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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Bournemouth Food & Drink Festival

Type

Type:

Food and Drink

Bournemouth

Experience 10 days of mouthwatering, freshly prepared food and drink! And music for your entertainment

Dates

From:

15 June 2018to24 June 2018Open 10:00 - 23:00
Vdub At The Pub Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Wimborne

Vdub at the Pub is the most exciting VW festival on the south coast. We are still raising money for good causes including Dorset Air Ambulance and we are grateful for the support of our key energy partner SSE. In 2017 we also raised money for...

Dates

From:

22 June 2018to24 June 2018Various Opening Times
Civil War falconry

Type

Type:

Animal/Wildlife

Corfe Castle, Wareham

Come and meet our birds of prey and learn about the famous falconers who became embroiled in the English Civil War.

Venue

Corfe Castle, Corfe Castle

Dates

From:

23 June 2018to24 June 2018Open 10:00 - 18:00

From:

30 June 2018to1 July 2018Open 10:00 - 18:00
Chesil Rocks

Type

Type:

Festival

Langton Herring, Weymouth

Chesil Rocks 2018 will be taking place this year Saturday 23rd June, and will again be at Higher Farmhouse, Langton Herring and raising funds for Samaritans of Dorset. An amazing line-up will be performing alternately on two stages - one stage...

Dates

From:
23 June 2018Open 11:00 - 23:55

Price £8.50 to £17.50 Per Ticket
Beaminster Festival of Music & Arts 2018

Type

Type:

Festival

Beaminster

This year as well as maintaining a core of excellent classical music the Festival Organisers have broadened the scope both in terms of instruments and repertoire, including brass, choral, solo voice, piano and organ duo, string trio, piano quintet...

Dates

From:

23 June 2018to1 July 2018
Axe Vale Show

Type

Type:

Festival

Axminster

At this family friendly weekend long show you will find much to keep everyone entertained and inspired.! - Crafts of great variety, skill and ingenuity, toys and hobbies including many nostalgic exhibits, art, antiques and collectables. A number of...

Dates

From:

23 June 2018to24 June 2018Various Opening Times

Price £3.00 to £10.00 Per Ticket
Jazz By The Sea Festival

Type

Type:

Jazz

Bournemouth

Jazz By The Sea Festival - A Fortnight of Jazz Music. Visit the website for further details and venue listing

Dates

From:

24 June 2018to7 July 2018
The Original Shake & Stir Vintage Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Southbourne

Time to jump, jive and swing…The award-winning Shake and Stir Vintage Festival returns to Southbourne!

Dates

From:

28 June 2018to1 July 2018
Shaftesbury Fringe

Type

Type:

Festival

Shaftesbury

Only in its third year, Shaftesbury Fringe is the fastest growing open access performance festival in the South West and this year we are bigger than ever! From Friday 29 June - Sunday 1st July 25 venues in the centre of our historic town will host...

Dates

From:

29 June 2018to1 July 2018Open 10:30 - 23:00
Dorset Dubfest

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

The biggest party on the Jurassic coast returns to Herston Yards Farm on Friday 29th June – Sunday 1st July 2018.
Visit us for 3 days of VW fun, Live music, traders a guaranteed good time for all ages.
Situated in the heart of the Purbeck hills,...

Dates

From:

29 June 2018to1 July 2018Open 11:00 - 23:00

Price £25.00 Per Ticket
Sandbanks Beach Volleyball Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

See champions in the making in the best location in the in the UK.

Dates

From:

30 June 2018to1 July 2018Open 09:00 - 19:00
Folk on the Quay

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

Free family folk festival including, three live music stages, street barn dances and Morris dancers.

Dates

From:
30 June 2018
Chickerell Steam and Vintage Show

Type

Type:

Show/Display

Chickerell, Weymouth

Two day show with steam engines, classic vehicles, food hall, craft, models trains and boats, childrens entertainment, trade, music, beer tent, arena events, food stalls and the Chickerell Challenge!

Dates

From:

30 June 2018to1 July 2018Various Opening Times
Party in the Park hosted by Air FM

Type

Type:

Music

Weymouth

11 am to 6 pm. Live music and entertainment hosted by the local Air 107.2 radio station.

Dates

From:
1 July 2018
A Fanfare of Flowers

Type

Type:

Festival

Lytchett Matravers

With a title 'A Fanfare of Flowers' Our flower festival will ensure there will be an array of wonderful colours and fragrances that will weave their way throughout the artistic arrangements, cleverly designed by our expert flower arrangers.
Come and...

Dates

From:
6 July 2018Open 10:00 - 16:00
From:
7 July 2018Open 10:00 - 16:00
From:
8 July 2018Open 13:00 - 17:00

Free
Witchampton Village Fete

Type

Type:

Country Show

Wimborne

The stunning 'Abbey Ruins' will form the backdrop to this year's Witchampton Village Fete.There will be Cream Teas on the lawn, Pimms, BBQ, Karate Demonstrations, Children's games, Bouncy Castle & Bouncy Assault Course, Vintage & Modern Stalls,...

Dates

From:
7 July 2018Open 13:30 - 17:00
Tag Rugby Festival, Weymouth Beach

Type

Type:

Sports

Weymouth

Local Teams compete on Weymouth Beach 10 am to 4 pm.

Dates

From:

7 July 2018to8 July 2018
Bourne Free - Bournemouth's Pride Festival

Type

Type:

Free Event

Bournemouth

Bournemouth Pride Festival - Bourne Free. 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:
13 July 2018
From:
14 July 2018
From:
15 July 2018
Swanage Jazz Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

The Swanage Jazz Festival
13th to the 15th of July
This much loved and important date on the UK jazz calendar returns this Summer, featuring modern, traditional and contemporary jazz from some of the most popular acts on the national and...

Dates

From:

13 July 2018to15 July 2018Various Opening Times

Price £10.00 Per Ticket
Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

A visit to the award winning atmospheric Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival offers an amazing opportunity to gain a better understanding of the superb seafood available to us just off our wonderful shores.

Dates

From:

14 July 2018to15 July 2018Various Opening Times

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Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle

Bridport Hat Festival

Tank Fest

Accommodation

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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