Soak up the atmosphere of Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle
The Great Dorset Steam Fair

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Events in Dorset

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Highlights

Events are thick on the ground in Dorset! From the arts, food and drink and theatre to history, music and nature, there’s so much going on, it’s hard to fit it all in to the year. Here’s a snippet of the very best events...

Best for culture

Art lovers are well catered for here in Dorset, with the biennial Dorset Art Weeks.

Dorset Arts Weeks is one of the largest Open Studio events in the country that seeks to bring the public face to face with the artists and makers, whilst exploring the delights of one of the country's most beautiful counties. Profoundly different from entering a public gallery, the artists, designers or makers are on-hand and keen to talk about the extraordinary range of materials, skills and traditions that inform their work.

But that's not all, Art Events take place throughout the whole year, so whatever time you visit, you won't be disappointed.

Best for foodies

The multi-award-winning Nyetimber Dorset Seafood Festival is one of the largest food festivals in the country, taking place annually in July around Weymouth’s charming harbour. Enoy Nyetimber Champagne with fresh oysters, taste different seafood dishes on offer from almost 100 stalls, watch live cooking demonstrations from the region’s best loved chefs AND taste their dishes in the Fisher & Paykel Social Kitchen. Head on down to the Piddle Bar or the ‘Sirens’ Cocktail bar serving lovely local Conker G&T’s & more. Even better, it’s all brewed in Dorset!!!

Food fanatic? See our full list of Foodie events.

Best for music

Set in the serene venue of Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne Abbey Music Festival is an exciting celebration of contrasts in music and performance. Relax and enjoy the improvisation workshops, poetry and close harmonies to salon baroque, madrigals and classical ukelele. Whether audiences are looking for atmospheric acoustics, or rousing sea shanties, the early May bank holiday weekend in Sherborne is the place to be.

Let yourself be serenaded at more music events in Dorset.

Best for sport

July brings with it the Dorset Festival of Sport which includes a two day sports arena, two disability sports days, a team sports day, fun day, Battens Charity Volleyball Championship and RAF Beach Volleyball Classic. Held right on the sandy beach in Weymouth, it’s a great opportunity for residents and visitors alike to get involved with various sports such as kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, beach volleyball and more!

Feeling active? Take a look at more Sports Events in Dorset.

Best for wildlife and nature

One of the most popular natural events in Dorset is the arrival of the cygnets at Abbotsbury Swannery, which heralds the first days of summer. Abbotsbury Swannery is the only place in the world where you can safely walk through a colony of mute swans and see cygnets hatching and learning to swim. Visitors can also take part in the twice-a-day mass-feeding of these graceful birds, something that is truly unique to Dorset.

If you love the great outdoors, you’ll love these other Nature Events.

Book your accommodation

If after reading this you can’t wait to come down to Dorset to experience it all, then you’ll want to know where you can stay. Rest your head on a plush pillow or camp under the stars, it’s up to you – we’re here waiting to welcome you to delightful Dorset.

Easily book your accommodation online now:

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Number of results: 89

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Swanage Fish Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

SWANAGE

Prince Albert Gardens, overlooking the beautiful bay, is the stage for cooking demonstrations by of top-notch chefs by day and popular entertainment by evening. Stalls offering a mouth-watering array of exotic fish fare and locally sourced fresh…

Dates

From:

12 June 2021to13 June 2021Various Opening Times

Free
Chesil Rocks

Type

Type:

Festival

Langton Herring, Weymouth

Cancelled for 2020 but please make a note in your diaries for 17th-19th June 2021 when it will return!
Chesil Rocks 2020 will be taking place this year over 2 days, Friday 19th for classical and Saturday 20th June as usual performances, and will…

Dates

From:

17 June 2021to19 June 2021Various Opening Times

Price £10.00 to £20.00 Per Ticket
Raising Spirit Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

DORCHESTER

Raising Spirit festival is here to celebrate you're local and upcoming musicians. In such uncertain times we wanted to do something that not only supports you're local entertainment industry but also the community. We are bringing the people of…

Dates

From:

18 June 2021to20 June 2021Open 12:00 -

Price £200.00 Per Ticket
LAU

Type

Type:

Music

LYME REGIS

For the first time in over a decade, Lau present an entirely acoustic tour. The pioneering Scottish folk trio have always experimented with sound and form; the results have always been complex and thrilling.
This event has been rescheduled from 04…

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
18 June 2021

Price £18.50 Per Ticket
The Original Shake & Stir Vintage Music Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Southbourne

Celebrating vintage… American hot rods, custom motorbikes, classic cars and retro fashion. Wartime moments, dance displays, and live music from the 1920’s to the 1970’s - including Rock 'n’ Roll, Rockabilly, Lindy Hop, Blues, Jazz, Americana and…

Dates

From:

19 June 2021to20 June 2021
Brian Wilson live at the BIC

Type

Type:

Event

Bournemouth

Co-Founding member of The Beach Boys - Brian Wilson makes a welcome return to the UK to perform Good Vibrations Greatest Hits Live across the country with special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin.

