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

Gladiator Trail Feb 17

Gladiator Trail

Step into the thrilling world of gladiators with our Gladiator Trail, a fun-filled family activity that will take you on an exciting journey through the museum in search of gladiator-related objects....

Half Term Family Activities Feb 17

Half Term Family Activities

Unleash Your Inner Warrior This Half Term! Looking for an unforgettable family adventure this half term? Look no further than Insight Activities Dorset. We offer a thrilling range of activities for...

Snowdrops at Minterne Gardens Feb 17

Snowdrops at Minterne Gardens

Minterne Gardens reopens on 1 February 2025 for the Snowdrops and will be open daily during February while the snowdrops last. 27 ACRES OF WILD WOODLAND GARDEN WITH CARPET DRIFTS OF SNOWDROPS....

Angel Heart & Rattlebox Theatre - Sam O' Shanty Feb 18

Angel Heart & Rattlebox Theatre - Sam O' Shanty

Sam O' Shanty has lived his whole life at sea, ever since he first stowed a'board ship when he was just a wee scrap of a lad. Since then, he has sailed all the Seven Seas, from Devonport to...

Bach by Candlelight Feb 21

Bach by Candlelight

On Friday 21st February at 7pm we are thrilled to present 'Bach by Candlelight', when the outstanding young cellist Gerard Flotats performs a programme of music for unaccompanied cello in the...

Choral Evensong Feb 22

Choral Evensong

Our monthly service of Choral Evensong takes place on Saturday 22nd Febraury at 4.30pm. The music includes Rheinberger's 'Abendlied', Seal's 'Preces & Responses', the...

Store Tour Feb 26

Store Tour

Join our collections team for an exclusive opportunity to explore behind the scenes at our state-of-the-art Collections Discovery Centre. Get closer to our collections, including natural history, art,...