The vibrant Great Dorset Steam Fair
Soak up the atmosphere of Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle

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Festivals in Dorset

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Highlights

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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Chesil Rocks

Type

Type:

Festival

Langton Herring, Weymouth

CANCELLED - This event has been cancelled for 2021.

Dates

From:

17 June 2021to19 June 2021Various Opening Times

Price £10.00 to £20.00 Per Ticket
Raising Spirit Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

DORCHESTER

Raising Spirit festival is here to celebrate you're local and upcoming musicians. In such uncertain times we wanted to do something that not only supports you're local entertainment industry but also the community. We are bringing the people of…

Dates

From:

18 June 2021to20 June 2021Open 12:00 -

Price £200.00 Per Ticket
BEAF Festival 2021 - 2B Human

Type

Type:

Festival

Boscombe, BOURNEMOUTH

After the year that gave us Zoom, banana bread, and community heroes, Bournemouth Emerging Arts Fringe (BEAF) brings Boscombe back to life this summer with their annual festival, presenting a cracking programme of arts and community events.
Enjoy a…

Dates

From:

26 June 2021to4 July 2021Various Opening Times
Folk on the Quay

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

Free family folk festival including, live music stages and Morris dancers.

Dates

From:
26 June 2021
Poole Quay For My Car

Type

Type:

Car & Motor Vehicles

Poole

Dates

From:

2 July 2021to27 August 2021Various Opening Times
Bournemouth Reggae Weekender

Type

Type:

Festival

Bournemouth

You are here: Home > What's On > Bournemouth Reggae Weekender
Bournemouth Reggae Weekender
Red, orange, yellow and green logo

About
This is 1st Reggae in Park event in Bournemouth, a unique occasion to celebrate the diverse African-Caribbean…

Dates

From:

2 July 2021to4 July 2021Open 10:00 - 20:00

Price Free to £18.00 Per Ticket
Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim

Type

Type:

Charity

Bournemouth

We're back for our 30th anniversary! Take part on Saturday or Sunday and swim 1.4 miles between Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers in one of Europe's biggest charity swimming events.

Dates

From:
3 July 2021Open 14:00 - 20:00
From:
4 July 2021Open 10:00 - 14:00
Ibiza Chill House with BRANDON BLOCK

Type

Type:

Festival

Sturminster Marshall, Wimborne

BALEARIC BEATS UNDER THE SUN, COCKTAIL IN HAND, SUMMER BREEZE IN YOUR HAIR:
Authentic Ibiza vibe with DJs inc celebrity DJ Brandon Block combined with live musicians inc Percussion, Sax and Flute providing a truly special musical concept.

An…

Dates

From:
5 July 2021Open 13:00 - 19:00
From:
8 July 2021Open 13:00 - 19:00
From:
12 July 2021Open 13:00 - 19:00
From:
20 July 2021Open 13:00 - 19:00
From:
2 August 2021Open 13:00 - 19:00
From:
8 August 2021Open 13:00 - 19:00
From:
10 August 2021Open 13:00 - 19:00
From:
17 August 2021Open 13:00 - 19:00
From:
24 August 2021Open 13:00 - 19:00

Price £12.50 to £15.00 Per Ticket
SandFest

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

Sandfest will be back in 2021 with the date of 11 July 2021.

Dates

From:
11 July 2021Open 12:00 - 22:00
Wonky Donk'21

Type

Type:

Festival

LYTCHETT MATRAVERS

After a fantastic weekend of a very different Wonky Donk and so much positive feedback we would like to see you again.
So here's to Wonky Donk'21 same place but this time 3 days and of course we will be following all the current government…

Dates

From:

16 July 2021to18 July 2021Various Opening Times

Price £25.00 to £43.20 Per Ticket
Stoke Abbott Street Fair

Type

Type:

Country Show

Stoke Abbott, BEAMINSTER

One of the region's most popular events, the traditional Stoke Abbott Street Fair will take place from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday 17th July 2021 (government guidelines permitting).
There's fun for all the family with enticing stalls, entertainment,…

Dates

From:
17 July 2021Open 13:45 - 17:00

Free
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week

Type

Type:

Festival

LYME REGIS

Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week is a week full of fun, from a teddy bears picnic, pavement art to a bathtub race. There will be various displays, music evenings, fireworks, Paras Red Devils Parachute Team display and duck race. Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week…

Dates

From:

24 July 2021to31 July 2021
Family Fest

Type

Type:

Festival

WIMBORNE MINSTER

Family Fest 2021 – Bringing Families & Community Together Location: The Meadows, Julian’s Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3DH (near Julian’s Bridge)
Date: 24th & 25th July 2021 from 11am to 7pm
Price: £1 per person with under 5’s free

Dates

From:

24 July 2021to25 July 2021Open 11:00 - 19:00
Camp Bestival

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:

29 July 2021to1 August 2021
RAGCITY

Type

Type:

Festival

Hinton, CHRISTCHURCH

You're in for a real treat as Ragwormers Intense Events are throwing a party for one and all, all walks of life, including anything that breathes oxygen and loves a great time.
You can expect awesome live music such as; funk, reggae, soul,…

Dates

From:

30 July 2021to1 August 2021Open 14:00 - 01:05

Price £25.00 Per Ticket
Poole Harbour Boat Show

Type

Type:

Boating

Poole

***CANCELLED*** The 2021 Poole Harbour Boat Show has been cancelled due to coronavirus

Dates

From:

30 July 2021to1 August 2021
Poole Harbour Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

Poole and Bournemouth's biggest & best family & live music festival is back on the 30th July - 1st August 2021!!!
It's our fifth year at Baiter Park and it certainly is BIGGER AND BETTER than ever before!
With over 50 live acts across THREE…

Dates

From:

30 July 2021to1 August 2021Various Opening Times
Witchampton Village Fete

Type

Type:

Country Show

WIMBORNE MINSTER

Witchampton Fete is back after a hiatus. It will, without a doubt, be THE fete of the year. A quintessentially English experience in one of the most beautiful villages in Dorset. Do come along for a warm Witchampton welcome and a fun day out with…

Dates

From:
31 July 2021Open 13:00 - 17:00

Price Free to £3.00 Per Ticket
Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week

Type

Type:

Carnival

Lyme Regis

A variety of events during Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week including carnival procession, regatta races. Activities and events for all ages! Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week, run during the school summer holidays, is our biggest fundraising…

Dates

From:

7 August 2021to14 August 2021
The Original Shake & Stir Vintage Music Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Southbourne

Celebrating vintage… American hot rods, custom motorbikes, classic cars and retro fashion. Wartime moments, dance displays, and live music from the 1920’s to the 1970’s - including Rock 'n’ Roll, Rockabilly, Lindy Hop, Blues, Jazz, Americana and…

Dates

From:

7 August 2021to8 August 2021

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Festivals in Dorset

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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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