The vibrant Great Dorset Steam Fair
Soak up the atmosphere of Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle

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Festivals in Dorset

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Highlights

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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Number of results: 37

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Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week

Type

Type:

Festival

LYME REGIS

CANCELLED but save the date for 2021 which is 24-31 July!!
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, fireworks, Paras Red Devils…

Dates

From:

24 July 2021to31 July 2021
Camp Bestival

Type

Type:

Festival

East Lulworth

A music and performance festival hosted at Lulworth Castle, set against the backdrop of England’s dramatic Jurassic coastline in Dorset.

Venue

Lulworth Castle & Park, Lulworth

Dates

From:

29 July 2021to1 August 2021
Poole Harbour Boat Show

Type

Type:

Boating

Poole

***CANCELLED*** The 2021 Poole Harbour Boat Show has been cancelled due to coronavirus

Dates

From:

30 July 2021to1 August 2021
Swanage Carnival & Regatta

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

Swanage Regatta and Carnival is the premier carnival on the South Coast. For one week at the end of July and the beginning of August, Swanage will be radiating to the sound, fun and excitement.

Venue

Swanage Beach, Swanage

Dates

From:

31 July 2021to7 August 2021
Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week

Type

Type:

Carnival

Lyme Regis

A variety of events during Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week including carnival procession, regatta races. Activities and events for all ages! Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week, run during the school summer holidays, is our biggest fundraising…

Dates

From:

7 August 2021to14 August 2021
Bridport Carnival CANCELLED FOR 2020

Type

Type:

Carnival

Bridport

Bridport Carnival is a must-see event and a highlight of the town's calendar! The fun packed extravaganza includes a grand procession held on the third Saturday in August each year and features plenty of floats and colourful walking entries.

Dates

From:

16 August 2021to22 August 2021
Dorchester Cider Festival CANCELLED FOR 2020

Type

Type:

Festival

Dorchester

The annual Dorchester Cider Festival returns to Borough Gardens on Saturday 15th August at 15:00. A FREE family friendly celebration of the regions finest cider producers, special guests, great food and live music throughout the day. Meet and be…

Dates

From:
21 August 2021Open 15:00 - 22:00

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.

Venue

The Great Dorset Steam Fair, Blandford Forum

Dates

From:

26 August 2021to30 August 2021
Lyme Regis Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Performance

Lyme Regis

Full programme details will soon be available from www.lymefolk.com. For more information, please phone the Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre on 01297 442138.

Dates

From:

27 August 2021to30 August 2021

Free
Bournemouth Air Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bournemouth

The award winning and internationally renowned Bournemouth Air Festival is back again for 2019. You can enjoy 4 days of action and entertainment in the air, on land and at sea from 29 August - 1 September. This is a fantastic opportunity to see…

Dates

From:
2 September 2021Open 10:00 - 22:00
From:
3 September 2021Open 10:00 - 22:00
From:
4 September 2021Open 10:00 - 22:00
From:
5 September 2021Open 10:00 - 18:00

Free
VERVE Wellness Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Chalke Valley, Near Shaftesbury

VERVE celebrates health, wellness and nature.
Join us for yoga, Pilates, meditation, sound bathing, breathwork, fitness & dance classes, nature walks and farm runs.
Forest bathe in the ancient woodland, listen to inspiring speakers, relax in the…

Dates

From:

4 September 2021to5 September 2021Various Opening Times

Price Free to £70.00 Per Ticket
Wellbeing by the Lakes

Type

Type:

Festival

Dorchester

Set in the picturesque Sculpture by the Lakes park nestled in 26 acres of Dorset's glorious countryside, Wellbeing by the Lakes is a 3-day festival exploring what it means to be mindful and live well in this fast-paced modern world. A curated blend…

Dates

From:

10 September 2021to11 September 2021Open 10:00 - 22:00

Price £55.00 Per Ticket
Swanage Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Swanage

The folk festival has come a long way since our first day of dance in 1992. It has grown into a full and varied weekend of music and dance. From Friday 11th September to Sunday 13th September our small seaside town on the beautiful Jurassic coast of…

Dates

From:

10 September 2021to12 September 2021Various Opening Times

Price £10.00 Per Ticket
b-side Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Isle of Portland

A thousand ideas, one amazing island
If you love new experiences, exploring beautiful landscape and unique work created by artists from across the globe – then please make your way to Portland this September.

Dates

From:

11 September 2021to19 September 2021Open 11:00 - 18:00

Free
Inside Out Dorset Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole Quay, Poole

Inside Out Dorset festival returns between 17 September - 26 September 2021 (the previous event date was 11 - 27 September 2020). Come with us on a performance adventure across Dorset, stay tuned as locations and performances are revealed.

Dates

From:

17 September 2021to26 September 2021
Inside Out Dorset

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport Road, Dorchester

The Inside Out Dorset festival returns in 2020 with more extraordinary events in extraordinary places - Nearly all of it FREE!

Dates

From:

17 September 2021to26 September 2021
Sherborne Literary Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

SHERBORNE

Sherborne's Literary Festival will be back in 2021. 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:

20 October 2021to22 October 2021

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Festivals in Dorset

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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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