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

A Head Full of Coldplay Mar 28

A Head Full of Coldplay

Join us for a joyous celebration of the music of Coldplay, capturing the energy and sound of one of the biggest bands in the world. This immersive and fun-driven show features Xylobands, lasers, back...

Easter Trail at The Walled Garden Mar 29

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,...

Faure Requiem for Good Friday Mar 29

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...

Easter Bug Experience at The Walled Garden Mar 30

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 Mar 31

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...