Bournemouth, the UK�s leading resort, is once again pulling out all the stops to make summer 2009 one to remember. With an endless list of free activities from an exhilarating Bournemouth Summer Live! Programme of events to the relaxing �Flowers by Candlelight,� the whole family is sure to find something that suits.

Friday Family Fiesta The tranquil back-drop of the beautiful Lower Gardens combined with Bournemouth�s award-winning seafront plays host to this year�s Friday Family Fiesta every Friday from 24th July- 28th August (excluding 21st August for the More Bus Bournemouth Air Festival). The Lower Gardens and Pier Approach will come alive with family entertainment at 8pm including stilt walkers, costume characters, storytellers, magicians and a children�s disco. To finish off a wonderful evening, a stunning firework display will light up the skies at 10pm on Bournemouth seafront, certain to thrill spectators of all ages. And if that isn�t enough, the music and entertainment will continue on until 10.30pm

Mark Smith, Director of Tourism said, �Friday Nights in Bournemouth will again have a real focus on family entertainment this year. The ever-popular firework display will receive its biggest build up yet, and I�m confident the whole evening will prove to be a huge boost to tourism while providing fantastic entertainment for local residents � families and young people alike.�

Bournemouth Summer Live The Lower Gardens will become the fantastic setting for an open air cinema from 19th June � 5th July. The impressive 20 metre screen will be showing family favourites during the day and into the evening including �Shrek�, �Toy Story� and �The Italian Job�. From 22nd June it will be the must-visit venue for this year�s much-anticipated Wimbledon Championships, creating the perfect setting for residents, visitors and people on lunch breaks to enjoy a picnic, soak up the atmosphere and be a part of Bournemouth�s very own �Murray Mount� � you can even buy strawberries and cream from outlets in the gardens!

Children�s Week featuring Lazy Town Lazy Town are bringing their Children�s Fitness Road Show to Bournemouth Town Centre on 28 July. Children are encouraged to come down and join in all the fun and action led by Sportacus himself.

�Fashion weekend� is the fabulous, fashionista finale of Bournemouth Summer Live. The event takes place in Bournemouth Square on 26th-28th July in conjunction with local fashion houses and business. Fashion demonstrations including hair and make up will take place throughout the weekend as well as a fashion show on each of the three days.

Kid�s Family Fun Festival The Lower Gardens will host five weeks of fun for all the family with lots of entertainment every day. This includes free shows and activities featuring magicians, puppet shows, comedy capers, clowns, �have-a-go� workshops, games and non-stop entertainment. The fun takes place 26th July � 31 August.

More Bus Bournemouth Air festival Having successfully accommodated three-quarters of a million visitors in 2008, the 2009 More Bus Bournemouth Air Festival, Thursday 20th � Sunday 23rd August is promising to be bigger and better than last year, and what�s more� it still doesn�t cost a thing.

History will be repeating itself when the internationally renowned and much anticipated Red Arrows return for an incredible three performances, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition, the RAF will be displaying the Chinook and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as well as the Hawk and awesome Eurofighter Typhoon among many others.

The Festival is not just based upon visual acrobatics and feats of breathtaking sky-high aviation, the �Night Air� entertainment line-up is sure to impress one and all! �Night Air� will include amongst other highlights: The Band of Her Majesty Royal Marines, a hot air balloon glow featuring up to 20 hot air balloons, which will be accompanied by a laser show on Friday and Saturday night; displays by the Royal Marines Combat Display Team, street entertainers and a fireworks display on Saturday night. Staying firmly on the ground will be 1.5 miles of stalls, attractions and displays. Watch out for the Royal Navy Village as well as the RAF Village, which will feature a Eurofighter Typhoon cock-pit, Signals marquee and weapons engineering.

To really start the festival off with a bang, this year sees the inclusion of �Roar on the Shore�. Bournemouth is set to make history by breaking the world record for the most number of fireworks set off in 60 seconds. The event is in aid of �Help for Heroes� � a charity dedicated to raising money for wounded victims of conflict and all proceeds will go to them

Flowers by Candlelight The award-winning Lower Gardens are once again the venue for �Flowers by Candlelight� as they are transformed into an enchanting oasis of flickering flames. �Flowers by candlelight� is an event over 110 years old, started in 1896 by Princess Eugenie of France.

Other fantastic events on offer this summer include:

Classic Cars on the Prom Every Sunday from 5th April � 13th September (excluding 23rd August) an ever-changing weekly line-up of vehicles dating from 1915 up to the early 1980s are available to view free of charge at West Overcliff Promenade.

Winton Carnival Reflecting the diversity of the area with every school, nursery, club, religion, culture, business and profession taking part so head down to Winton Recreation Ground on 27th June to show your support and soak up the atmosphere.

Bourne Free Bourne Free is back with four exciting events running from 10th -12th July. Friday is launch night with the most popular acts from last year's jazz concert. This is followed by the Pride Parade then a 12-hour Street party has been planned 11am through to 11pm on Saturday 11th July. Last but certainly not least is the Family Funday on 12th July from 1pm in the Lower Gardens. Bournemouth Carnival Week Having been in operation since the late 1800s, Bournemouth Carnival week is set to entertain once again on 30th July from 7.30pm, Russell Cotes Road, East Cliff and from 2nd � 9th August throughout Durley Chine and Alum Chine with a parade, raffles, duck racing, sand building, Morris dancing and much, much more.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Concerts � On the 7th & 8th August, Meyrick Park hosts, according to The Telegraph, �an orchestra at the top of its game.� The name of the BSO is known across the world through over 300 recordings. Previous acclaimed CDs have been nominated for Gramophone Awards and Grammys in the US.

British Beach Polo Championship Top international players, celebrities and polo supporters will enjoy a festival of polo on the sand at Britain�s premier beach location. Six polo teams will compete for the title over the 2 days. There is also to be the added excitement of the England Beach Polo Team playing against South America on both days. It all takes place from 10th � 11th July, Sandbanks Beach, Poole.

For more information visit www.bournemouth.co.uk or call 0845 051 1700

ENDS

Images available on request. For media enquiries contact:

Toby Margetts Emma Westcott PR Support, Bournemouth Tourism PR Support, Bournemouth Tourism T: 01202 451 704 T: 01202 451 747 E: toby.margetts@bournemouth.gov.uk E: emma.westcott@bournemouth.gov.uk