information on Inside Out Dorset Festival visit their website Inside Out Dorset Festival

For further information on Seafood and Sounds visit their Facebook page

For further information on Street Music Poole special visit our Facebook Events page