Summer is here and its a great time to enjoy a variety of events and activities near Newlands holiday park. If you're taking a holiday on the Jurassic Coast with the kids this year, there's plenty of to keep you all entertained. Events taking place in coastal towns such as Lyme Regis and Sidmouth have great appeal to the whole family. We take a look at some of the best West Dorset and East Devon events in our summer 2022 what's on guide.
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week
23-30 July 2022
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week is back for another year and promises a packed week of fun, games, entertainment music and display. Well-established highlights throughout the week include a bath tub race, a crab fishing competition, duck race and a fantastic display by The Red Devils. New for 2022 will be a pirate day on Friday 29th July 2022, complete with treasure hunts and best dress pirate competition.
A detailed event programme is available to purchase from the lifeboat station as well as a number of other locations in the town. You can also download the programme as a free App and make donations this way. The event is organised by the Lyme Regis & Charmouth Supporters.
Sidmouth Folk Festival
29 July - 5th August 2022
Sidmouth Folk Festival is fast approaching and this year’s event is set to be a return to its full celebration. Much has changed since the pandemic but the festival is back on the 29th July and runs over the course of a week. The annual event in South Devon is a family favourite and highly recommended as a day out during your stay at Newlands.
Charmouth fossil hunting and Seashore Safari
Taking place over multiple dates the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre are hosting public fossil hunting walks, which is a great way to uncover the pre-historic landscape of the Jurassic Coast. Be quick, these dates are filling up fast as are the Seashore Safari explorations - visit the heritage centre website to check the events calendar and book online.
Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Week
6-13 August 2022
Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival will return this August for another week of family fun. Over the course of the week, this unmissable event promises a range of exciting activities, including a torchlight procession, open air cinema and family dog show. There is also a spectacular fireworks display, duck race, and the delightful sight of candles floating down the river. The week culminates in the Grand Carnival Procession to round off a great event which has raised thousands of pounds for local good causes over the years.
See the full programme and book events on the Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival website.
Melplash Show
25th August 2022
The Melplash Show is back for another year at West Bay Showground. The one day must-visit event is packed full of exhibits including livestock, horses, homecrafts and horticulture. Over 400 trade stands are expected which sell everything from locally produced food to tractors. Over the course of the day there will be a busy programme of horse, livestock and horticulture competitions.
The world famous Devil's Horsemen will be performing in the main arena with a spectacular display of Cossack stunt riding. The countryside arena will be packed with displays including ferret racing, gun dog displays, falconry and a dog and duck display.
The Discover Farming marquee is great for families who are interested in learning more about food production and farming. Activities and interactive demonstrations can be enjoyed here and a chance for children of all ages to get a hands on experience of a variety of ‘Farm to Food’ activities. Melplash Show is simply a great day to see friends, enjoy the countryside and learn more about West Dorset.
Lyme Regis Folk Weekend
2-4 September 2022
Numerous live music acts are set to perform at Lyme Folk Weekend. A firm fixture on the Dorset music calendar which will take place between 2nd – 4th September 2022. This popular annual event features some of the regions best loved folk artists, plus an opportunity to discover something new. Performances can be enjoyed across a number of venues in the charming coastal town of Lyme Regis.
Bridport Hat Festival
3 September 2022
Every year, thousands of people don their favourite hat and flock to Bridport's Bucky Doo square for a fun filled day of hat celebrations. This weird and wonderful annual event aims to raise much needed funds for a range of head related charities and promises a great day out for the whole family. There's a competition for best hat, as well as a range of music, food and drink related activities and performances.