As the summer term wound to a close and all my final assignments got handed in, I began counting down for the joint AUB and Bournemouth University (BU) Summer Ball! This was my first year attending and I absolutely loved it – I would highly recommend.
The Summer Ball is an annual day festival for all BU and AUB students, plus up to three of their guests, organised by the BU Student Union. It happens at the BU Chapel Gate sport fields with buses running from the university, so it’s easy to travel there. There’s always a fantastic lineup of tribute acts across multiple stages, with great student-priced drink deals flowing all day long. When the festival wraps up, everyone moves venues to carry on the night at the afterparty in The Old Fire Station in town, before the night ends with an iconic 5AM survivors’ photo on the beach.
Everyone’s costumes were incredibly fun, highly memorable and really got in the spirit of things! There was fantastic variation in the costumes for different groups – all the way from lifeguards to ninja turtles, cowboys and Disney characters, or even handmade mice and cheese outfits. I was surprised at how many people were dressed up in a themed outfit, but I really liked the effort and light-heartedness of it all – everyone was out to have a good time.
The music options were really good with lots of different stages for each style and definitely catered to what everyone might like. It was super easy to walk between the music and drop into different vibes, which I loved. This year’s tribute acts included Harry Styles, ABBA Gold, Tate McRae, Taylor Swift and more.
Across site there was plenty of space for everyone and it didn’t feel overcrowded at all. Between the food venues, multiple bars, stages, rides such as the Ferris wheel and catching up with your friends, we were constantly busy and moving around so nowhere felt congested. Even better, all the rides were free to go on and were included in your wristband entry price – what a win!
The Wonky Kettle was a highlight too. This was one of the tents set up as a quiet "time-out" area to regroup with your mates. Their £1 tea, coffee and toast deal was a true lifesaver to get through the early hours of the morning and it was calming and quieter than the rest of the site, so it was great for a reboot to your partying. Not only this, but you could also grab free goodies here – I picked up some sunglasses and we got a few temporary tattoos put on – as well as any Summer Ball merch you fancied buying, like jumpers and T-shirts.
Another great thing I found at the festival was the phone signal, as it was super easy to contact friends and not end up stranded on your own. This really added to feeling safe at the event, in my opinion.
Lastly, I only went with one other friend and still found it super enjoyable! I really don’t think you should be put off going if you don’t have a large group of friends to go with. It won’t matter at all and you will have a blast regardless – I promise.
Overall, my experience of the Summer Ball was highly memorable and a good laugh! I really wished I had been able to go in first year too, but I am looking forward to my trip again in 2027 to celebrate the end of my final year.
Get on board early and grab your ticket with the early bird discount – don’t hesitate at all!
