Summer in Dorset is the best time of the year to throw a kids' birthday party. You've got long evenings, the beach 10 minutes away, and warmer gardens finally big enough to play in. But British summers are British summers, so here's how I help local families plan parties that stay brilliant even when the forecast wobbles.
Beach parties: where to go in Bournemouth
Bournemouth has seven miles of family-friendly sand, but not every stretch is equal for a kids' party. Avoid the main pier area on summer weekends — it's crowded and parking is nightmarish. Instead, head to:
- Southbourne beach — quieter, lovely shallow gradient, parking at Overcliff Drive and Fisherman's Walk
- Boscombe East — toilets, the Overstrand café and a grassy cliff-top play area nearby
- Alum Chine — a gorgeous sheltered bay with a wooden pirate-ship playground
- Sandbanks — stunning, but parking gets rammed from 10am on a sunny Saturday
What to actually do at a beach party
Don't try to recreate a living-room party on the sand — it doesn't work. Go big and simple. A 90-minute window with a picnic, a sandcastle competition, a giant water balloon game and cake in a flat-bottomed box will outperform any elaborate plan.
Pack in layers. A Dorset beach in August can swing from 24°C and sunny at noon to 16°C and breezy by 4pm. Bring hoodies even if it's sunny at 11am.
Garden parties: small-space brilliance
If your back garden is smaller than Alum Chine (most are), don't worry. A 5m × 5m lawn is plenty for a magic show followed by garden games. The key is to divide the party into zones: a shaded seating area for food, a performance area on flat ground, and a loose 'play' zone with giant Connect 4 or Twister.
Summer garden party timeline
- 12:00pm — arrivals and garden free-play with music
- 22:20pm — magic show on the lawn (45 mins, in shade if possible)
- 33:10pm — party dancing, competitions and sit-down snack
- 43:40pm — games, races and garden-sized challenges
- 54:15pm — happy birthday, cake, party bags
- 64:30pm — pickups
The rain contingency (this matters)
Every summer I do at least five parties a year where the weather turns unexpectedly. Your plan should have a clear indoor back-up: the lounge, the garage, a gazebo, or a nearby village hall you can book on standby. A full magic-show + dancing package compresses beautifully into any indoor space — that's why it's such a reliable British summer choice.
Book any outdoor supplier (entertainer, castle, caterer) with a clear rain policy in writing. I always offer a free move-indoors as part of my summer booking — you should expect that from any pro.
Summer food that works for kids
Skip anything chocolate or heavily iced in direct sun. Proven kid-pleasers in warm weather: watermelon slices, strawberry kebabs, cheese cubes, mini sausage rolls (cold), cucumber boats, and cold lemonade. Serve the cake inside if you can — candles and wind are not friends.
When to book the entertainer
Summer weekends in Bournemouth book up 6–8 weeks ahead. July and early September are particularly busy because of school leaver parties and back-to-school birthdays. If you've got a summer date in mind, reach out now — even just to pencil-in a slot.
Based in Bournemouth, I cover beach, garden and village-hall parties across Dorset all summer long. Weather-flexible packages and stress-free planning are included — that's the whole point.
Written by
Children's Entertainer Dorset
Professional Children's Entertainer
Children\'s Entertainer Dorset is a full-time professional children's entertainer based in Bournemouth with 15+ years of experience throwing brilliant parties across Dorset. He has performed at thousands of birthday parties, school shows and family events.
