Festivals in Dorset

To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site. Find out more here.

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

Bridport Hat Festival

Search Accommodation

Search Things to Do

Search What's On

Search Food & Drink

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!

Number of results:

Number of results: 59

, currently showing 1 to 20.

Sort By: A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest

Ongoing Events

Beaminster Festival of Music & Arts 2017

Type

Type:

Festival

Beaminster

The 2017 Beaminster Festival Of Music & the Visual Arts includes a brilliant programme of music, both classical and jazz, literature and an art exhibition of the work of local artists, potters, sculptors and furniture makers.

Dates

From:

24 June 2017to2 July 2017
Chesil Rocks 2017

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:
24 June 2017Open 11:00 - 00:00
Folk on the Quay

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

FOLK ON THE QUAY
is a free folk music festival in Poole on 24 June with outdoor music stages and dancers in the streets overlooking Poole's lovely Harbour.
With traditional folk dancing, cehilidhs on the Quay and lots more.
More information about...

Dates

From:
24 June 2017

Free
Dorset Midsummer Music Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Blandford Forum

Family friendly music festival based just outside Dorchester, in a natural amphitheatre on the slopes of Bulbarrow Hill
This year we will have the legendary Ben Waters who rarely gets to play in the county due to his international commitments,...

Dates

From:
24 June 2017Open 12:00 - 23:00

Price £3.00 to £23.00 Per Ticket
Feel Good Festival Dorset

Type

Type:

Festival

Bournemouth

Feel Good Festival Dorset is brought to you by YMCA Bournemouth and Dorset Blind Association on Saturday 24th June. The Festival will run all day from 11am to 11pm at Boscombe Beach with live music, stalls and refreshments.
Day time schedule is as...

Dates

From:
24 June 2017Open 11:00 - 11:00

Free
Purbeck Chamber Music Golf Day

Type

Type:

Festival

Studland, SWANAGE

Purbeck Chamber Music Festival Fund Raising Golf event
One round of Golf with one musician
-2 course dinner after play
-short performance given by musicians after dinner between the 2 course meal
- Auction Prizes after Dinner
Here is your chance to...

Dates

From:
24 June 2017Open 08:00 - 20:00

Price £75.00 Per Ticket
Southbourne Shake & Stir Vintage Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Southbourne

The award-winning Shake and Stir Vintage Festival is returning this year with a bigger and better line-up than ever before.The festival, which takes place on Fishermans Walk, Southbourne Grove and the Green, will feature, music, dancing, classic...

Dates

From:

29 June 2017to2 July 2017Various Opening Times

Free
Bournemouth Pride Festival – Bourne Free

Type

Type:

Festival

Bournemouth

Bourne Free is Bournemouth's LGBT Pride Festival. We invite you to join us for a weekend of fun and frolics, good music, great entertainment and of course the famous Parade.

Dates

From:

30 June 2017to2 July 2017Open 12:00 - 20:00

Free
B Sharp's 10th Birthday Party @ The Big Mix

Type

Type:

Major Event

Lyme Regis

B Sharp’s 10th Birthday
At the Big Mix this year we are celebrating B Sharp’s 10th birthday in style!
To mark this special occasion, we are blending our wild and exciting Birthday Party with a fabulous showcase of music, dancing, food and fun! Set...

Dates

From:
1 July 2017

Price £5.00 to £21.00 Per Ticket
British Beach Polo Championships

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

Building on the success of the last 9 years the British Beach Polo Championships 2017 promises to be another phenomenal event .
With a range of tickets available, including hospitality, enjoy the thrill of Beach Polo at it's best. The event also...

Dates

From:

7 July 2017to8 July 2017Various Opening Times
13th UK Boogie Woogie Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Sturminster Newton

The UK International Boogie Woogie Festival
Man, they'll put it to you like an ol' steam drill...
For three days every July the town comes alive to the infectious sounds of boogie woogie thanks to the UK International Boogie Woogie Festival!

A...

