All the unmissable coastal encounters and events for Bournemouth Uni students in 2024/5

Use this guide to familiarise yourself with Bournemouth by attending these ‘must-see’ annual encounters!

2 months ago | UPDATED 1 month ago

Whether you’re a “silly little fresher”, or on your third Master’s degree at BU, I’m sure there’s an avenue of Bournemouth that you’re yet to explore, or uncover. To tackle this, I have created the ultimate guide to living your best coastal life!

Many of us students, especially second years onwards, hold the perspective of Bournemouth as a place of doom and gloom, especially following on from first year excitement.

However, I present this article to you in the hope that it will open your eyes, and brighten up your student life, by highlighting all of the opportunities that have made my time here worthwhile, and consider sticking around in the future. Yes, you heard me right.

Now let’s get into it.

October – Oktoberfest 2024

The annual, and unforgettable, Bournevaria Oktoberfest is set to take over the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) on Saturday 19th October 2024. Whether you’re a fan of German beers, or middle-aged men in traditional Bavarian attire, this is the celebration for you!

With student discount making tickets only £12, you’ll get to ride the iconic rodeo bull, throw axes (at that imaginary lecturer you just can’t stand), and get 50 per cent off your first drink! The triple threat of dreams.

November – Bonfire Night fireworks on Poole Quay 2024

Though it’s true that fireworks are visible from most locations, there is something extra special about experiencing the glow from above and below at Poole Quay. Seeing the luminous colours light up the sea water is unlike any typical “field-trip” experience you’ve had before.

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So if you, or somebody you know, has access to a car, clamber in with your friends, wrap up warm and absorb the striking display at beautiful Poole Quay!

December – Bournemouth Christmas Market 2024

It’s almost impossible to miss the Bournemouth Christmas Market that runs all the way from 14th November 2024 through until 1st January 2025.

At the heart of Bournemouth Town Centre, aprés takes over and the lower gardens turn to ice! Hot chocolates of all variations can be found, and it’s here that local businesses exhibit their gifts for all to enjoy. If you’re lucky, you may even get some free samples off the Moonshine man!

*Drink responsibly, kids*.

January – Music Venues: The BIC, O2 Academy, and The Pavilion Theatre

As the New Year swings around, most of you will probably still be at home catching up with family and friends, subliminally delaying the dreaded exam season.

However, to cheer up the bleak January evenings, why not extend the celebrations by attending a live event at one of Bournemouth’s music venues? With past performances from artists such as Leona Lewis, Jason Derulo, and Paloma Faith, and with the likes of and Chase and Status visiting the BIC in May (2025), get ready to throw on those ancient Airforces and dance away your festivity blues!

February – Celebrating Valentine’s Day 2025

Love it or hate it, it comes around every year, and there’s no point trying to hide from it. Valentine’s Day. Whether you choose to celebrate with your long-term partner, or sing your heart out with your uni house mates, why not put on a special V-Day spread and check out what Valentine’s menus are up for grabs around the town? You know what they say: “Food is the real true love”.

March – The Vitality Bournemouth Bay Run 2025

Did she say run? Yep, you read the above statement correctly.

The Vitality Bournemouth Bay Run is one of the Coast’s most well-known annual events, and is set to take place next year on the 23rd March 2025.

Whether you are an experienced runner with a competitive nature, or if you’ve never ran before and are looking for a bit of fun, there’s no better time than now to start plodding along the beautiful South Coast in prep for next year’s Bay Run. By simply placing one foot in front of the other, you’ll soon find yourself at Boscombe Pier, queueing for that self-rewarded ice cream – making your journey worthwhile!

April – Solent Varsity 2025

Extending the theme of fitness, make sure to keep an eye out for Varsity 2025. Similar to the Bay Run, this is an annual sporting event. However, Varsity occurs over a handful of days, and solely involves the competing of Bournemouth students versus Solent students across a variety of different sports.

Here, you’ll get to experience flying pints, slightly offensive chants, and you may even stumble across the odd Red Bull student marketeer sampling complimentary cans!

So, even if you won’t be participating this upcoming year, it’s totally worth coming along to cheer on your uni.

May – Bournemouth Festivals: 7s and SUBU’s Summer Ball 2025

As the academic year comes to an end, your Hot Girl Summer begins. However you may choose to identify, we all deserve one, and Bournemouth ignites it like no other. With both Bournemouth 7s Festival and Summer Ball taking place in May next year, it’s set to be one messy month.

This is the ultimate chance to show off your most prized budgie smugglers, embrace your closest friends, and involve yourself in some unforgettable sporting spectacles. Don’t forget to take your picture by the iconic B7s feature – you can’t miss it!

June – Coastal life

Sometimes the best things in life are right in front of you – it’s cliché, but it’s true. Situated just 20 minutes away in walking distance from halls in Lansdowne, and an eight minute drive from student houses in Winton, the stretch of sand that is Dorset coastline can be found dancing for miles.

So, why look any further when the beach is quite literally at your doorstep?

Even better, if you’ve got a dog who likes the occasional visit, this is the perfect chance to soak up your surroundings. With Hengistbury Head, Sandbanks, Swanage, Dancing Ledge, and Durdledoor all neighbouring each other, it’s time to bring out that bucket list and start ticking places off.

And if you don’t like the beach, then this poses the question, why on earth did you choose Bournemouth?

July – SandFest 2025

If you haven’t had the chance to visit Sandbanks Beach yet, SandFest is your biggest and best excuse. This top-notch, premium music festival, held across one of Dorset’s most exquisite beaches, takes place again next year on the 13th July.

Highlighting its greatness, SandFest 2024 experienced Dizzie Rascal, Sigma, Charlotte Plank, D.O.D, Kojo Funds, and the iconic DJ Luck and MC Neat.

With tickets currently on sale at £40, there’s no doubt that you’ll tick off some of your favourite performers in just a single day. (And if you’re anything like me, you’ll burst into tears of happiness just at the sound of Dizzie Rascal’s “OIIIIIIIIIII”).

So, in the words of the Rascal himself, what are you waiting for? It’s time to “fix up, look sharp”, and keep an eye out for next year’s incoming line up.

August – Bournemouth Summer Fireworks and The Air Show 2025

Having prematurely started off this article with November fireworks, it seems fitting to conclude this article with a bang. From July all the way through until August, Bonfire Night’s warmer sister lights up the sky every Friday night at 10pm.

To ensure the ultimate summer experience, grab some snacks, bring as many beers as your arms can carry, and sit yourself beside Bournemouth Pier for the best view.

If you look up for long enough, you’ll also get see Bournemouth Air Show begin to commence in the latter part of August. Being the UK’s largest air festival, it’s certain that you’ll experience an aerobatic show like no other, where the Red Arrows fly so low that you’ll feel it through your soul.

So, whether it’s colourful explosives or powerful aerobatic engines that excite you, or if you suffer from FOMO and simply don’t want to miss out, make sure to look up in the summer of 2025!