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Events and Festivals in Dorchester

Are you searching for a place that buzzes with events all year round?

Well get ready to fill your days with festivals, fairs, shows, carnivals and concerts as Dorchester has them all!

Festival fever in Dorchester

Dorchester has a vibrant mix of festivals; the popular Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair in June, the Cider Festival in August and the Dorchester Literary Festival in the Autumn.

But the highlight of Dorchester’s calendar year has to be the Dorset County Show, an annual agricultural show featuring over 450 tradestands and a fantastic array of attractions. Drawing in the crowds are the spectacular main ring performances, the show jumping, the rousing scurry racing, the funfair and not forgetting of course all of the delicious food and shopping there is to be done.

Dorchester's seasonal events

No matter what the weather is doing, there’s always somewhere to go in Dorchester.

In February, welcome the newborn lambs into the world at Kingston Maurward’s lambing weekend and at Easter, hunt throughout the Dinosaur Museum to spot the dinosaur eggs and solve the mystery.

In the Summer, take the family and a picnic down to the Borough Gardens or Maumbury Rings and enjoy the live music events.

And at Christmas, the town is lit up and filled with the wonderful aroma of roasted chestnuts for the Christmas Cracker, Dorchester’s Christmas shopping event.

Market days in Dorchester

Wednesday is Dorchester’s market day so come and enjoy the lively atmosphere, pick up some fresh produce, clothes, plants, flowers, antiques, collectables and gifts.

A Country Market is held every Friday in Dorchester's Corn Exchange and a Farmers’ Market is also held at Poundbury’s Queen Mother Square on the first Saturday of the month. So, time your visit to Dorchester well and you’ll be in for some tasty treats!

Events coming soon

Christmas In Dorchester Dec 11

Christmas In Dorchester

‘Tis the season to be jolly and Dorset’s county town will certainly be spreading the Christmas cheer to one and all this year. From ice skating in the square, Christmas markets and choral...

Dorchester Christmas Market Dec 11

Dorchester Christmas Market

Brewery Square has to transform into a winter wonderland, bursting with 30 festive stalls packed with artisan treats. Take the kids to meet Santa and enjoy fabulous live music, Christmas carols &...

Cabaret with Claus Dec 12

Cabaret with Claus

Glad Tidings abound as Charlie Bicknell and Louise Innes return with 'The Christmas show.' An evening of shamelessly festive insanity. Classical Nativity intertwines with contemporary...

Budapest Cafe Orchestra Dec 13

Budapest Cafe Orchestra

Refreshingly unconventional and snappily attired, the boutique Budapest Café Orchestra play gypsy and folk-flavoured music in their own unique and surprising way. From Balkan and Russian...

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