June 26 Carnival News
This year proceeds are helping local beneficiaries, the 2nd Corfe Mullen Scout Group and Corfe Mullen United Juniors Football Club.
Following the successful Horse Race Night at the end of May, the programme continues with a Quiz Night at the Dorset Soldier on Thursday 11 June, starting at 8:15pm. Entry fee of £12 per team (maximum of 6 people per team). Due to limited availability, teams are required to book in advance.
Carnival Day, held at the Platinum Jubilee Fields (recreation ground) on Saturday 13 June. Free to attend, ensuring it remains accessible to all. The committee also subsidises a number of activities to help keep costs low, making it an affordable afternoon for families. Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of stalls, games, food vendors, attractions, alongside live entertainment throughout the afternoon.
Live performances will include Sodapops, Band of Others, and the QE School Percussion Group, providing a lively soundtrack to the day’s celebrations and creating a fantastic atmosphere for all visitors.
The Carnival Parade starts at 1:00pm, leaving Albert Road and proceeding along Wareham Road and Blandford Road before arriving at the recreation ground. Featuring a colourful procession of floats, performers, and community groups, the parade is always a standout moment and draws the crowds.
Families will find plenty to keep children entertained, with activities ranging from funfair rides and interactive games to demonstrations and performances.
Dog lovers can enjoy the Carnival Dog Show, featuring seven fun categories. Entry is £1 per category, with registration from 2:00pm and judging from 3:00pm. All dogs must be kept on leads, and bitches in heat are not permitted.
Visitors can also take part in the Grand Draw, offering the chance to win a fantastic selection of prizes. Tickets will be available in advance and on the day, with the draw taking place at 5:00pm. It’s a great way to support the Carnival’s fundraising efforts while enjoying the excitement.
A variety of refreshments will be available within the popular ‘food village’, although visitors are also very welcome to bring their own picnic and enjoy the relaxed, community atmosphere.
New for this year is the introduction of a Quiet Hour, taking place from 11:30am to 12:30pm. This will provide a calmer environment with reduced noise levels and fewer crowds, ensuring that those who may find busy settings overwhelming can still enjoy the experience.
Free parking will be available on Carnival Day. Visitors travelling by car are advised to plan their arrival around the parade route, which will temporarily affect access. To avoid disruption, please aim to arrive at the recreation ground before 1:00pm or after 2:30pm.
The celebrations conclude with the 5K and 1 Mile Run on Tuesday 16 June, welcoming runners of all abilities. The junior run starts at 7:00pm, followed by the adult run at 7:30pm. Entry requires completion of a downloadable form and payment of an entry fee.
The success of the Carnival would not be possible without the generous support of sponsors, local businesses, and volunteers, whose contributions play a vital role each year. Anyone interested in volunteering on Carnival Day is encouraged to make contact via
A spokesperson for the organising committee said: “Corfe Mullen Carnival is all about bringing people together. From our quiz night through to the run, it’s a fantastic programme of events that showcases community spirit. We hope everyone will come along and support the many local causes that benefit.”
For more information, including event timings, entry details and downloadable forms, please see links from the Carnival Events page above and follow the official Carnival Facebook page.
See you at the carnival events!
Corfe Mullen Carnival e-Donations
For the first time this year, in addition to our collection buckets, we're inviting you to donate electronically.
If you would like to make a donation to the Carnival, then please scan the QR code below with your mobile phone camera and follow the link to our donations page. Or simply click on the QR Code.
Message from the Carnival Chair 2025 - David Mills
The past twelve months have been another outstanding chapter in the story of Corfe Mullen Carnival. Every event was delivered to an exceptional standard, enjoyed by the community and most importantly, run safely.
We began the year with the Christmas Parade and Festive Lights, which once again lit up the village and were warmly received by residents. My sincere thanks go to the committee members who worked to install the new festive lights on a couple of Saturdays in November, as well as to our generous sponsors whose support made it all possible.
After a busy winter of planning and preparation, Carnival Week arrived in style. A particular highlight was our inaugural Race Night at the Royal British Legion – a resounding success that has already earned its place as a regular feature on our calendar.
Carnival Day itself exceeded expectations, drawing record attendance and providing a welcome boost for local businesses. The shift in the Folk Festival date may well have contributed to this and it is something the committee should consider carefully when planning future events.
Like many organisations, we continue to face rising costs. However, the loyalty of our sponsors has enabled us to maintain the high standards of entertainment our community has come to expect. One area to be addressed, is the steady decline in procession entries over the past five years. This winter we will look at fresh ideas and strategies to reinvigorate and promote participation.
Other changes have proved very successful this year. Replacing a costly main arena act with performances from local groups was an inspired choice, giving a platform to home-grown talent while strengthening community spirit. Our Pub quizzes were once again extremely popular, helped by stronger administrative processes and the fun run attracted consistent numbers despite clashes with other local events.
Looking to the future, I am especially encouraged by the progress of our youth engagement work and the Carnival Champion initiative. These projects are beginning to get traction with exciting partnerships developing with Lockyer’s School and other youth groups. These young people represent the future of the Carnival and I am confident they will help us to explore new and exciting opportunities in the years ahead.
None of this would be possible without the dedication and hard work of the committee and my heartfelt thanks go to each and every one of you.
To the wider community and our local businesses, your continued support is at the core of the Carnival and we could not do it without you.
Thank you all for being part of another remarkable year. Together, we continue to make the Corfe Mullen Carnival a true celebration of our community.
David Mills - Corfe Mullen Carnival Chairman