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Events and Festivals in Wimborne

If you want fun and colour in your life then the Wimborne Minster area is the place to visit! 

An amazing range of events, from quality music, arts and food festivals to open gardens, traditional village fetes, vehicle displays, guided walks and even a wonderful winter carnival, fill a packed annual diary.

In town and around

With many festival making use of Wimborne Minster’s wonderful courtyards, squares and open spaces, you can combine an entertaining event with a satisfying shopping spree or a trip to one of the town’s visitor attractions.

Events can also be a great way to discover new venues with festival and activities at some more unusual and perhaps slightly quirky locations.

Discovering Wimborne's past

Explore the area’s heritage with special events at the Museum of East Dorset, and discover fabulous buildings and historic sites, usually closed to the public, as part of the Dorset-wide Architectural Heritage Week organised by the East Dorset Heritage Trust.

At the nearby Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne, find out about life in times gone by or watch a magical performance in their impressive and 'hobbit-house like' round Earth House.

Tempting treats

Everyone loves a tasty treat and with its rich horticultural heritage the Wimborne Minster area is blessed with quality producers keen to showcase their delicious food and drink.

Set the taste buds (and you're tongue) tingling with the amazing products on offer at the Great Dorset Chilli Festival or nearby Cheese and Chilli Festival.

Perhaps a visit to the annual Beer Festival, will then be needed - just to cool you down! 

Together with regular Farmers’ Markets, in the town centre and at Market Square, there are plenty of opportunities to try and buy scrumptious local produce.

Culture vultures

Holidays are meant to be full of fun and who doesn’t like a good laugh? 

Wimborne Minster’s beautifully restored art deco Tivoli Theatre & Cinema hosts well known and emerging comedians as well as a varied programme of drama, music, dance and the latest film releases.

The town has a very strong arts scene, get your toes tapping at the annual Folk Festival, when the streets are filled with music and dance displays, meet a favourite author or listen to an eminent speaker at the Literary Festival or be enthralled by magical tales at the Earth House at Cranborne's Ancient Technology Centre.

Regular photography, art and craft exhibitions, together with professional open-air theatre productions bring local scenes and historic settings to life.

And now for something different…

Colourful characters with a quick wit and booming voices, the Town Criers of southern England gather biennially on Wimborne Minster’s delightful Minster Green to perform in the Southern England Town Criers Championships.

Wimborne’s own Town Crier helps to organise the town’s annual Buskers Bash for Cash - where passers by are the judges and decide who has the X-Factor! 

Sometimes it is wonderful to return to a time when life seemed simpler, so take a moment to visit one of the area’s traditional village fetes, flower and plant shows or open garden events. 

Whatever the season there is something to entertain all the members of the family, and it doesn’t need to cost the earth with many events free of charge.

If you are coming for a specific event, take the chance to stay a while longer and discover all that the Wimborne Minster area has to offer. 

A great range of guest houses and self catering accommodation is available; start planning your Wimborne weekend (or week!) today.

Events coming soon

Apple Weekend Sep 23

Apple Weekend

Join us for a day celebrating all things Apple! Bring your apples or crush some of ours in our Roman Apple Press. Be sure to bring a container to take some of the juice home with you! Interact with...

Apple Weekend Sep 23

Apple Weekend

A chance to visit the Ancient Technology Centre and explore the site which includes a replica Viking Longhouse, Iron Age roundhouse, and Roman forge, among others. Have a go at hands-on heritage...

Tequila Circus Sep 23

Tequila Circus

Welcome to the hottest circus this year, Tequila Circus! Direct from Mexico with their zingy show, come and experience the magic of Mexico in a circus tent! With affordable prices, family tickets and...

Ancient Pottery Workshop Oct 07

Ancient Pottery Workshop

An opportunity to work with a "master potter" to explore prehistoric pottery, the styles and decorations and uses, while getting hands-on experience making replicas using some of the methods...

Fairytales for Grown Ups: Kali Oct 07

Fairytales for Grown Ups: Kali

There is a hill in Dorset that has a door. Inside is a fire-lit theatre. This is Cranborne Earthouse – one of England's most magical, secret venues. Seating up to 250 people and lit by oil...

Introduction to Prehistoric Textiles Oct 07

Introduction to Prehistoric Textiles

Saturday 7 October, 2023. 10am until 4pm. Location: Ancient Technology Centre, Damerham Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 5RP. Website of the ATC: https://ancienttechnologycentre.com. We will start by...

Viking and Celtic Woodcarving Oct 07

Viking and Celtic Woodcarving

Learn traditional Woodcarving techniques with Mark Vyvyan-Penney. Learn how to use gouges and chisels and how to sharpen them. Create your own Woodcarving in the Viking or Celtic style and take it...

Introduction to Sprang Heritage Textiles Oct 08

Introduction to Sprang Heritage Textiles

Taking inspiration from prehistoric finds of sprang braided textiles, we will begin with an overview of the archaeological evidence for sprang, then get to grips with setting up a simple sprang frame...

Museum By Torchlight Oct 28

Museum By Torchlight

Dress up and bring your torch for a spooky time in the galleries. Join us for this special event where the Museum will be open out of hours and in the dark. Find out about the witch's marks on the...

The Mighty Flook Anglo Irish Folk Music Nov 17

The Mighty Flook Anglo Irish Folk Music

Taking inspiration from their roots in the Irish and English traditions, Flook have an enviable trademark sound, weaving and spinning traditionally rooted tunes over precise acoustic grooves, with a...

Poole Grammar Christmas Fayre Nov 25

Poole Grammar Christmas Fayre

Poole Grammar Christmas Fayre. We have over 90 stalls, handmade crafts, local sellers,live music,food, face painting and Maggie from Great British Bake Off. Do all your Christmas shopping and see our...

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