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.

Tank Fest

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: 26

, currently showing 1 to 20.

Sort By: A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest

Ongoing Events

Wareham Wednesdays

Type

Type:

Festival

Wareham

A FREE family event for all ages. There's fireworks, food, live music, fairground rides, stalls, fun activities and more! All money raised is given back to the local community and charities. Come along, it will be so much fun!

Dates

From:
23 Aug 2017Open 06:30 - 23:00
From:
30 Aug 2017Open 06:30 - 23:00

Free
The Great Dorset Steam Fair

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:

24 Aug 2017to28 Aug 2017

Free
Bournemouth Air Festival

Type

Type:

Major Event

Bournemouth

As the only summer destination for the UK’s best aviation entertainment Bournemouth will again be hosting incredible air displays, on the ground action and evening entertainment at the 10th Bournemouth Air Festival! Taking place from 31st August...

Dates

From:

31 Aug 2017to3 Sept 2017
Tall Ship Voyage - Bournemouth Air Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

Whether you are a Sailing or Flying Enthusiast or just want to sit back relax, and enjoy one of Britains premier air displays over 3 days, Bournemouth Air Festival is the Voyage for You.
Setting sail from Weymouth, Dorset we will make our way along...

Dates

From:

31 Aug 2017to4 Sept 2017Open 09:00 - 17:00

Price £595.00 Per Ticket
Lyme Regis Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Lyme Regis

Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd September 2017
Lyme Folk Weekend takes place in and around Lyme Regis in Dorset.
WE HAVE MORE THAN 30 ACTS APPEARING AT SIX VENUES AROUND OUR WONDERFUL TOWN...
We have music, dancing and entertainment all over the town,...

Dates

From:

1 Sept 2017to3 Sept 2017

Price £5.00 to £20.00 Per Ticket
Gillingham Walking Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Gillingham

Enjoy our gently rolling farmland, our rivers, our history and our wildlife on a wide variety of walks. This year showcasing Gillingham's medieval Royal Forest and introducing The White Hart Link long distance path.

Dates

From:
1 Sept 2017Open 19:00 -
From:
2 Sept 2017Open 10:00 -
From:
2 Sept 2017Open 14:30 -
From:
2 Sept 2017Open 19:00 -
From:
3 Sept 2017Open 09:15 -
From:
4 Sept 2017Open 09:00 -
From:
4 Sept 2017Various Opening Times
From:
5 Sept 2017Open 10:00 -
From:
5 Sept 2017Open 14:30 -
From:
5 Sept 2017Open 18:00 -
From:
6 Sept 2017Open 10:00 -
From:
6 Sept 2017Various Opening Times
From:
7 Sept 2017Open 10:00 -
From:
7 Sept 2017Open 10:00 -
From:
8 Sept 2017Various Opening Times
From:
8 Sept 2017Open 18:00 -
From:
9 Sept 2017Open 09:30 -
From:
9 Sept 2017Various Opening Times
From:
9 Sept 2017Various Opening Times
From:
10 Sept 2017Various Opening Times

Free
Poole Blues Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

Join us on Poole Quay for the Poole Blues Festival.
Bluesb bands and entertainment. Check back for more details.
Blues Festival facebook page: www.facebook.com/poolebluesfestival

Dates

From:

1 Sept 2017to3 Sept 2017Various Opening Times
Bridport Hat Festival 2017

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

The 8th Bridport Hat Festival will take place on Saturday 2nd September 2017.

Dates

From:
2 Sept 2017
BOURNEMOUTH AIR FESTIVAL OFFICIAL TV CLOSING PARTY - THE BOX SKY GARDEN BRUNCH

Type

Type:

Festival

Bournemouth

Your invited to live better with a cool conscience in a stunning pop-up sky garden location…
After Love Dorset Festival's finale gala at The Hilton's Ball Room sold out in March to high acclaim, the second event of 2017 is now on sale. Staged at...

Dates

From:
3 Sept 2017Open 14:00 - 22:00

Price £35.00 Per Ticket
Bestival 2017

Type

Type:

Festival

East Lulworth

Bestival is an award winning four-day boutique music festival set on the Lulworth Estate – an enchanting, wooded country estate on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.

Dates

From:

7 Sept 2017to10 Sept 2017
Swanage Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

It is the Swanage Folk Festival's 25th birthday this year and we would love you to join us for a fun filled weekend. We have an exceptional line-up of music concerts featuring headline bands such as Nancy Kerr and the Sweet Visitor Band, Le Vent du...

Dates

From:

8 Sept 2017to10 Sept 2017Various Opening Times

Price £10.00 Per Ticket
Poole Thai Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

10am-7pm, Baiter Harbourside Park
Popular Thai festival returns with activities for all the family:
A two day event to experience the taste of Thailand this summer at Baiter (Harbourside) Park is brought to you by Magic of Thailand.
Treat...

Dates

From:

9 Sept 2017to10 Sept 2017Open 10:00 - 19:00
FitLiving UK

Type

Type:

Festival

Bournemouth

FITLIVING UK will be an amazing fitness weekender on September 9th and 10th 2017.

With September being the most popular time for people to begin a new fitness regime or start a gym, FITLIVING UK is a new national fitness lifestyle show hitting...

Dates

From:

9 Sept 2017to10 Sept 2017Open 07:00 - 17:00

Price £6.25 to £14.50 Per Ticket
Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Sturminster Newton

60+ traditional food stalls, 60+ craft stalls, real ale and real cider tents. Live music, children's entertainment, cheese making, cheese tasting, etc. Open 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Dates

From:

9 Sept 2017to10 Sept 2017Open 10:00 - 17:00

Free
Swanage & Purbeck Walking Festival 2017

Type

Type:

Festival

SWANAGE

The beautiful Isle of Purbeck is a walker's paradise.

Dates

From:

16 Sept 2017to24 Sept 2017
Toby's Garden & Harvest Festival

Type

Type:

Green/Eco

Chard

Description - A two-day celebration of gardening and the harvest, hosted by TV gardener Toby Buckland with celebrity speakers, Charlie Dimmock, BBC One Show garden expert Christine Walkden and The Big Allotment Challenge presenter Jim Buttress who...

Venue

Forde Abbey and Gardens, West Dorset

Dates

From:

16 Sept 2017to17 Sept 2017Open 10:00 - 17:00
3 Daft Monkeys

Type

Type:

Folk

Lyme Regis

Show Time: 8pm
Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes (approx) with interval
With Celtic and eastern influences, the 3 Daft Monkeys’ dynamic style of world folk music reflects the global village in which we now live. Their infectious dancing rhythms lead...

Venue

The Marine Theatre, West Dorset

Dates

From:
29 Sept 2017

Price £13.00 to £17.00 Per Ticket
Sherborne Literary Festival 2017

Type

Type:

Festival

Sherborne

Sherborne's literary festival with authors of national standing, proven authors who have established followings and cutting edge writers who are at the forefront of creative thinking.

Dates

From:

11 Oct 2017to15 Oct 2017
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 Oct 2017to29 Oct 2017
Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival

Type

Type:

Arts and Culture

Bournemouth

The festival is a rich mix of some of the best regional, national and international arts.

Dates

From:

14 Oct 2017to21 Oct 2017

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, Litter Free Dorset, Accessibility, Social Media, Contact Us,	Home

Follow Visit Dorset

Tank Fest

Bridport Hat Festival

Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle

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:

Venue

Dates

Type

Type:

Venue

Dates

Type

Type: