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 a chilli eating competition?
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
Find yourperfect event
Eventscoming 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...
Art and Makers Market Easter Pop Up
This Easter the Art & Makers Market in Westover Gardens, is running a 4 day event, from Friday 29th March to Monday 1st April, open from 11am to 5pm. This free family attraction has something for...
Beautiful Bournemouth Mini Exhibition
Step back in time and explore recognisable Bournemouth scenes through the years, from our collection. In this mini exhibition, we will be exhibiting watercolours and lithographs from notable Dorset...
Bright and Bold: Celebrating the Dorset Landscape
The next solo exhibition at Lyme Regis Museum's Rotunda Gallery, running from 30 January till 31 March, is Miranda Pender's vibrant collection of semi-abstract Dorset landscapes. Recognisable...
Children's Easter Trail
Join our family fun trail in the garden. Follow the trail discovering Easter Eggs. Solve clues along the way.
Colmers Hill Easter Egg Hunt
The Egg Hunt on Colmers Hill is back! Can you help the Easter Bunny find his lost carrots? Good Friday, 29 March 11am to 1pm. The Hunt starts at 11:15am from Symondsbury school playground. £3...
Easter at Farmer Palmers Farm Park
Farmer Palmer Easter Event Dates: 29th March – 4th April and the 8th – 11th April 2024. Easter Egg Hunt Dates: Friday 29th March – Monday 1st April 2024. Easter wouldn't be...
Easter at Haynes Motor Museum
Easter at the Museum. Do you know your V6 from your V8, 3 cylinders to 6, or what each of the unusual shapes are and what they do under the bonnet? Join us this Easter as we reveal what's under...
Easter Brilliant Birds Trail at Brownsea
Have your very own woodland adventure this Easter at Brownsea Island. Follow our interactive trail and discover all about birds and their amazing lives. Race your family in the bug and spoon race,...
Easter Bunny Tag
Get ready to hop into an Easter adventure like no other! Our outdoor laser tag event is the perfect way to get into the Easter spirit. Have a go at the Easter Egg hunt laser tag style! You'll have...
Easter Egg Hunt
Easter Egg Hunt Can you help the Easter Bunny hunt for eggs? Come to Swanage railway for a fun filled family trip and as you travel look out of the windows to spot the missing eggs. This event is free...
Easter Egg Hunt at Kingston Lacy
Join in the Easter fun this spring in our adventure field. Put on your bunny ears and complete the ten amazing activities before claiming your tasty prize. You can go back again and again to practice...
Easter Egg Hunt at The Lodmoor Brewers Fayre
Join us to celebrate Easter at Brewers Fayre! It's the perfect spot for getting the whole family together for a great-value, delicious meal, along with plenty of fun-filled activities. To make...
Easter Eggs-travaganza
Bring your little monkeys to have a great day out at Monkey World this Easter holidays! With over 260 rescued and endangered monkeys and apes, three play areas and a FREE activity sheet for kids,...
Easter Fun Fair at Nothe Fort
Roll up, roll up… The Nothe Fort Easter Fun Fair is back in town - bigger and better than before! For 18 whole days, hop into a world of fun, suitable for all the family. We've got: -...
Easter Holidays at RockReef
EXCITING THINGS TO DO IN BOURNEMOUTH THIS EASTER HOLIDAYS WHATEVER THE WEATHER Shake off the winter blues and join us this Easter! Do you live in Bournemouth and want something to keep the kids...
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 Holidays at The Tank Museum
The Tank Museum brings the story of tanks and their crews to life. Experience the biggest day out in history with 300 tanks, explosive live displays, kids’ activities, and more at Dorset’s...
Easter Self Guided Family Trail at RSPB Radipole Lake
Become a nature detective and follow the clues to find the missing nest materials hidden around the reserve. Help our birds build brilliant nests for their eggs and chicks. Children must be...
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,...
Why notstay a while?
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...
Brace of Pheasants
Nestled in the Plush Valley just off the Wessex Ridgeway, The Brace is the quintessential Old English thatched country pub. The perfect location to enjoy a break away from it all. The village is...
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 Lyme seafront cottage for four with private parking, Cliff Cottage is one of the quaint pink cottages seconds away from...
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...
Coppet Hill
Just three miles from the Jurassic Coast, and surrounded by some of Dorset’s most spectacular hills, our 600-acre family farm is a peaceful haven for walkers, campers and wildlife lovers. Our...
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
At the head of a long valley, overlooking Eggardon Iron Age Hill Fort in the heart of Dorset’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and without so much as a hamlet in sight, a stay at Dorset...
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...
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...
Loose Reins
Loose Reins is where the world slows down. It’s where the daily grind is left at the gate and a place of experience, discovery and relaxation opens up. It’s where you reconnect, come...
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...