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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Cerne Giant Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Dorchester

We will be holding a huge variety of events including workshops, talks, and walks so that there is something for everyone to explore their own connection with the lanscape of Dorset.
www.cernegiantfestival.uk

Dates

From:

13 April 2019to6 May 2019Various Opening Times
From Page To Screen Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

The UK's only festival celebrating the adaptation of books to film. Full details of films showing on the website.
Tickets range in price and are available from Bridport Arts Centre 01308 424204.

Dates

From:

24 April 2019to28 April 2019
Lyme Regis Fossil Festival

Type

Type:

Major Event

Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2019
Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th May 2019
Enjoy one of Dorset's largest science festivals. Find out all about the amazing Jurassic Coast with specialist talks, walks and incredible interactive activities.

Dates

From:

3 May 2019to5 May 2019
Sherborne Abbey Music Festival

Type

Type:

Performance

SHERBORNE

Sherborne's Annual Abbey Music Festival, with a full programme of concerts. See website for full details. Tickets available from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre.

Venue

Sherborne Abbey

Dates

From:

3 May 2019to7 May 2019
Bournemouth Emerging Arts Fringe (BEAF)

Type

Type:

Festival

Boscombe, Bournemouth

Bournemouth Emerging Arts Fringe (BEAF) reflects the stories, culture & communities that make up our unique location of urban setting and beautiful seafront. Discover events, exhibitions, film screenings, workshops & more, right across the 9 days of...

Dates

From:

4 May 2019to12 May 2019Various Opening Times
Dorset Knob Throwing & Food Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Dorchester

The world-famous Dorset Knob Throwing and Food Festival returns for 2019. Moores, creators of the famous Dorset Knob biscuit, and Kingston Maurward College will assist us in supporting this unique Dorset event.

Dates

From:
5 May 2019Open 10:00 - 16:00

Price £5.00 Per Ticket
Music: Kris Drever

Type

Type:

Music

Lyme Regis

MUSIC | KRIS DREVER | FRIDAY 10 MAY
This is a concert from the Scottish folkie guitar star of the excellent band Lau
Scottish songwriter Kris Drever celebrated a decade of critical and commercial success by winning both BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of...

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
10 May 2019

Price £12.00 to £14.50 Per Ticket
Dreamflight To Dorset

Type

Type:

Festival

Washpond Lane, Swanage

Charity Motorbike ride from Ace Cafe , London to Swanage Dorset. Follow the Blues Brothers car from London to Dorset. Weekend of camping and partying available for those who wish to stay.In aid of dreamflight.org

Dates

From:

10 May 2019to12 May 2019Various Opening Times

Price £30.00 Per Ticket
Shaftesbury Food & Drink Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Shaftesbury

A celebration of local food, with farmers' market. cookery demonstrations, events and dancing in Shaftesbury and the surrounding villages. For a full list of events please visit the Festival website.

Dates

From:
12 May 2019
The Dorset Job

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

A great fun packed weekend for all of the family, live music, good food, great beer and live music, kids' activities, shopping, Auto jumble, show and shine not only for the car but for the K9 as well.
Please come and party!!!

Dates

From:

17 May 2019to19 May 2019Open 10:00 - 20:00

Price £25.00 Per Ticket
Spring Tide Food Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

This spectacular West Dorset outdoor food event offers you the chance to meet and buy from West Dorset‘s hugely talented local producers who will once be on hand to show off Dorset produce at its very best. From 10am - 4pm

Dates

From:

18 May 2019to19 May 2019Open 10:00 - 16:00

Price £2.00 Per Ticket
Kick Ass Brass

Type

Type:

Festival

Lyme Regis

Inspired by legendary Tower of Power and the soul classics of James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire and Curtis Mayfield, they're big, brassy and kick 'ass bad! This amazing 10-piece band includes some of the UK's top jazz, soul and funk musicians. Make way...

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
24 May 2019Open 20:00 - 23:00

Price £18.00 Per Ticket
Studland Flower Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Studland

The ancient parish of Studland hosts 'A World of Colour'
The Parish of Studland and its Church has stood at the very centre of village life for well over a thousand years. First a Saxon Church destroyed by the Vikings in the ninth century then the...

Dates

From:

24 May 2019to27 May 2019Various Opening Times

Free
Bournemouth 7s Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

East Parley, Christchurch

Renowned as the Sporting Glastonbury, Bournemouth 7s has established a formidable reputation amongst sportspeople and festival-goers alike!

Dates

From:

24 May 2019to26 May 2019Various Opening Times
Jazz Jurassica Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Lyme Regis

Music | Festival | Jazz Jurassica 2019 | Friday 24th - Monday 27th May 2019
Lyme Regis Jazz and blues Festival featuring live music.
Tickets on sale at the Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre. Telephone 01297 442138.

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:

24 May 2019to27 May 2019
Purbeck Art Weeks Festival

Type

Type:

Exhibition

PURBECK

Welcome to Purbeck Art Weeks Festival May 25th – June 9th 2019.
Purbeck Art Weeks (PAW) is offering yet another superb programme of concerts and talks plus artists’ Open Studios and exhibitions across Purbeck. Be inspired by art during the...

Dates

From:

25 May 2019to9 June 2019
Moreton Flower Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Moreton, Dorchester

St Nicholas' Church in Moreton is world famous for the beautiful engraved glass windows by poet and artist Sir Laurence Whistler. The church is not only unique in having all its windows engraved but these make the world's largest collection of Sir...

Dates

From:

25 May 2019to27 May 2019Open 10:00 - 16:00

Free
Sound of Blue Note BBQ

Type

Type:

Festival

Lyme Regis

From syncopated swing to spunky boogaloo, Sound of Blue Note deliver a lively, exciting afternoon performance with some of the best BBQ food this side of the Atlantic.

Dates

From:
25 May 2019Open 12:00 - 14:30

Price £18.00 Per Ticket
Laurence Jones

Type

Type:

Festival

Lyme Regis

Back by popular demand, guitar wizard Laurence Jones and his new band returns with another electrifying live performance, killer riffs, blistering solos and a clutch of great new songs. His raw playing style and strong melodies produce a sound not...

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
25 May 2019Open 20:00 - 23:00

Price £20.00 Per Ticket
Equinor Big Band

Type

Type:

Festival

Lyme Regis

Special Norwegian guests, Equinor Big Band, pay homage to "The Duke" with their fabulous "Shades of Ellington". The band features 26 musicians (yes, it's that big!) and make their only UK appearance here in Lyme Regis. So, don't miss the best swing...

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
25 May 2019Open 16:30 - 18:30

Price £12.00 Per Ticket

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Bestival at Lulworth Castle

Great Dorset Steam Fair

Bridport Hat Festival

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Things To Do

What's On

Food & Drink

Search What's On

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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