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

Charity Bake Sale Nov 16

Charity Bake Sale

Bridport Leisure Centre is holding a big Bake Sale on Monday 16th November from 9am to 2pm. Come along and enjoy a fantastic selection of homemade cakes, biscuits and savoury treats, with a cuppa and...

Fadelands | Marc Atkins Nov 18

Fadelands | Marc Atkins

FADELANDS is an exhibition of new and previously unseen work by English artist Marc Atkins at the Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre. Atkins' work is held in collections including Tate and the...

Jayne Burton - Cyanotype Prints Nov 18

Jayne Burton - Cyanotype Prints

ayne is a textile designer and have a real passion for fabrics both vintage and new, designing and printing her own fabrics working from her studio in Dorset. She also source and squirrel away vintage...

Introduction to Mosses and Lichens Nov 21

Introduction to Mosses and Lichens

Join us at Kingcombe National Nature Reserve for a day in the field exploring the often overlooked yet extraordinary world of mosses and lichens. These ancient, non-flowering plants form lush carpets,...