Festivals in Dorset

Come to Dorset during any month and you’ll find an array of festivals and events to enjoy!

Dorset plays host to a variety of events such as music, theatre, comedy, country shows…and there are even a few more unusual events to be found that you simply won’t find anywhere else.

Spring into life!

As spring emerges, it’s time for a colourful mix of music, fossils and swans!

The Sherborne Abbey Music Festival is as majestic as it sounds with beautiful music in a magnificent setting. They say don’t look down but make sure you look up – the fan vaulted ceiling has to be seen to be believed, it will simply take your breath away!

Children will love taking a step back in time and discovering more about the dinosaurs that roamed our lands at Lyme Regis Fossil Festival.

If you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary then make sure you visit Abbotsbury Swannery from mid May. Walk through the paths and watch as fluffy cygnets hatch from eggs right before your eyes.

Dates for a foodie’s diary

As if that wasn’t enough, the wide variety of Dorset events includes plenty of events for those with a love of food.

In May, Christchurch Food & Wine Festival takes place and is one of the premier events of its type.

Or why not enjoy a day at the Dorset Knob Throwing Festival…we did say that there are more slightly unusual events taking place in Dorset!

The Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival in July is also a must where you can enjoy some of the finest, freshest seafood whilst relaxing with a cold glass of bubbly!

Get into the carnival spirit

June really kicks off the start of summer when the county is alive with festivals and carnivals.

Chill out and really get into the swing at the Wonky Donk festival in July or let the kids (and grown ups!) enjoy some explosive fun at Tankfest!

The summer months also see traditional village fetes hang their bunting all across Dorset.

August gets off to a great start with Camp Bestival. Lulworth Castle provides the stunning backdrop for this well renowned family festival.

With music to tackle all taste buds, a fantastic line up for the little ones and much more, this is a festival not to be missed!

Morris Dancers bring the streets to life with their bright costumes and jingling bells with folk festivals in Lyme Regis and Purbeck during August.

Plus, if you like it hot then make sure you pop along to the Great Dorset Chilli Festival!

A unique blend of nostalgia and entertainment

Enjoy a giant trip of nostalgia into the days of yesteryear at the Great Dorset Steam Fair at the end of August, widely recognised as the leading event of its type in the world with 2,000 exhibits, 800 trade stalls and over 220 full size steam engines!

You’ll be all puffed out after an action packed day!

A true celebration of country life

If you’re looking for a great day out for the young and old to all enjoy then make sure you go along to one of our agricultural shows.

Melplash Show and Dorset County Show are crammed full of animal shows, magnificent displays, trade stalls and all the fun of the fair!

Don’t be fooled into thinking these are low key events, they really are buzzing with activity!

Fun and frolics with flamboyant and fabulous headwear

Get your hats at the ready by September for the Bridport Hat Festival, a wonderfully British celebration of eccentricity!

With music all around and entertainment for the whole family this wonderful, quirky event is not to be missed!

Celebrate Autumn

Celebrate the start of Autumn with a spectacular display of colours in the beautiful lakeside gardens at Sherborne Castle or take a magical evening stroll along candle-lit pathways through enchanted glades at Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens.

Festive Dorset events with magic and sparkle

And it doesn’t stop there!

The year might be drawing to a close but there are still plenty of events to enjoy in Dorset, many of which have a touch of festive sparkle about them!

If you are planning to visit Dorset to take part in one of our amazing festivals and events, why not stay a while and make a holiday of it?

We’ve got plenty of accommodation for you to choose from – your perfect break is just a click away!

Also, we recommend you take a look at our things to do, places to visit, food and drink and travel pages to find out more on the following:

Last but not least, we highly recommend you to take a trip up to the iconic landscape of Broadchurch where ITV's famous crime series of the same name was filmed, you will be amazed at its stunning beauty!

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Festival of grasses

Type

Type:

Festival

Hampreston, Wimborne

Nationally renowned for its naturalistic displays of ornamental grasses, 2019 sees the launch of the first Festival of Grasses at Knoll Gardens.
The Festival marks the 25th anniversary of Neil Lucas's arrival at Knoll and runs throughout the…

Dates

From:

1 September 2019to31 October 2019Open 10:00 - 17:00

Price £6.50 Per Ticket
Sculpture Exhibition at Corfe Castle

Type

Type:

Community

Corfe Castle, Wareham

Enjoy the arts this autumn with a sculpture exhibition within the castle grounds set up by local Purbeck artists.

Venue

Corfe Castle, Corfe Castle

Dates

From:

7 September 2019to13 October 2019
Dorset Architectural Heritage Week

Type

Type:

Festival

Hanham Road, WIMBORNE

A programme of events organised by Dorset's local authorities in association with East Dorset Heritage Trust.

Dates

From:

13 September 2019to22 September 2019
Wellbeing by the Lakes

Type

Type:

Festival

Dorchester

Wellbeing by the Lakes is a four-day festival exploring what it means to be mindful and live well in this fast-paced modern world. A curated blend of expert talks, live performance, meditation, movement sessions, wholesome food and healing therapies…

Dates

From:

19 September 2019to22 September 2019Open 10:00 - 17:00

Price £35.00 Per Ticket
Swanage Pier Trust Wedding Fair

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

Come along and find out how you can make this unique setting a part of your special day, with the finest views of Swanage bay.
A marquee will be erected at the end of the Pier by Chique marquess, so you can visualise how the day will look, along…

Venue

Swanage Pier, Swanage

Dates

From:
22 September 2019Open 10:00 - 14:00
Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival

Type

Type:

Arts and Culture

Bournemouth

After another successful year, Arts by the Sea festival will be back in Autumn 2019 with a brand new new artistic concept to explore, Mind Matter.

