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
Below the Surface: A Community Exhibition
Year 8 students from Dorchester Middle School, guided by artist Ilse Black, ventured to the coast for a day of creativity. Equipped with sketchbooks, they engaged in mindful drawing and quick...
Brambly Hedge Summer Story Trail
Back for 2025 is the wonderful Brambly Hedge. Many visitors enjoyed our 2024 collaboration which brought to life Sea Story, one of the delightful children's books. This year we have a NEW...
Dorchester: Small Town, Big History
Discover the historic charm of Dorchester, once known as ancient Durnovaria, on this captivating guided walk through 4,000 years of history. Winding through the heart of rural Dorset, this picturesque...
Jane Austen: Down to the Sea
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth in 1775 this exhibition will explore the sea as a setting for her fictional worlds and its influence on her. She loved a dip in the sea,...
Summer Family Activities in Dorset
Looking for an unforgettable family adventure this summer in Dorset? Look no further than Insight Activities Dorset, near Wareham. Our Medieval Trio activity is the ultimate summer holiday experience,...
A Folk Song Walk
Join local folk singer Alastair Braidwood for walks in the countryside close to Dorchester, accompanied by traditional folk songs from Dorset and further afield. Explore a beautiful part of the...
Roman Dorchester Walk
Step back in time with our trained guides and immerse yourself in the historic Roman town of Durnovaria… Scattered throughout the busy market town of Dorchester are traces of a Roman past....
Storytime at the Museum
Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery. This event is FREE of charge and perfect for children...
Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival
Tolpuddle has been a place of great importance to the Labour Movement from the moment news broke of the harsh sentences imposed on the six farm workers from Dorset which led to the early inception of...
Archaeology at the Archives
Drop in to meet the archaeologists at a FREE event at the Dorset History centre with finds to see and touch and displays on local archaeology projects. Meet volunteer groups including Past Participate...