Maximising foot traffic during the festivals and events

Jon Richardson • March 2, 2025

How Christchurch and Bournemouth’s 2025 Events Can Drive High-Value Foot Traffic to Your Small Business

The BCP (Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole) region is fortunate enough to benefit from a thriving tourism industry and has more than its fair share of events. With their mass attendance and spectators, these events present a massive opportunity for local businesses to attract new customers and build awareness.

Many of these events attract large crowds. For example, the Vitality Bournemouth Bay Run had approximately 4500 participants in 2024 and many more spectators supporting them.

Maximising Foot Traffic with Bournemouth Events and Festivals

Bournemouth’s rich calendar of events in 2025 isn’t just an exciting prospect for tourists and day-trippers.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just hotels, restaurants, and cafes that can profit from these surges in foot traffic. To maximise the opportunity these events present, these companies will need additional services such as extra security, cleaning and stock. Additionally, they will need to market themselves effectively in the build-up to these events. This presents opportunities for companies that provide security, cleaning and marketing services.

So many other service providers can also benefit if they time their promotions right and ensure that locals and visitors can actually find them.

The Vitality Bournemouth Bay Run on 23 March 2025 is a perfect example. Runners, friends, and families will converge on the seafront and around Bournemouth Pier. Whether you operate a coffee van, a sportswear shop, a physiotherapy clinic, or a digital marketing business, you’ll notice the bump in footfall and brand visibility. It’s a good time to hand out flyers, offer special promotions, or perhaps sponsor a runner or a charity. There’s a strong community vibe during the Bay Run, so participants and their supporters are often keen to engage with local brands. To get in front of this influx, you should start planning your marketing campaign well before the event date. You might need PPC ads that target prospective visitors searching online for “Bournemouth Bay Run” or “places to eat near the Bournemouth seafront.” If you’d like help structuring those campaigns,

>>>learn more about PPC on our dedicated PPC services page.

In March, the Bournemouth Brick Festival will also be held. Although smaller in overall scale than the Bay Run, it’s still a family favourite. With LEGO-themed displays and interactive zones, you’ll see a lot of kids with parents in tow, plus adult collectors and enthusiasts. Toy shops, cafes, ice-cream parlours, and child-friendly restaurants benefit the most—yet this is another example of how companies outside the obvious categories can capitalise. If you sell art supplies or run a cleaning service, you can still tap into the visiting crowd by creating adverts or social media posts that tie your business to the creative buzz of the Brick Festival. And don’t wait until the last minute to tweak your website for local search. A well-optimised Google Business Profile and strong local SEO can make your company visible to anyone searching for services in Bournemouth during the festival period. If that’s on your to-do list, why not get an SEO audit to identify quick wins and long-term improvements?

Meanwhile, foodies and families love the food festivals in Highcliffe Christchurch, both of which draw substantial crowds and media attention each year. They’re a treasure trove for local produce, artisanal treats, and pop-up food vendors. But it’s not just about sampling tasty dishes: these festivals also create opportunities for logistics companies, event planners, marketing agencies, and other service-based businesses. If you’re offering something that complements the culinary theme—whether it’s kitchen supplies, professional cleaning, or promotional printing—you can forge partnerships with stallholders or even sponsor live cooking demos. Just ensure you’ve got your local SEO strategy in place so those looking for “Highcliffe Food Festival offers” or “Christchurch Food Festival details” find your brand quickly. With the right approach, you can stand out and reel in a new wave of customers who are in town specifically for these events.

One of the biggest annual draws in Bournemouth is its spectacular Air Festival, taking place from 28–31 August 2025 (projected dates). With an audience often exceeding half a million across four days, the Air Festival is a mainstay of the tourism calendar. Most people think of it as a prime time for seafront hotels and bars, but it can also be a magnet for other businesses. If you provide outdoor security, signage, or even pop-up retail stalls, there’s a readymade audience waiting. Many festivalgoers spend hours waiting for the next air display, searching for refreshments or something interesting to see. That’s your cue. Ensure your website runs smoothly under extra traffic, keep your brand visible on social media, and perhaps even run some targeted Facebook or Google ads. If you need guidance on the best keywords to use.

"Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole welcome 15 million visitors annually, generating a visitor economy worth £1.2 billion, with major events like the Air Festival and Christmas Tree Wonderland accounting for a significant slice of this revenue."

>>>Book a consultation to discuss your marketing strategy.