Dates

From:

7 July 2017to9 July 2017Open 11:00 - 16:00
Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

Come along to Waterfront Weymouth and enjoy the annual Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival,

Dates

From:

8 July 2017to9 July 2017Various Opening Times
A Fun Day at the Farm

Type

Type:

Festival

West Moors, Ferndown

Come and join us and supoort our Charity gor our Funday at the Farm!!! We have live bands, food and drink stalls, entertainment, free tractor rides and much more for you and your family!!!

Dates

From:
8 July 2017Open 12:00 - 18:00
Bournemouth University Festival of Learning

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

Bournemouth University invites you to join us in celebrating the joy of learning at our fifth annual Festival of Learning.
We have a jam-packed five-day programme of free events, activities and opportunities to learn something new.
The annual...

Dates

From:

8 July 2017to12 July 2017Open 09:00 - 20:00

Free
Kermiz by Le Cirque Du Platzak: As Part of the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

Activate are thrilled to announce that we will present a special one-off Inside Out Dorset performance at the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival in Weymouth this July.
We are delighted to welcome back, acclaimed circus artists, Le Cirque du Platzak...

Dates

From:

8 July 2017to9 July 2017Open 10:00 - 05:30

From:

8 July 2017to9 July 2017Open 10:00 - 17:30

Price £6.00 to £8.00 Per Ticket
West Moors - Farmival 2017

Type

Type:

Festival

West Moors, Ferndown

DATE: 8TH JULY 2017
TIME: 12PM - 5PM
YES YES ITS BACK!!! This years Funday has undorgone some major revamping and has come back with the name of Farmival! We want to create a Carnival atmosphere and have enlisted some help from some amazing Bands...

Dates

From:
8 July 2017Open 12:00 - 17:00

Free
Swanage Jazz Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

SWANAGE

Most kinds of jazz from New Orleans to contemporary sounds

Dates

From:

14 July 2017to16 July 2017

Free
Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival 2017

Type

Type:

Festival

Tolpuddle

An annual festival to commemorate the bravery of the martyrs' struggle featuring music, speakers and family entertainment.

Dates

From:

14 July 2017to16 July 2017
Piddlehinton Church Fete

Type

Type:

Fete/Fair

Dorchester

Piddlehinton Church Fete - Saturday 15 July 2017
at West Lodge, Piddlehinton (DT2 7TD) starting at 2:00 p.m.

This year our fete is held in the beautiful grounds of West Lodge, Piddlehinton in the Piddle Valley, near Dorchester.
...

Dates

From:
15 July 2017Open 14:00 - 20:00
Poole Goes Vintage

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

11am-7pm, Poole Quay
Poole Goes Vintage 2Revel in a day of vintage music, fashion, memorabilia, entertainment and classic cars on a 1940's theme.
Please check www.pooletourism.com for further information of acts, entertainment & timetable...

Dates

From:
16 July 2017Open 11:00 - 19:00

Free

Things To Do Attractions, Activities, Shopping, Entertainment, Tours & Sightseeing,	What's On Events, Festivals, Nature, Submit Event,	Accommodation Hotels, Bed & Breakfast, Self Catering, Caravan & Holiday Parks, Campsites, Glamping, Pubs & Inns, Farm Stays, Group Friendly, Pet Friendly, Accessible, Gradings & Awards,
Food & Drink Restaurants, Pubs & Bars, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Afternoon Tea, Local Produce, Farmers' Markets, Cookery Schools, Celebrity Chefs, Food Events,	Ideas & Inspiration Film & TV, Top 10 Ideas, Notable Days & Holidays, Dorset Holidays, Short Break Ideas, Weddings in Dorset, Dog Friendly, Dorset Videos, Special Offers,	Explore History & Heritage, Areas To Visit, Towns, Villages, Coast, Countryside, Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB),
Visitor Information Maps, Brochures & Guides, Apps & Downloads, Tourist Information Centres, Travel Information, Group Travel, Accessibility, Social Media, Contact Us,	Home

Follow Visit Dorset

Bridport Hat Festival

Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle

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

Number of results:

Ongoing Events

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type

Type:

Dates

Type