Festivals in Dorset

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Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle

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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.

Purbeck Literary Festival kick starts the year!

Explore the beautiful landscape through literature at the Purbeck Literary Festival in February.

Dorset’s wonderful scenery has inspired many a writer, perhaps you’ll discover a new passion and become the next Thomas Hardy or Enid Blyton!

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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Number of results: 20

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Ongoing Events

Dorchester Literary Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

High West Street, 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.

Venue

Dorset County Museum, Dorchester

Dates

From:

18 October 2017to22 October 2017
Britain’s Got Talent Winner Richard Jones, Power of Imagination Tour

Type

Type:

Show/Display

Lyme Regis

Show time: 7.30pm
Running time: 1hour 30 minutes (approx) plus interval
Tickets: Full Price £15
Concessions £13+£2 on the door
Call the box office on 01297 442138
Please note that a 10% booking fee applies online and via the Tourist Info...

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
20 October 2017

Price £13.00 to £15.00 Per Ticket
Onion Jack Tour Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

A festival celebrating the French "Onion Johnnies", the Breton travelling door-to-door onion sellers, takes place in West Bay Harbour, Bridport next week. A boatload of "Johnnies" and their famous, pink-fleshed onions lands at West Bay after a...

Dates

From:

20 October 2017to22 October 2017Various Opening Times
Wimborne Minster Food & Drink Festival 2017

Type

Type:

Event

Wimborne Minster

Take a unique town and combine it with local food and drink producers and hands on cookery demonstrations by passionate local chefs and you have the perfect recipe for a wonderful day - the Wimborne Minster Food and Drink Festival. The Festival...

Dates

From:
21 October 2017Open 10:00 - 16:00
Lyme Slime Halloween Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Lyme Regis

The brand new 'Lyme Slime Halloween Festival' descends on Lyme Regis during the October half term holidays and is billed to be an autumn event like no other. The spooky-extravaganza offers a week of frightfully fun activities in venues all around...

Dates

From:

21 October 2017to29 October 2017Various Opening Times
Sherborne International Film Festival 2017

Type

Type:

Festival

Sherborne

Three day film festival.

Dates

From:

26 October 2017to29 October 2017

Price £5.00 to £32.00 Per Ticket
Halloween Cider Festival

Type

Type:

Halloween

Bournemouth

This Halloween from the very house that brought you Frankenstein, fetch the drinks has again teamed up with Shelley Theatre to bring you another fun filled evening of proper cider, great food and live music So join us for some haunted fun with...

Dates

From:
27 October 2017Open 18:00 -

Price £6.00 Per Ticket
Oxjam Festival Bournemouth 2017

Type

Type:

Festival

Bournemouth

This year Oxjam Festival Bournemouth will be held on Saturday 28th October 2017.
Oxjam Festival Bournemouth is a local music festival hosted to raise funds for the Oxfam charity, while showcasing the live music scene and local talent in our town....

Dates

From:
28 October 2017Open 12:00 - 23:55

Price £2.50 to £5.00 Per Ticket
Weymouth Festival of Remembrance

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

Following on from the success of last year, we bring you the second Festival of Remembrance to be held in Weymouth. The aim of the Festival of Remembrance is to commemorate all those who have lost their lives in conflicts; we aim to do that with...

Dates

From:
29 October 2017Open 17:30 - 21:30

Price £11.50 Per Ticket
The Plantation Wedding Fayre

Type

Type:

Festival

Canford Cliffs, Poole

Come and take full advantage of our very first wedding fayre!
If you're a bride to be and after some new and exciting ideas for your special day then join us on November 11th and take a look at what we have to offer.
From wedding hair to wedding...

Dates

From:
11 November 2017Open 11:00 - 16:00

Free
Those Were The Days – Archive films and folk songs

Type

Type:

Cinema & Film

Lyme Regis

To book tickets call the box office on 01297 442138
Please note that a 10% booking fee applies online and via the Tourist Info Centre
Show time: 7.30pm
Tickets: Full Price £12, Concessions £10 (TF discount applies)
Lyme Folk Weekend presents...

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
16 November 2017

Price £10.00 to £12.00 Per Ticket
Bournemouth Alpine Christmas Market

Type

Type:

Christmas

Bournemouth Square, Bournemouth

2017 sees a brand new Christmas Market coming to Bournemouth, which will take place from 14th November until 4th January.

Dates

From:

17 November 2017to4 January 2018
Vintage Christmas Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bovington, WAREHAM

Stepping back in time, 'Vintage Christmas' brings fantastic entertainment, an incredible festive market and historical education in a unique setting. Annual Passes are valid.
Not only will you be entertained throughout, you can shop till you...

Venue

The Tank Museum, Bere Regis & Surrounding

Dates

From:

2 December 2017to3 December 2017
Swanage Fish Festival 2018

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

Fishy food and drink stalls
Live Music
Crabbing competitions
Local artists and entertainers and much, much more

Dates

From:

9 June 2018to10 June 2018
Chesil Rocks 2018

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

Chesil Rocks is a small and intimate music and arts festival, set in a beautiful setting at Higher Farmhouse, Langton Herring and supports Samaritans of Dorset whilst ensuring those attending have a great time!
An amazing variety of music,...

Dates

From:
23 June 2018Open 11:00 - 00:00
Weymouth and Portland Armed Forces Celebrations

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

The Borough will welcome veterans, residents and visitors to a weekend of military and veterans commemorations and celebrations.
The Armed Force and our Veterans have made and continue to make a major contribution to our Nation and the Celebrations...

Dates

From:

23 June 2018to24 June 2018Open 10:00 - 16:30

Free
Camp Bestival 2018

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:

26 July 2018to29 July 2018
The Great Dorset Steam Fair 2018

Type

Type:

Show/Display

Blandford Forum

Steam engine exhibits, vintage vehicles, heavy shire horses and rural crafts. Working rural displays on a 500-acre site including old time steam funfair. Tickets on sale from Tourist Information Centres across Dorset.

Dates

From:

23 August 2018to27 August 2018
Purbeck Film Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Wareham

Purbeck Film Festival 21st ANNUAL PURBECK FILM FESTIVAL 13 TO 29 OCTOBER 2017. 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:

13 October 2017to29 October 2017
Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival

Type

Type:

Arts and Culture

Bournemouth

For the culturally curious! The festival is a rich mix of some of the best regional, national and international arts. Please visit the website artsbythesea.co.uk for a full event listing.

Dates

From:

14 October 2017to21 October 2017

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Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle

Bridport Hat Festival

Tank Fest

Accommodation

Things To Do

What's On

Food & Drink

Search Accommodation

Search Things to Do

Search What's On

Search Food & Drink

Highlights

Purbeck Literary Festival kick starts the year!

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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