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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Wimborne Minster Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Wimborne Minster

As is traditional, on the second weekend of June, Wimborne will come alive with the annual Folk Festival as the streets, pubs and concert halls are filled with morris dancers, music – and much more!

Dates

From:

12 June 2020to14 June 2020Various Opening Times
Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Christchurch

The Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival is a two-day event run by unpaid volunteers celebrating local and regional food, drink and art and takes place in June each year.

Dates

From:

13 June 2020to14 June 2020Various Opening Times

Free
Chesil Rocks

Type

Type:

Festival

Langton Herring, Weymouth

Chesil Rocks 2020 will be taking place this year over 2 days, Friday 19th for classical and Saturday 20th June as usual performances, and will again be at Higher Farmhouse, Langton Herring and raising funds for Samaritans of Dorset. An amazing…

Dates

From:

19 June 2020to20 June 2020Various 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.

Dates

From:

26 June 2020to27 June 2020

Price £3.00 to £27.00 Per Ticket
The Original Shake & Stir Vintage Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Southbourne

EVENT POSTPONED - See website in event information for further details

Dates

From:

27 June 2020to28 June 2020
Sutton Poyntz Victorian Street Fayre

Type

Type:

Country Show

Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth

Sutton Poyntz village, near Weymouth, hosts a Victorian Street Fayre on Sunday 28th June 2020. A day of family fun with craft stalls, live music, lots of children's entertainment, cream teas, Pimms and strawberries, barbeque, farmers market and a…

Dates

From:
28 June 2020Open 11:00 - 17:00

Price Free to £3.50 Per Ticket
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:

3 July 2020to5 July 2020
Jurassic Fields Music Festival

Type

Type:

Performance

Bridport

Jurassic Fields will showcases the best music, comedy, food and entertainment the local area has to offer as well as having some well known artists perform and little gems we have found around the country.

Dates

From:

10 July 2020to11 July 2020
Nyetimber Dorset Seafood Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Weymouth

A visit to the award winning atmospheric Nyetimber 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:

11 July 2020to12 July 2020Various Opening Times
SandFest

Type

Type:

Festival

Poole

For the 3rd year running 5000 sun soaked, music and fun loving Sandfesters will gather on the spectacular blue flag Sandbanks beach to enjoy world class DJs and acts

Dates

From:
12 July 2020Open 12:00 - 22:00
Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Tolpuddle

An annual festival to commemorate the bravery of the martyrs' struggle featuring music, speakers and family entertainment.

Dates

From:

17 July 2020to19 July 2020
Bridport Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Bridport

The dates for 2020 are 24th to 26th July.
Keep an eye on the website www.bridportfolkfestival.com as more information comes through!

Dates

From:

24 July 2020to26 July 2020Various Opening Times
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:

25 July 2020to1 August 2020
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week

Type

Type:

Festival

LYME REGIS

Community | Event | Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week 2020 | 25th - 31st July 2020
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…

Dates

From:

25 July 2020to31 July 2020
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.

Dates

From:

30 July 2020to2 August 2020
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:

1 August 2020to8 August 2020
Great Dorset Chilli Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Wimborne St Giles

We are looking forward to another great weekend in 2020 for chilli enthusiasts, food lovers and families

Dates

From:

1 August 2020to2 August 2020Open 10:00 - 17:00
Dorchester Cider Festival

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:
15 August 2020Open 15:00 - 22:00

Free
Bridport Carnival

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:
15 August 2020
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:
20 August 2020Open 10:00 - 22:00
From:
21 August 2020Open 10:00 - 22:00
From:
22 August 2020Open 10:00 - 22:00
From:
23 August 2020Open 10:00 - 18:00

Free

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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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