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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Christmas Events & Activities at Brewery Square

Type

Type:

Festival

Dorchester

24th November
Christmas Time at Brewery Square
Brewery Square are putting on a host of live music, performances and entertainment as well as their spectacular lights illumination.

Venue

Brewery Square, Dorchester

Dates

From:

24 November 2018to5 January 2019
Lighthouse Holistic Festival 2019

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

Each year Lighthouse Holistic Festival, Dorset's Health and Well Being Show brings together a wonderful array of around 110 interesting stands to explore, including therapies to try and advice to improve health and well-being.
Organiser Elaine...

Dates

From:

9 February 2019to10 February 2019Open 10:00 - 17:00

Price £8.00 to £10.00 Per Ticket
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
From Page To Screen Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

The UK's only festival celebrating the adaptation of books to film. Full details of films showing on the website.
Tickets range in price and are available from Bridport Arts Centre 01308 424204.

Dates

From:

24 April 2019to28 April 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
Shaftesbury Food & Drink Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Shaftesbury

A celebration of local food, with farmers' market. cookery demonstrations, events and dancing in Shaftesbury and the surrounding villages. For a full list of events please visit the Festival website.

Dates

From:
12 May 2019
The Dorset Job

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

A great fun packed weekend for all of the family, live music, good food, great beer and live music, kids' activities, shopping, Auto jumble, show and shine not only for the car but for the K9 as well.
Please come and party!!!

Dates

From:

17 May 2019to19 May 2019Open 10:00 - 20:00

Price £25.00 Per Ticket
Spring Tide Food Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

This spectacular West Dorset outdoor food event offers you the chance to meet and buy from West Dorset‘s hugely talented local producers who will once be on hand to show off Dorset produce at its very best. From 10am - 4pm

Dates

From:

18 May 2019to19 May 2019Open 10:00 - 16:00

Price £2.00 Per Ticket
Bournemouth 7s Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

East Parley, Christchurch

Renowned as the Sporting Glastonbury, Bournemouth 7s has established a formidable reputation amongst sportspeople and festival-goers alike!

Dates

From:

24 May 2019to26 May 2019Various Opening Times
Jazz Jurassica Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Lyme Regis

Music | Festival | Jazz Jurassica 2019 | Friday 24th - Monday 27th May 2019
Lyme Regis Jazz and blues Festival featuring live music.
Tickets on sale at the Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre. Telephone 01297 442138.

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:

24 May 2019to27 May 2019
Wessex Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

Family festival on Weymouth Harbourside with two free stages showcasing a range of traditional and modern folk acts. Morris dancing, food and craft stalls along the picturesque harbourside. Workshops and traditional music sessions in the local pubs...

Dates

From:

31 May 2019to2 June 2019
Wimborne Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Wimborne

The famous Wimborne Folk Festival returns to the town. We're taking part with Morris dancers, music sessions, crafts, games, face painting and lots more!

Dates

From:

7 June 2019to9 June 2019Open 10:00 - 23:55

Free
Swanage Fish Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

SWANAGE

Prince Albert Gardens, overlooking the beautiful bay, is the stage for cooking demonstrations by of top-notch chefs by day and popular entertainment by evening. Stalls offering a mouth-watering array of exotic fish fare and locally sourced fresh...

Dates

From:

8 June 2019to9 June 2019Various Opening Times

Free
Bridport Food and Beer Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

The BRIDPORT FOOD FESTIVAL will be celebrating its 15th anniversary with exciting foodie events for all ages to enjoy.

Dates

From:

9 June 2019to15 June 2019

Price £3.50 Per Ticket
FlowerFest

Type

Type:

Festival

CHRISTCHURCH

An outdoor floral festival embracing flora, nature and gardening suitable for the whole family and community.
Local companies clubs and organisations will sponsor and create a floral living design in the grounds of the Priory along with...

Dates

From:

14 June 2019to16 June 2019Various Opening Times

Free
Dorset Midsummer Music Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Blandford Forum

Dorset Midsummer Music Festival is a family friendly music festival set in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
With a range of great music, children's entertainment, stalls and a holistic zone alongside a wide selection of food and drink, this...

Dates

From:

21 June 2019to22 June 2019Various Opening Times

Price £3.00 to £27.00 Per Ticket
Beaminster Festival of Music & Arts

Type

Type:

Festival

Beaminster

22 - 30 June 2019
Bringing the Best to Beaminster.
An annual festival of music, both classical and jazz, literature and an art exhibition of the work of local artists, potters and sculptors - open to all.

Dates

From:

22 June 2019to30 June 2019
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week

Type

Type:

Festival

LYME REGIS

Community | Event | Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week 2019 | 27th July - 3rd August 2019
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,...

Dates

From:

27 June 2019to3 August 2019
Dorset Dubfest

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

A great fun packed weekend for all of the family, live music, good food, great beer and live music, kids activities, shopping, Auto jumble, show and shine not only for the car but for the K9 as well.
Please come and party!!!

Dates

From:

28 June 2019to30 June 2019Open 10:00 - 20:00

Price £25.00 Per Ticket

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Bestival at Lulworth Castle

Bridport Hat Festival

Great Dorset Steam Fair

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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