May brings the Bournemouth 7s Festival from 23–25 May 2025, a buzzing combination of sport and music. Rugby, netball, and dodgeball tournaments share the stage with DJs and live bands, creating a lively, younger-skewing crowd of about 30,000 attendees. While it’s obviously a golden opportunity for food trucks, sports merchandisers, and music promoters, many of these visitors also need additional services during their stay—everything from taxis to phone repair shops to cleaning services if they’re staying in local holiday rentals. If you haven’t considered how to place your brand in front of a youthful, active audience, the 7s is the perfect case study. Strong PPC campaigns targeting “Bournemouth 7s deals” or “festival gear in Bournemouth” can direct new customers straight to your website. Be sure, too, that your on-page SEO is up to scratch. If you want pointers, check out our SEO services page for a deeper look at how we can help you rank.

Another highlight of the year is the Christmas Tree Wonderland, which transforms Bournemouth from mid-November all the way to New Year’s Day. In 2025, it’s set to run from 15 November to 1 January 2026. This seven-week extravaganza drew more than five million visitors in 2024, and expectations remain high. The festive markets, illuminated trees, and holiday entertainments attract people of all ages. If you run a shop in the town centre, you probably won’t need to do much to see foot traffic soar. However, you must ensure you’re positioned competitively online, especially if you rely on visitors who search “Christmas shopping in Bournemouth” or “festive events near me.” It’s essential to sharpen your local SEO strategy well in advance so you’re ranking for these terms by November.

>>>Get an SEO audit sooner rather than later and see exactly where you rank with respect to your competitors.

October 2025 will welcome the Arts by the Sea Festival, with its varied programme of street theatre, dance, music, and installations across Bournemouth’s squares and seafront. The festival’s diverse line-up and free outdoor events encourage thousands of visitors to explore the area for the entire duration. If you’re a small business that provides printing, marketing, or any form of promotional support, local artists and festival organisers might be your ideal collaborators. On the consumer side, you can also arrange partnerships with local art shops or event hosts for joint promotions. Perhaps you could sponsor a small exhibition or hand out flyers that highlight how your service is uniquely suited to the creative crowd. Don’t overlook pay-per-click advertising on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook, where visually compelling ads can show up in the feeds of festivalgoers.

If you’ve never run ads for a particular audience before, we’d love to help you learn more about PPC targeting. Complete the form below and one of our PPC consultants will get in touch to discuss the opportunities.

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July sees two notable gatherings: the Poole Harbour Festival (exact dates to be confirmed) and the Wilkswood Reggae Festival from 24–27 July 2025. The Poole Harbour Festival has historically featured popular bands like Razorlight, with family-friendly activities sprinkled in. The Wilkswood Reggae Festival, about 20 miles away, has a laid-back, camping-friendly vibe that draws music lovers from across the UK. Both events can channel foot traffic into Bournemouth’s bars, restaurants, shops, and service providers. If you see your business as offering something that can enhance someone’s weekend—be it a place to stay, a hearty brunch, or even festival-themed merchandise—make sure your local SEO is primed so those searching “things to do near Poole Harbour Festival” have a clear route to your site.

Our SEO page outlines best practices for outranking the competition in local search queries.

Another major sporting event is the Run Bournemouth Half Marathon, anticipated to take place on 12 October 2025. Although some details remain tentative, it traditionally features a scenic route and, like the Bay Run, brings a festive crowd of participants and supporters. If you missed the boat on capitalising on the Bay Run in March, the Half Marathon is a second chance to test promotional ideas. By offering marathon weekend deals, sponsoring a running club, or hosting a post-race get-together, you can invite runners and their families right to your doorstep. Meanwhile, online ads targeting phrases like “Run Bournemouth Half Marathon accommodation” or “restaurants near Bournemouth Pier after the race” can reap rewards. It’s all about timing—launch your ad campaign a couple of months before the event so people have time to plan.

If you’d like personalised guidance on how to get started, book a consultation to discuss your marketing strategy in detail.

"Run Bournemouth, including the Half Marathon on October 12, 2025, contributes around £2 million to the BCP economy each year, fueled by thousands of runners and spectators boosting seafront commerce."

While each of these events caters to slightly different audiences, what unites them is the sheer volume of visitors they bring into the broader Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole area. That’s an opportunity no small business should ignore. Tourism isn’t just a boon for hotels and restaurants. Many events need extra security, additional cleaning services, social media coverage, deliveries of supplies and stock, and more. If your business could feasibly serve an event, its exhibitors, or its visitors, think strategically about how to make that connection. A search-friendly website, well-coordinated social media presence, and carefully planned PPC adverts will help you outrank the competition in the weeks leading up to these major dates.

