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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

Buddy Holly And The Cricketers Jun 27

Buddy Holly And The Cricketers

All Holly's hits and classics from his rock 'n' roll pals are played live on stage by these five amazing young actor-musicians, who always delight crowds with their fabulous show....

Choral Evensong Jun 27

Choral Evensong

You are warmly invited to our monthly, cathedral-style service of Choral Evensong for the feast of St Peter on Saturday 27th June at 4.30pm in St Peter's Church, Dorchester. The music includes...

Constable - Generations Jun 27

Constable - Generations

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Constable RA, inspiring exhibitions nationwide celebrating one of Britain's most beloved landscape painters. In 1816, Constable and his wife...

Dorset County Orchestra Summer Concert Jun 27

Dorset County Orchestra Summer Concert

Dorset County Orchestra's Summer Concert features the evocative 'The Sea, Fantasy for Orchestra' by Glasunov as well as the popular 'Hebrides Overture' by Mendelssohn. The...

DorsetFest Jun 27

DorsetFest

DorsetFest is a family-friendly music festival set in the heart of the Dorset National Landscape. The two-day event offers a fantastic range of music, entertainment and food stalls for everyone to...

Kingston Maurward Horse Trials & Country Fair Jun 27

Kingston Maurward Horse Trials & Country Fair

Kingston Maurward british eventing horse trials and Country Fair 2026 Set in the stunning grounds of Kingston Maurward Estate, the Kingston Maurward Horse Trials returns on 27th & 28th June 2026...

Mooch Market Jun 27

Mooch Market

Mooch Market is where cool art vibes meet fresh tunes - shop local, jam out, and have a blast in person! With the newest and brightest of artists from the local area, come and indulge in a day full of...

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