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 Swanage Jazz 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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Purbeck Film Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Wareham

Purbeck Film Festival 22nd ANNUAL PURBECK FILM FESTIVAL 12 TO 27 OCTOBER 2018. 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 just a...

Venue

The Rex Cinema, Wareham

Dates

From:

12 October 2018to27 October 2018
Martin Carthy

Type

Type:

Music

Lyme Regis

Music | Martin Carthy | Monday 22nd October
For more than 50 years he has been one of folk music’s greatest innovators and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures.
‘Carthy is a master of the ballad of substance, songs that tell stories,...

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
22 October 2018

Price £14.00 to £16.50 Per Ticket
Purbeck Film Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Burlington Road, SWANAGE

Enjoy a two course meal chosen from the night's special Film Festival Menu in the conservatory bar before the film. Lean on Pete is a 2017 British drama set and filmed in Oregan and based on the novel by Willy Vlautin. It follows a 15 year old boy...

Dates

From:
22 October 2018Open 06:00 - 23:00

Price £16.95 Per Ticket
Sherborne International Film Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Sherborne

Three day film festival.

Dates

From:

25 October 2018to28 October 2018

Price £6.00 to £40.00 Per Ticket
NOTHE OF THE LIVING DEAD EMMERSIVE ZOMBIE EXPERIENCE

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

Nothe of the Living Dead will plunge participants into an immersive zombie experience, where survivors of the new apocalypse battle their way through a web of tunnels infested with flesh devouring zombies. Along the way, each survivor must overcome...

Venue

Nothe Fort, Weymouth and Portland

Dates

From:

26 October 2018to27 October 2018Open 19:00 - 23:55

Price £20.00 Per Ticket
Short Sounds Film Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bournemouth

Come and champion the audio wizards that fill our heads with the sounds and scores that make our hearts race at the SHORT SOUNDS FILM FESTIVAL on the 1st and 2nd November in central Bournemouth.
We have a programme of films richly authentic in...

Dates

From:

1 November 2018to2 November 2018Open 12:00 - 23:30

Price £20.00 Per Ticket
Bransgore Bonfire and Fireworks

Type

Type:

Fireworks

Bransgore, Christchurch

Friday 2nd November – 5.30pm Onwards – in the grounds of the Three Tuns Inn, Bransgore
'Come and join us and make a night of it'
Bonfire - Fireworks – BBQ - Hog Roast – Brass Band - Novelty glow products on sale - Live Free Band in the...

Dates

From:
2 November 2018Open 17:30 - 23:00

Price £3.00 to £15.00 Per Ticket
Bridport Fireworks Display

Type

Type:

Show/Display

Bridport

Big Bang Bonanza! Fantastic firework display organised by Bridport Round Table at Bridport Leisure Centre. Gates open at 7pm and display at 8pm. Tickets £4, children under 12 FREE!

Dates

From:
3 November 2018Open 19:00 - 22:00
Lantern Making Workshops & Procession

Type

Type:

Carnival

Bucky Doo Square, Bridport

Bridport is proud to announce its 2nd Lantern Procession on December 5th 2018. Come and Make your own special lantern this November, to showcase at the parade with our community artist. Suitable for children, families and adults,shop keepers &...

Dates

From:
3 November 2018Open 10:30 - 12:30
From:
3 November 2018Open 12:30 - 14:00

Price £2.50 Per Ticket
Bridport Literary Festival 2018

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

The dates for your diary are: Sunday 4th to Sunday 11th November 2018. The 14th Bridport Literary Festival welcomes all those who read books and love literature.

Dates

From:

4 November 2018to11 November 2018
Pages of the Sea: Danny Boyle

Type

Type:

WW1

WEYMOUTH

On 11 November 2018, communities will gather on beaches across the UK to say goodbye. Film maker Danny Boyle invites you to join him in marking 100 years since Armistice and the end of the First World War. Pages of the Sea will be a unique moment to...

Dates

From:
11 November 2018
Pages of the Sea: Danny Boyle

Type

Type:

Major Event

Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis: 11am onwards
Join us on Lyme Regis main sandy beach to watch the artwork take shape during the course of the day. The event centres around the drawing of a large-scale portrait of a casualty from the First World War which will be washed...

Dates

From:
11 November 2018
Remembrance Sunday Service, Weymouth Seafront

Type

Type:

Armed Forces Day

Weymouth

Service of Remembrance to mark the 100th Anniversary of WWI. 10.55 am on Weymouth Esplanade at the Cenotaph, opposite the Prince Regent Hotel. All welcome to attend and Veterans to join in the Service and Parade along the Seafront to the US...

Dates

From:
11 November 2018
Sherborne Christmas Tree Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Sherborne

Sherborne's annual Christmas Tree Festival, with trees decorated by local groups and organisations. The Church will be open daily from 10am to 4:30pm from 1st - 9th December 2018.

Dates

From:

1 December 2018to9 December 2018
Martin Taylor and Martin Simpson

Type

Type:

Jazz

Lyme Regis

Music | Martin Taylor and Martin Simpson | Saturday 1st December
Award winning Jazz guitarist Martin Taylor teams up with acoustic and slide guitar virtuoso Martin Simpson. The pair shares the stage throughout the performance – adding to each...

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
1 December 2018

Price £12.00 to £14.50 Per Ticket
Swanage Christmas Lights Illumination

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

Come and join the community of Swanage for a festive celebration whilst the Christmas lights are illuminated for the season on Saturday 1st December.

Dates

From:
1 December 2018
Bridport Christmas Cheer

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

Christmas is coming and Bridport is getting ready!
The whole town, surrounding villages and visitors to the area are invited to attend the popular Christmas Cheer evening taking place in 2018 on Wednesday 5th December from 4.00 to 8.00pm. The...

Dates

From:
5 December 2018Open 16:00 - 20:00

Free
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:

28 February 2019to3 March 2019

From:

3 October 2019to6 October 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
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.
More info to...

Dates

From:

4 May 2019to5 May 2019

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Bestival at Lulworth Castle

Bridport Hat Festival

Great Dorset Steam Fair

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Things To Do

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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