Corporate Entertainment: Bringing Clients and Colleagues Together

Beyond boosting sales and foot traffic, Bournemouth’s events also offer prime opportunities for corporate entertainment. Inviting clients or partners to a major festival—such as the Bournemouth Air Festival or Bournemouth 7s—can help you nurture professional relationships in a relaxed atmosphere. Why not treat your customers to exclusive viewing areas, hospitality suites, or guided event tours? Such memorable experiences foster goodwill, encourage referrals, and can even lead to new contracts.

Corporate hospitality can also lift team morale. If you run a small or medium-sized enterprise, consider organising a staff outing to one of these local festivals. Whether your team members are sports enthusiasts or art buffs, shared experiences outside the office break up routine and spark fresh energy. Companies often see an uptick in productivity and team cohesion after these types of outings. If you want to emphasise your brand while treating clients and employees, try sponsoring a contest or activity at the festival that aligns with your services. This approach puts your name front and centre. For advice on how best to publicise these efforts—especially through local SEO or PPC channels—book a consultation to discuss your marketing strategy.

Sponsorship Opportunities: Showcasing Your Brand to the Masses

While many businesses rely on increased foot traffic alone, sponsorship can take your visibility to the next level. Events like the Christmas Tree Wonderland or the Arts by the Sea Festival often welcome additional partners to help fund specific installations, interactive features, or entertainment segments. Sponsorship packages might include branding on signage, mentions on official websites or social media channels. By aligning yourself with a festival’s theme—such as sustainability, family fun, or live music—you gain credibility and become part of a memorable experience for attendees.

These event run extensive marketing campaigns, backed by the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council as well as local media outlets. Sponsored coverage means your business name and logo could appear in thousands of brochures, social media posts, and radio announcements. It’s an excellent way to make sure people hear about you well before they even arrive at the event. Not only do you connect with potential customers, but you also get valuable brand association with a trusted local event.

Investing in these strategies will strengthen your brand and ultimately attracting new customers.

One point worth stressing is how important it is to act early. Search engine optimisation isn’t a quick fix. It usually takes months to climb the Google rankings, especially for competitive keywords like “Bournemouth festival” or “best restaurant near Bournemouth Pier.” Leaving your SEO push until the last minute means you’ll miss that wave of visitors who are already searching. If you’ve been thinking about polishing up your website, adding fresh blog posts, or improving local citations, why not get an SEO audit to see how you’re performing?

Start your marketing to capitalise on these events sooner rather than later—by the time the major events roll around, you’ll be perfectly positioned to catch incoming traffic.

It’s easy to assume you’ll benefit automatically from the busy foot traffic during these festivals. However, effective planning and marketing make all the difference in whether visitors merely pass by your shop window or actively engage with your brand. Precisely targeted PPC campaigns can pick off leads who are already searching for event information, holiday accommodation, or post-festival activities. If you want to explore this avenue, learn more about PPC on our site, or arrange a one-to-one chat to figure out where to begin.

These events show no signs of slowing down. In fact, with Bournemouth’s growing reputation as a vibrant coastal destination, annual attendance figures are likely to keep rising. As a local business, you have an advantage: deeper knowledge of the area, existing relationships in the community, and a passion for what makes Bournemouth special.

By tailoring your marketing strategy to these crowd-drawing festivals, you can capture a broader, more diverse audience, boost your brand exposure, and set the stage for long-term growth. If you’d like to talk through a more comprehensive strategy—covering SEO, PPC, local search, or anything else—feel free to book a consultation with us. Let’s make sure Bournemouth’s thriving events scene in 2025 becomes a cornerstone of your success.

If you’d like to talk through a more comprehensive strategy—covering SEO, PPC, local search, or anything else—feel free to book a consultation with us. Let’s make sure Bournemouth’s thriving events scene in 2025 becomes a cornerstone of your success.

Ready to make your mark during Bournemouth’s biggest and most vibrant events? Get in touch today for an SEO audit, or learn more about PPC strategies that can put you at the top of Google—right when visitors and locals are searching for what you offer. Make 2025 the year your business stands out in the crowd. It’s not just about the immediate spike; with the right marketing plan, you’ll keep the momentum going well after the crowds have departed.

About Overt Digital Media

Overt Digital Media is a Christchurch-based digital marketing agency serving Bournemouth and surrounding areas with specialist website design, SEO, and PPC services. We focus on measurable results that connect local businesses with their target audiences. By blending creative flair with data-driven insights, we craft online strategies that stand out in the competitive digital landscape. Whether you need a striking new website, a targeted PPC campaign, or a comprehensive SEO plan, our team is dedicated to driving sustainable growth and increased visibility for small to medium-sized businesses in Christchurch, Bournemouth, and beyond.