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
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.
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
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 the Corn Exchange and a Farmers’ Market is also held up 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
Abbotsbury Swannery Brambly Hedge Trail
NEW for the 2024 season at the Abbotsbury Swannery is the Brambly Hedge Trail. Brambly Hedge is a collection of children's stories and illustrations by author Jill Barklem. The books follow the...
Easter Holidays at Shire Hall Museum
Hop into Easter fun at Shire Hall Museum! This Easter holidays, Shire Hall Museum is hosting a range of egg-citing activities for all the family: Creative Story Trail Journey through Shire Hall Museum...
Easter Trail at The Walled Garden
Our biggest ever Egg-travaganza Easter Trail!! We hope you can all join us from Friday 29th March – Sunday 14th April for our annual Easter Trail!!! Take part in our Easter themed trail,...
Easter Trails at Minterne Gardens
Easter Trails at Minterne Gardens. Wear your best Easter Bonnet. Explore 27 acres of wild woodland garden for Easter bunnies, Easter Eggs and enjoy a chocolate treat at the Cafe on the way in (or...
Faure Requiem for Good Friday
As part of our series of music for Lent and Holy Week, Music at St Peter's presents a performance of Faure's Requiem on Good Friday 29th March at 6pm. The choir will be accompanied by...
Mothers Day Activities - Archery and Axe Throwing
Treat Mum like a Medieval Warrior Queen this Mother's Day! Spoil her with an unforgettable Mother's Day experience she'll truly treasure: the Medieval Trio with Insight Activities Dorset!...
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens Food Fair in association with Dorset Food & Drink
Kickstart the Food & Drink season this year at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens! Tickets include entry to the Gardens all day. In association with Dorset Food & Drink, this annual event marks...
Easter Bug Experience at The Walled Garden
The Bug Shed REOPENS for Easter, and we have EVEN MORE BUGS than ever! Get up close and personal with our REAL bugs this Easter Holiday as Bug Expert Chrissy will give an educational and hands on...
Choral Eucharist for Easter Sunday
You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist on Easter Sunday 31st March at 10.30am in St Peter's Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Haydn's 'Little Organ...
Easter Egg Rolling
Join in with this fun FREE Easter event on the slopes of The Great Field. All ages welcome! No booking required. Bring your own decorated hard boiled egg (no glitter please) and enter it into the...