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 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

Chesil Rocks 2019 will be taking place this year over 2 days, Friday 21st for classical and Saturday 22nd June as usual performances, and will again be at Higher Farmhouse, Langton Herring and raising funds for Samaritans of Dorset. tickets are…

Dates

From:

21 June 2019to22 June 2019Various Opening Times

Price £10.00 to £20.00 Per Ticket
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
Vdub at the Pub

Type

Type:

Festival

Adjacent Julian's Bridge, Wimborne Minster

Dorset's most exciting camper van and outdoor activity family weekend camping festival. Music, activities, vintage, cycle ride, stalls and a car show.

Dates

From:

21 June 2019to24 June 2019Open 09:00 - 23:30

Price Free to £35.00 Per Ticket
Beaminster Festival Pre-Show Dinner

Type

Type:

Festival

BEAMINSTER

Beaminster Festival: Pre-Show Dinner
In the spirit of the Beaminster Festival, we're invite you to take advantage of our pre-show dinner offer running for the duration of the Festival, 22 June – 30 June 2019.
Whether you're planning on enjoying a…

Dates

From:

22 June 2019to30 June 2019Open 17:00 - 18:30

Price £20.00 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.
An annual festival of music, both…

Dates

From:

22 June 2019to30 June 2019
Hall & Woodhouse Dorset Beer Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Blandford Forum

Join us Saturday 22nd June at our Blandford Forum based Hall & Woodhouse brewery for a full day (and night) of characterful beer and live music. Enjoy your favourite Badger Beers and sample some exclusive one-day-only appearances from a selection of…

Dates

From:
22 June 2019Open 11:00 - 22:00

Price £10.00 Per Ticket
Magic of Thailand Festival in Poole

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

A two day Thai Festival to experience the taste of Thailand this summer at Harbourside Park is brought to you by Magic of Thailand, previously known as Poole Thai Festival. Treat yourself to a weekend wonder and bring along your families and…

Dates

From:

22 June 2019to23 June 2019Open 10:00 - 19:00

Price £5.00 Per Ticket
Leweston Summer Fest

Type

Type:

Festival

Sherborne

Our summer festival this year will feature the musical talents of the likes of COCO and the Butterfields, Jamie Yost and many more. This year we will also be having a food demo tent hosted by MasterChef Winner Mat Follas with demos from fellow…

Dates

From:
22 June 2019Open 12:00 - 23:45

Price £11.00 to £16.00 Per Ticket
An Evening of Musical Matching

Type

Type:

Festival

BEAMINSTER

Tuesday, 25th June – 19:00
As a fringe event to the very popular Beaminster Festival this year, we invite you to join us on a global journey of good music, great wine and spectacular food as we transport you from Spain to Argentina with this…

Dates

From:
25 June 2019Open 19:00 - 22:00

Price £60.00 Per Ticket
Dorset Moon

Type

Type:

Festival

Bournemouth

DORSET MOON
It has travelled all over the world and wowed thousands. Now Luke Jerram’s internationally acclaimed Museum of the Moon is making its way to Dorset for the first time as part of DORSET MOON; the exciting new FREE arts event for summer…

Dates

From:

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

Free
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
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:
29 June 2019
Bee Fest Poundbury

Type

Type:

Festival

Dorchester

We are super excited to announce a brand new event to Poundbury . Bee Fest Poundbury will take place on the great field on Saturday 29th June 2019 from 12pm till 4pm . The aim of this event is to raise awareness about Bee's and for the family to…

Dates

From:
29 June 2019Open 12:00 - 16:00

Free
The Original Shake & Stir Vintage Festival - EVENT POSTPONED

Type

Type:

Festival

Southbourne

EVENT POSTPONED - See website in event information for further details

Dates

From:

29 June 2019to30 June 2019
Dorset Moon

Type

Type:

Festival

Abbey Close, SHERBORNE

DORSET MOON
It has travelled all over the world and wowed thousands. Now Luke Jerram’s internationally acclaimed Museum of the Moon is making its way to Dorset for the first time as part of DORSET MOON; the exciting new FREE arts event for summer…

Venue

Sherborne Abbey

Dates

From:

5 July 2019to7 July 2019Open 10:00 - 10:00

Free
Christchurch Music Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

CHRISTCHURCH

5th, 6th & 7th JULY 2019 Music | Dance | Food/Drink | Fun FREE ENTRY ALL WEEKEND 2 Stages | Bar | Food Stalls | Craft Stalls | Clothing Stalls | Children's Activities & much more! It's our 25th anniversary and so we have lots lined up for you…

Venue

Christchurch Quay, Christchurch

Dates

From:

5 July 2019to7 July 2019Various Opening Times

Free
Shaftesbury Fringe

Type

Type:

Festival

Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury Fringe is the fastest growing open access performance festival in the South West and this year we are bigger than ever! From 5th - 7th of July 25 venues in the centre of our historic town will host an eclectic mix of over 150…

Dates

From:

5 July 2019to7 July 2019Open 10:30 - 23:00
Sandbanks Beach Volleyball Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

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

Dates

From:

6 July 2019to7 July 2019
Festival of archaeology

Type

Type:

Festival

Corfe Castle

Join us as we take part in the national Festival of Archaeology 2019. There will be a variety of living history displays and hands-on activities during the festival (see website for full details).
Price: normal admission prices apply.

Venue

Corfe Castle, Corfe Castle

Dates

From:

6 July 2019to7 July 2019Open 10:00 - 17:00

From:

13 July 2019to14 July 2019Open 10:00 - 17:00
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:

12 July 2019to14 July 2019

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Bestival at Lulworth Castle

Bridport Hat Festival

Great Dorset Steam Fair

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What's On

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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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