What's on in Dorset
Looking to find out what's on in Dorset? You’ve come to the right place as we've got a fantastic year round events calendar for you to enjoy. Our vibrant county plays host to an amazing array of events from the mildly eccentric to the world famous .
Country life is showcased at the many county shows and country fairs throughout Dorset, where prize animals parade, and the thrill of the fairground beckons. Regattas also take place in our coastal towns, each bringing its own celebrations and a bucket-load of traditional seaside fun for the whole family to enjoy.
Add to the mix fantastic beaches, beautiful countryside and great attractions, and you can see why there are always plenty of reasons to visit.
Amazing music and food festivals with a celebrity twist!
If you are looking to see what's on in Dorset music and food wise, why not soak up the atmosphere and swing into action at one of Dorset’s many music festivals – choose from folk, jazz, classical or a well renowned festival, such as Camp Bestival, which attracts A-list entertainers to its centre stage.
There’s always a mouth watering abundance of local produce on offer at country fairs and food festivals across Dorset to tantalise your taste buds. Plus, you can pick up tips at demonstrations by celebrity and award winning chefs!
If you’re a seafood lover then make sure you don’t miss out on the award winning Dorset Seafood Festival, the UK’s largest seafood festival. Just picture yourself savouring a feast of seafood in the picturesque setting of Weymouth peninsula whilst enjoying the warm and welcoming atmosphere – sound good?
Perfect for families, thrill seekers and explorers alike!
Love the great outdoors? Why not embrace Dorset’s wonderful scenery at a walking festival or join a guided fossil walk and let your inner explorer loose!
The fun isn’t just on the ground! Let the pilots of the world famous Red Arrows and Black Cats wow you with incredible aerobatics and hair raising stunts or fly a kite to the highest height at a kite festival!
Or perhaps you want to experience something a little more unique? Why not have a go at Dorset Knob Throwing?
Cracking comedy and vibrant cultural scene to titillate and delight!
The arts are all around you in Dorset with musical performances, sparkling productions and arts and film festivals to inspire and surprise you.
Why not catch a top comedian in a cosy Dorset venue and be the first to see their set as they warm-up for a national tour?
This may be one of the most peaceful parts of the country but it buzzes with activity throughout the year!
Simply use the ‘What’s On’ search facility to search our list of events.
Why not stay a while and book your accommodation today!
Make the most of Dorset’s fantastic events calendar and book a break to Dorset.
We have plenty of accommodation for you to choose from – chic hotels, homely B&Bs, cosy self catering cottages and pretty holiday parks.
Plan Your Visit
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Eventscoming soon!
African Art and Sculpture Exhibition
Opens November 2022 We are working with members of the wider community to bring unseen objects in our collection to life through our upcoming exhibition on African art and sculpture. Keep an eye on...
Birdwatching for Beginners Course at Radipole Lake (3 sessions over 3 weeks)
This winter at Radipole Lake we are offering a 3-part bird watching course for beginners. Perfect if you want to learn more about finding and identifying the birds we have here at Radipole Lake or...
Bite the Bullet Exhibition
Come and see our brand new exhibition exploring the impact of bullets through our historic collection!
Cool Coast Ice Rink
Cool Coast Ice Rink is the largest indoor ice skating rink on the South Coast, located seasonally in Bournemouth International Centre. Thousands of you enjoy our ice rink every year, as it’s the...
Events at Durlston Country Park: Cuppa and Chat
Cuppa and Chat Enjoy a cuppa, make new friends and enjoy the lovely woodland setting of the Durlston ‘Shed’. Just drop in and say hello to our ‘Sheddies’. FREE....
Events at Durlston Country Park: Park Run
Free Weekly Park Run, Every Saturday at 9am Get fit in a great location! Durlston Country Park is now host to Park Run every Saturday. Parkruns are free, weekly, community events all around the world....
Events at Durlston Country Park:Durlston Past: Exhibition
Durlston Past: Exhibition Explore the fascinating 20th Century history of Durlston and the ‘Durlston Pleasure Grounds’. FREE In the Fine Foundation Gallery.
ILLUMINATE at The Blue Pool
Back For 2023! - The Blue Pool will be bringing back ILLUMINATE in association with OT Event Technicians for it's second year. Following on from the success of 2022, this year will include new...
Nativity the Musical
Every child in every school has one Christmas wish – to star in a Nativity – and at St Bernadette's School they're attempting to mount a musical version! The only trouble is,...
Portraits of Golden Cap Exhibition
Local artist Edward Hall draws his inspiration from the dramatic coastal and inland landscapes of Dorset's Jurassic Coast. His latest exhibition, 'Portraits of Golden Cap', explores the...
Telling Tales: The Story of Victorian Narrative Art
Narrative Art was the reality television of the Victorian era. While the artistic elite rejected it, the general public loved to see soap opera drama on the gallery walls. Its accessible and...
Guided Snowdrop Walks
Join one of the Kingston Lacy volunteers on an exclusive walk down paths lined with carpets of snowdrops. Learn more about the many different varieties and discover their long history at Kingston...
Snowdrops at Minterne Gardens
Chase away the Winter Blues with a walk around Minterne’s wild woodland garden carpeted with delicate snowdrops. A welcome assurance that the brighter days of spring are on their way, this...
Birdwatching for Beginners Course (3 sessions over 3 weeks)
This winter at Arne we are offering a 3-part bird watching course for beginners. Perfect if you want to learn more about finding and identifying the birds we have here at Arne or even in your garden...
Events at Durlston Country Park: Pleasure Grounds Guided Walk
Pleasure Grounds Guided Walk Enjoy the Durlston Pleasure Grounds and discover their wildlife and history. £3. 11am-12.30pm on 5th May and 4th August 2022.
James Rowland - Learning to Fly
A new show from James Rowland featuring his captivating mix of theatre, comedy and music. LEARNING TO FLY sees James tell the story of a remarkable friendship he made when he was a lonely, unhappy...
Dorchester Beerex
Over the years, Dorchester Beerex has raised more than £200,000 for local good causes. This year's event takes place on February 3rd and 4th 2023 and we will have 80 real ales, a large...
Douglas Dare 'Homecoming' Show
Following the success of his 44 date tour across the UK and Europe in 2022, Douglas brings his otherness to where it all began. The third album 'Milkteeth' by the ex-Beaminster/Colfox student...
James Rowland - Learning to Fly
A new show from James Rowland featuring his captivating mix of theatre, comedy and music. LEARNING TO FLY sees James tell the story of a remarkable friendship he made when he was a lonely, unhappy...
Shaftesbury Snowdrop Season
Come and enjoy hundreds of thousands of snowdrops planted in and around the historic hilltop town of Shaftesbury, Dorset. Shaftesbury's snowdrop season is one of the biggest events of its type in...
Why notstay a while?
Back of Beyond Touring Park
If you are looking for a haven of peace and quiet but still be close enough to the New Forest and the South Coast, then look no further. Sometimes the birds can be noisy. But that’s about as...
Berehayes Holiday Cottages
Berehayes has 8 holiday cottages set in a tranquil rural village just 2 miles from the beaches of the World Heritage Jurassic Coast in West Dorset and 5 miles from the Devon...
Bookham Court
Bookham Court Holiday Cottages enjoy panoramic views over Thomas Hardy's Blackmore Vale in Dorset. Lying in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Bookham Court Holiday Cottages are furnished...
Bradle Farmhouse
Bradle Farm lies in a valley 3 miles west of Corfe Castle surrounded by the Purbeck Hills in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Whilst the original farmhouse and farm are mentioned in the Doomsday...
Cliff Cottage
4 Star VisitEngland Grading: 84% Gold Award Part of Lyme’s historic landscape since the early 1800’s, Cliff Cottage is one of the delightful pink cottages, set back off...
Cogden Cottages
The Cogden Cottages are absolute sea view beach front family sized cottages. They are modelled from a former Victorian coastguard station which means they have the most fabulous views of all of Lyme...
Corfe and Purbeck Holidays
Corfe & Purbeck Holidays specialise in letting quality self catering holiday properties in the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. All of our our cottages are well equipped, comfortably...
Doles Ash Farm Holiday Cottages
Located in the heart of Hardy’s Dorset, Doles Ash Farm Holiday Cottages offers a relaxing break surrounded by beautiful countryside and set in 12 acres of West Dorset’s Piddle Valley. No...
Dorset Forest Garden Glamping
Four individually styled shepherd’s huts to choose from at Dorset Forest Garden. Winners of the Gold Award for Glamping in 2021/22 Dorset Tourism Awards. At the head of a long valley,...
Dorset Hideaways
Dorset Hideaways is a Holiday Cottage Agency showcasing a range of properties from cosy cottages crammed full of Dorset charm to luxury retreats oozing with coastal chic. Our aim is to make it easy...
Gloucester House
Gloucester House is a beautiful, Boutique, AA 4 * Gold, Townhouse, dating back to 1790 and forms part of Weymouth’s Georgian terraced seafront. Commanding a prime position with unbroken views...
Grand Hotel
Located in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck, The Grand Hotel has stunning views across the bay and has direct access from the gardens to the private beach. The Burlington Health Spa and...
Graston Farm Cottages
Graston Farm Cottages are set in the beautiful Bride Valley and are in an ideal position for walking and cycling with just a 30 minute walk to the coast. There are numerous footpaths crossing the...
Hedgehog Corner with Hot Tubs
Hedgehog Corner with Hot Tubs. Two award-winning quality self catering accommodations for couples, each with own private hot tub. Close to Lyme Regis on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast, South West...
Kingston Country Courtyard
Kingston Country Courtyard is a 16th century B&B accommodation. We have 25 rooms located around two courtyards with car parking facilities onsite. We have a wide variety of rooms available these...
Lucerne B&B
Lucerne is close to the heart of Lyme Regis and its seafront. Rear rooms have excellent views of the Jurassic Coast from Lyme Regis to Portland. Owen and Chris your hosts have been in Lyme Regis for...
Millbrook Guest House
Millbrook is a family run B&B that has been providing accommodation to holiday makers and visitors to the area for over one hundred years. We offer modern rooms, with free wi-fi and our own...
Newlands Holiday Park
Newlands is a family run park located in the picturesque World Heritage village of Charmouth, just a stones throw from the fossil-rich Jurassic Coast near the Dorset/Devon border. Set in 23 acres of...
Riverside Park
We are located on the banks of the River Stour in the centre of the beautiful historic town of Christchurch, within walking distance to the shops, restaurants, spectacular natural harbour, Hengistbury...
Rosewall Camping
Rosewall is a family run camping park, set in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the World Heritage Coast, in the hamlet of Osmington Mills five miles east of Weymouth. Our thirteen-acre south...