IT TAKES a whole year to plan but when Swanage Carnival arrives it always proves to be worth all the hard work.

Glorious sunshine has greeted the first two days of the event, attracting tens of thousands of people to the town.

Stunning air displays drew the crowds on Saturday and the carnival procession was the main event on Sunday.

Visitors watched in awe as the Aerosuperbatics Wing Walkers took to the sky over Swanage Bay on Saturday.

And they were also captivated by performances from the Black Eagles Acrobatic Display Team in the main arena at Sandpit Field.

Live music on the mainstage included Charlie Goodwin, the Doolallies, Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleasures and King Rocker.

Carnival judges had a tricky job to do as they awarded prizes for performers on foot and floats before the procession on Sunday afternoon.

Thousands lined the route to see local town criers lead the carnival around the town.

Sunday night musical entertainment is set to include Fluke and the Sway Allstars Orchestra.

There was plenty to do across the town over the weekend with a wealth of events to suit everyone. And it’s not over yet.

Throughout the eight-day carnival there will be more than 100 different things to do including three fireworks displays.

Entertainment includes fun races, bingo, a children’s party and disco, crabbing, a dog show and giant garden games.

The theme for this year is Swanage Goes Musical and the musical entertainment comes in many forms with performers including the Bournemouth Carnival Band, Raw Samba, the Sussex Steel Band and Swanage Town Band.

The event, run entirely by volunteers, raises money for good causes and last year donated a staggering £28,000 to its chosen charities.

This year organisers hope to raise even more cash. The carnival runs until Saturday.