What's On and Events in Bridport & West Bay

Visiting Bridport and West Bay and wondering if there are any events and festivals to enjoy? Well, you couldn't have picked a better location to visit.

Bridport and West Bay provide a year round events program celebrating everything from history and heritage, arts, food and even hats!

Shows, gigs and performances

Bridport’s network of theatres provide a wonderful opportunity to enjoy live performing arts. From community led projects to productions and gigs performed by some of the UK's most popular acts.

The town has its own arts centre, plus independent cinema and music venue.

Unique events

Bridport plays host to one of the more unique events to be held in Dorset. The Bridport Hat Festival celebrates all things headwear; well, because why not?

Every September you'll see the folk of Bridport donning their finest headdress and joining in the festival fun. There are prizes for the best hats, so make sure you pack yours!

Carnival Fun

August sees the very popular Bridport Carnival and Torchlight Procession take place each year. The carnival is certainly one of the key events of the year enjoyed by thousands of revellers with organisations from all over the South West taking part.

The following evening sees the torch light procession take place and it is certainly a spectacle that just has to be seen to be believed. A parade of lit torches meander through the streets of Bridport on route to West Bay where they are used to light the beach bonfire that kicks off a night of celebrations.

Foodie fun

Food lovers should certainly make their way to Bridport and West Bay. The local area is renowned for providing the very finest in local produce and the Bridport Food Festival is certainly a celebration of this.

The festival is a weekend of local food and drink to enjoy, with demonstrations, competitions and plenty of wonderful entertainment.

Events coming soon

Our Stories: Queer in the Countryside Jun 21

Our Stories: Queer in the Countryside

This May-August Bridport Arts Centre celebrates LGBTQIA+ lives and creativity in rural West Dorset with a season of performances, workshops and artworks. The season profiles work by local LGBTQIA+...

Beaminster Festival Jun 28

Beaminster Festival

Bringing the Best to Beaminster.  An annual festival of music, both classical and jazz, literature and an art exhibition of the work of local artists, potters and sculptors - open to all....

Bridport Arts and Crafts Market Jun 28

Bridport Arts and Crafts Market

Bridport Arts & Crafts Markets are back for 2025, returning to Bridport W.I. Hall. If you would like to have a stall, the cost is £15 and you can download a form here:...

Coppet Hill Nature Weekend Jul 04

Coppet Hill Nature Weekend

Join us this July for the first Coppet Hill Nature Weekend. A weekend of camping, moth clubs, nature walks, bee and bird talks, BBQ's and much much more. Camping tickets are available for the...