Dates

From:
20 June 2021
TANKFEST 2021

Type

Type:

Performance

Bovington

...bringing the story of tanks, tank crew and soldiers to life...
Join us for the world's biggest and best live display of historic armour, living history, and much more at the Home of the Tank - The Tank Museum, Bovington.
Save up to 20% with a…

Venue

The Tank Museum, Bere Regis & Surrounding

Dates

From:
27 June 2021Open 09:00 - 18:00
Sandpolo at Sandbanks

Type

Type:

Event

Poole

**Event Postponed until 2021** Sandpolo at Sandbanks - New dates for 2021 announced

Dates

From:

9 July 2021to10 July 2021Open 13:00 - 01:00
Bond - Live & Let Dine

Type

Type:

Performance

BOURNEMOUTH

Theatre meets vendetta, meets dinner show as our hero tries to unravel who's out to get him – and why!
A fully immersive dining show where you will be transported into a slapstick, cartoon style parody of James Bond. Featuring the much-loved…

Dates

From:
9 July 2021Open 19:00 - 22:00

Price £59.00 Per Ticket
Bourne Free - Bournemouth's Pride Festival

Type

Type:

Free Event

Bournemouth

New Dates! Bourne Free will be back in 2021 on the 9th and 10th July at Meyrick Park! Bournemouth Pride Festival - Bourne Free. We invite you to join us for a weekend of fun and frolics, good music, great entertainment and of course the famous…

Dates

From:

9 July 2021to10 July 2021
Jurassic Fields Music Festival

Type

Type:

Performance

Bridport

Jurassic Fields will showcases the best music, comedy, food and entertainment the local area has to offer as well as having some well known artists perform and little gems we have found around the country.

Dates

From:

9 July 2021to11 July 2021
Nyetimber Dorset Seafood Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

A visit to the award winning atmospheric Nyetimber Dorset Seafood Festival offers an amazing opportunity to gain a better understanding of the superb seafood available to us just off our wonderful shores.

Dates

From:

10 July 2021to11 July 2021Various Opening Times
SandFest

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

**Please note ** We have been forced to postpone the event until 2021 due to Covid-19. We will be back in 2021 with the date of 11 July 2021. SandFest at Sandbanks - Event postponed in 2020.

Dates

From:
11 July 2021Open 12:00 - 22:00
Lancaster Insurance Classic & Supercars Show

Type

Type:

Show/Display

Sherborne

17th Annual Charity Classic & Supercars Show. Bentley will be the 2021 marque feature, with an historic line up of sport and road cars. Visitors will also see over 2,000 Classic, Supercars, Veteran, Race, Rally, American, Custom, Hot Rod and Special…

Venue

Sherborne Castle and Gardens, Sherborne

Dates

From:
18 July 2021Open 09:30 - 16:00

Price Free to £15.00 Per Ticket
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week

Type

Type:

Festival

LYME REGIS

CANCELLED but save the date for 2021 which is 24-31 July!!
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week is a week full of fun, from a teddy bears picnic, pavement art to a bathtub race. There will be various displays, music evenings, fireworks, Paras Red Devils…

Dates

From:

24 July 2021to31 July 2021
Camp Bestival

Type

Type:

Festival

East Lulworth

A music and performance festival hosted at Lulworth Castle, set against the backdrop of England’s dramatic Jurassic coastline in Dorset.

Venue

Lulworth Castle & Park, Lulworth

Dates

From:

29 July 2021to1 August 2021
Poole Harbour Boat Show

Type

Type:

Boating

Poole

***CANCELLED*** The 2021 Poole Harbour Boat Show has been cancelled due to coronavirus

Dates

From:

30 July 2021to1 August 2021
Swanage Carnival & Regatta

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

Swanage Regatta and Carnival is the premier carnival on the South Coast. For one week at the end of July and the beginning of August, Swanage will be radiating to the sound, fun and excitement.

Venue

Swanage Beach, Swanage

Dates

From:

31 July 2021to7 August 2021
Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week

Type

Type:

Carnival

Lyme Regis

A variety of events during Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week including carnival procession, regatta races. Activities and events for all ages! Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week, run during the school summer holidays, is our biggest fundraising…

Dates

From:

7 August 2021to14 August 2021
Pine Walk Art Exhibition

Type

Type:

Event

Westover Road, Bournemouth

Art @ Pine Walk was set up almost 60 years ago and is a popular place for artists to show their work, and art lovers to browse and buy it. Displays include painting, photography, sculptures and digital art.

Dates

From:

10 August 2021to31 December 2021

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