Dates

From:

27 September 2019to29 September 2019
Bournemouth Motors by the Sea

Type

Type:

Event

Bournemouth

An enthusiastic community around motoring, engineering and cars will celebrate ‘Motors by the Sea, giving local motoring fans a platform from which to show case their talents, network and gain knowledge next to some very exciting displays.

Dates

From:

28 September 2019to29 September 2019Open 10:00 - 16:00
COMEDY | COUNT ARTHUR STRONG

Type

Type:

Comedy

LYME REGIS

The BBC Radio 4 and TV legend brings his new show to the Marine – ‘Is There Anybody Out There?’
“Undeniably brilliant” – The Guardian
As well as being the all-round entertainer we all know and love from the telly, Count Arthur Strong is also a…

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
28 September 2019

Price £22.50 to £26.00 Per Ticket
Swanage Blues Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

The Big Blues Parties on the South Coast - Twice a year!

* 15 Indoor Venues
* 30 Top Class Acts
* 60 Great Gigs, Open Mic and Jam Sessions

Dates

From:

3 October 2019to6 October 2019
Weymouth Octoberfest - Real Ale & Cider Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

WEYMOUTH

Weymouth's ever popular Octoberfest is set to make its annual return on Friday October 4th and Saturday the 5th in the Ocean Room; Weymouth Pavilion with fine seaside views. The well established event now in its 10th year at the Pavilion is…

Dates

From:

4 October 2019to5 October 2019Various Opening Times

Price £10.00 Per Ticket
Oktoberfest Poole

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

The legendary Oktoberfest is coming to Poole for two nights only! Bavarian beers and snacks, oompah bands, fairground rides, games including axe throwing and stein carrying, and much more can be found at Poole Park West Field on 4th and 5th October…

Dates

From:

4 October 2019to5 October 2019Various Opening Times

Price £25.00 Per Ticket
Blues Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Studland, Swanage

Swanage Blues Festival
Pete Harris Blues Band with Jon Vaughan and Ray Drury. Pete is recognised as one of the leading Blues bands on the South Coast of England. Pete has performed onstage with many American Blues artistes, notably Phil Guy…

Dates

From:
5 October 2019Open 14:30 - 17:30
Bournemouth Marathon Festival

Type

Type:

Running

Bournemouth

The Bournemouth Marathon is ’running as it should be.’ Beautiful coastal views, a chance to run the Boscombe and Bournemouth piers and a spectacular finish.

Dates

From:
5 October 2019Open 10:00 -
From:
6 October 2019Open 10:00 -
Shaftesbury Oktoberfest

Type

Type:

Festival

Shaftesbury

The world famous Oktoberfest is returning to Shaftesbury! Celebrate the start of Autumn in style with quality music from live bands, premium German lagers served in litre steins, drinking games, thigh-slapping, Bavarian bratwursts, pretzels and lots…

Dates

From:

11 October 2019to12 October 2019Various Opening Times

Price £10.00 Per Ticket
Dorchester Literary Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Dorchester

With a programme of events highlighting the latest books by today’s most original authors, our new festival warmly welcomes book-lovers to this beautiful setting.

Dates

From:

15 October 2019to20 October 2019
Wimborne Oktoberfest

Type

Type:

Festival

Wimborne

The world-famous Oktoberfest is coming to Wimborne for two nights only! Celebrate the start of Autumn in style with quality music from live bands, premium German lagers served in litre steins, drinking games, thigh-slapping, Bavarian bratwursts,…

Dates

From:

18 October 2019to19 October 2019Various Opening Times

Price £25.00 Per Ticket
Purbeck Film Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Wareham

Purbeck Film Festival 22nd ANNUAL PURBECK FILM FESTIVAL 18th October to 2nd November 2019. The Purbeck Film Festival is the longest running rural film festival in the UK, supported by over 5,000 people annually. All our film events offer more than…

Venue

The Rex Cinema, Wareham

Dates

From:

18 October 2019to2 November 2019
Purbeck Film Festival @ Isle of Purbeck Golf club

Type

Type:

Festival

Studland, Swanage

Rocketman is an epic musical based on Elton Johns rise to stardom, come and join us in our comfortable surrounding, drinks and snacks available

Dates

From:
23 October 2019Open 19:30 - 22:30

Price £5.00 to £6.00 Per Ticket
Sherborne Literary Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Sherborne

Sherborne's literary festival with authors of national standing, proven authors who have established followings and cutting edge writers who are at the forefront of creative thinking.

Dates

From:

23 October 2019to25 October 2019
Sherborne International Film Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Sherborne

Three day film festival.

Dates

From:

24 October 2019to27 October 2019

Price £7.00 to £50.00 Per Ticket

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Bestival at Lulworth Castle

Great Dorset Steam Fair

Bridport Hat Festival

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What's On

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Highlights

Spring into life!

Dates for a foodie’s diary

Get into the carnival spirit

A unique blend of nostalgia and entertainment

A true celebration of country life

Fun and frolics with flamboyant and fabulous headwear

Celebrate Autumn

Festive Dorset events with magic and sparkle

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