Blog Post: What’s On This Weekend: Family-Friendly Fun in Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (July 17-19)

The schools are winding down, the summer energy is cranking up, and our three towns are absolutely buzzing this weekend! From supercars lining the historic quay to massive live music headliners by the river, we have your perfect weekend plans sorted. Grab the suncream, gather the kids, and check out what is happening from Friday 17th July to Sunday 19th July across BCP.

Friday 17th July: Supercars and Summer Soundtracks

Supercars & Subarus: Car Nights on Poole Quay

• ⏰ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | 📍 Poole Quay | 💰 Free Admission Poole Quay wraps up the working week by closing its roads to host a massive display of precision engineering. This Friday's special theme is Super Cars & Subarus. Expect plenty of dropped jaws as the kids get up close to high-performance engines, racing specs, and luxury sports cars. With plenty of local fish-and-chip shops nearby, it’s a brilliant, free evening out by the harbor.

Christchurch Music Festival: "Boogie on the Quay"

• ⏰ 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 📍 Christchurch Quay | 💰 Ticketed Weekend Pass/Day Tickets The massive, highly anticipated Christchurch Music Festival officially kicks off right on the beautiful banks of the River Stour. Friday evening features the opening "Boogie on the Quay" party. Note for parents: While the rest of the weekend is fully family-centric, Friday night leans strictly into retro Soul, Motown, and Disco vibes aimed at adults and older teens.

Saturday 18th July: Main Stage Magic & Family Fun Days

Christchurch Music Festival: Summer Sounds & Kids' Shows

• ⏰ All Day | 📍 Christchurch Quay | 💰 Ticketed Saturday is the biggest day of the festival, boasting huge throwback pop royalty like the Sugababes, S Club, and Toploader lighting up the main stage! Alongside the massive music lineup, there is a dedicated Street Food Village and custom-built interactive Kids' Shows running throughout the daytime to keep smaller festival-goers fully entertained.

Muscliff Family Funday

• ⏰ Daytime Hub | 📍 Muscliff Park, Bournemouth | 💰 Free Entry / Small fees for activities If you want something hyper-local, traditional, and incredibly community-minded, head to Muscliff. This annual summer highlight features classic fairground attractions, local trade stalls, face painting, games, and dynamic displays. It's the perfect spot to set down a picnic blanket while the children tire themselves out.

Sunday 19th July: Trib-Fest Vibes & Immersive Art

Christchurch Music Festival: The Hoburne Family Day

• ⏰ All Day | 📍 Christchurch Quay | 💰 Ticketed The grand finale of the festival weekend is explicitly designed for families. Sunday features a relaxed, brilliant lineup of pop tributes (including The Take That Experience), kid-friendly interactive entertainment, and family activities sponsored by Hoburne. It’s a wonderfully safe, contained environment for a first festival experience.

"Life in Full Colour" Interactive Art Trail

• ⏰ Daily Opening Hours | 📍 Poole Museum Hub / Local Gallery | 💰 Free / Low Cost Escape the midday heat by heading indoors to experience the newly launched, incredibly vibrant world of digital artist Jason Wilsher-Mills. Built specifically with young, tactile imaginations in mind, this exhibition features giant, brightly colored inflatable structures, wacky 3D-printed sculptures, and interactive creature designs. It completely breaks the "don't touch" rule of traditional museums!

🏖️ Ongoing All-Weekend Options

• Flower Fairies™ Trail (Russell-Cotes Art Gallery): Wander through the stunning historic cliff-top villa looking for whimsical, hidden sea-fairy installations. Excellent for sparking the imagination of toddlers and primary school kids.

• Park Yoga (Poole, Bournemouth & Christchurch): Free outdoor morning yoga sessions are running across various BCP parks this Saturday and Sunday—perfect for a healthy family stretch before the day begins.