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!

May 18

Abbotsbury Baby Swans Hatching

Abbotsbury Swannery

Between mid May and the end of June every year, the newly hatched cygnets take their first steps from dozens of nests across Abbotsbury Swannery. Explore the Swannery and witness the unique sight...

May 18

Abbotsbury Swannery Interactive Brambly Hedge Trail

Abbotsbury Swannery

The wonderful Brambly Hedge are back for a final season with us. The interactive trail is based on The High Hills book, along with a charming story trail-based Sea Story from the Brambly Hedge...

May 18

Pick Your Own Flowers - Flower Field Open Days

Come and browse the beautiful flower field located in Friar Waddon, between Weymouth and Dorchester in Dorset. Choose your own stems to take home from the wide array of seasonal, chemical free blooms...

May 21

Smuggling in Dorset and Hampshire

In the 18th and 19th centuries high taxes led to an increase in illicit imports to Britain. Coastal communities in Dorset and Hampshire became hubs for contraband. Stories of the battles between...

May 23

Abbotsbury Swannery Food and Craft Fair

Abbotsbury Swannery

Come and meet the fluffy cygnets plus enjoy a weekend of food and crafts at the Abbotsbury Swannery. In association with Dorset Food & Drink, this Bank Holiday weekend brings producers, growers...