Here is a list of ways that Bournemouth is helping families to beat the credit crunch:


Kid’s Family Fun Festival 2008

Bournemouth’s award-winning Lower Gardens has five weeks of fun for all the family and lots of entertainment every day starting on starting on Saturday 26th July and finishing at 5pm on Sunday 31st August 2008.

The Festival will have more than free shows and activities featuring magicians, puppet shows, comedy capers, clowns, “have-a-go” workshops, games and non-stop entertainment. Shows are at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 4pm.

There is no need to book just come along and join in. For information on further events for the family through the summer visit www.bournemouth.co.uk

The inaugural Bournemouth Air Festival – completely free and by the sea

The More Bus Bournemouth Air Festival (supported by Excelsior Coaches) is set to dazzle the crowds with over 12 hours’ of air displays planned over four days as well as great family entertainment into the early evening.

Taking place 28th – 31st August over Bournemouth Seafront, hear the roar, feel the force and celebrate the history of aviation; from vintage aircraft to super-modern awesome jets

The thrilling aviation line-up includes the Red Arrows (Friday 3pm, Saturday 12 noon and Sunday 3pm), accompanied by an original Folland Gnat jet, the return of the Sea Vixen, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display Team, Team Guinot Wing Walkers, Hunter, Mustang, Yakovlevs, Vampire and much more!

The RAF and Army will have plenty to keep everyone entertained; Children can try being a pilot in mock-up cockpits, try the Army assault course, tanks and a static helicopter display; as well as boat trips to the Royal Navy’s RFA Mounts Bay, which will be out at sea in the bay. For a real piece of history, war veterans from locally based organisations will be sharing their stories.

As dusk falls the town will be lit up by a magical balloon glow; hot air balloons will take off from the seafront, float over the skies and land in the Lower Gardens, where they will light up the night’s sky. Bournemouth town centre will continue the celebrations into the late evening including a live music marquee and stage. For more info visit www.bournemouth.co.uk


Flowers by Candlelight

On the first four Wednesdays in August at dusk, Bournemouth Gardens will be transformed into a magical oasis of twinkling lights, thanks to ‘Flowers by Candlelight’, a traditional event for Bournemouth which has been running for over 110 years

Come along to the award-winning gardens and light candles inside hundreds of coloured glass jars, using special tapers to protect your fingers. Flowers by Candlelight dates back to 1896 and was started by Princess Eugenie of France. The Princess visited Bournemouth and she was welcomed by an illumination of candles during her route through the gardens. The event enchants adults and children alike who return year after year to capture the magic.

Flowers by Candlelight dates are the following Wednesdays: 6th August, 13th August, 20th August, 27th August. Call 0845 051 1700 or visit: www.bournemouth.co.uk

Kidzone Scheme

The successful child safety scheme, pioneered in Bournemouth and copied on beaches around the world has received investment from local company LV=. Children are given free coloured waterproof wristbands, which correspond to eight clearly marked sections (zones) of the beach. The parent or guardian is asked to write their mobile phone number on the bands and then put one on each child’s wrist, making it easy for an LV KidZone staff member to contact the parent if they find children wandering in the wrong zone by themselves.

A dedicated new LV KidZone team patrols and monitors the beach, staying in touch through walkie-talkies and also working with the patrolling police, lifeguards and council seafront officers. Call 0845 051 1700 or visit:www.bournemouth.co.uk

The scheme operates between 1st July – 9th September on eight Bournemouth beaches:
Alum Chine Durley Chine Boscombe WestBournemouth West Bournemouth East Boscombe East
Fisherman’s Walk Southbourne



Boscombe Surf Reef

The first artificial surf reef in the northern hemisphere is being built in Boscombe, Bournemouth this year and is set to put the holiday resort firmly on the UK surf map.

The reef will act as a ramp, pushing waves upwards, doubling their size and improving their quality for surfers. As a result, the number of good surfing days will be doubled. Bournemouth already has an established surfing community, but the reef will act as a draw for visitors to the area, enhancing water sports on offer including kite-surfing, windsurfing, wake-boarding, kayaking, SCUBA-diving, sailing and skim-boarding.

Being built over the summer months this year, and anticipated to be completed by the end of October, the reef will be a free-to-use, green, ecologically friendly watersports facility. The reef uses no man-made energy, but harnesses nature’s energy to create a sports facility and tourist attraction.

For more information about any of the above attractions please contact the tourist informaion office on 0845 051 1701