Events in Dorset
This is a list of traditional folk customs and scheduled yearly events.
In other words, it doesn't change from year to year.
To add an event to this list please email full details.
January
- Blandford Potato Day, Pimperne Village Hall, Blandford Forum
- Bridport Potato Day, Bridport United Church, Bridport
February
- Drimpton Potato Day, Drimpton Village Hall, Beaminster
- Maiden Newton Potato Day, Maiden Newton Village Hall, Dorchester
- Snowdrop Sundays at Mapperton, Mapperton House & Gardens, Dorchester
March
- Easter Egg Hunts, Farmer Palmer's Farm Park, Poole, Easter weekend
- Shaftesbury Book Fair, United Church Hall, Shaftesbury
- Sherborne Castles 10k ‘multi-terrain’ Running Race, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne
- Spring Bulbs & Daffodils Weekend, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne
April
- Animal Handling Day, Kingston Maurward Gardens , Dorchester
- Classic Cars on the Prom, Bournemouth Promenade, Bournemouth, April - September
- Easter By The Beach, Aruba and Westbeach, Bournemouth, Easter Weekend
- Spring Craft Fair, Pamphill Village Hall, Wimborne
- Wyld Easter Family Week, Monkton Wyld Court, Charmouth
May
- Beach Kite Festival, Weymouth
- Blandford Georgian Fayre, Blandford Forum
- Charity Ride for Lewis-Manning Hospice, Dorset Coast and Poole Harbour, Late May
- Eastreet Art & Craft Fairs, Corfe Castle
- Food & Wine Festival, Christchurch
- Garland Day, Abbotsbury, Mid May
- Grand Shaftesbury Run, Shaftesbury Estate, Wimborne St Giles
- Minterne Gardens Family Open Day, Minterne Magna, Dorchester, Late May
- Open Access between the Old and New Castle grounds, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne
- Pine Walk Open Air Art Exhibition, Pine Walk, Lower Gardens, Bournemouth, May - September
- Shaftesbury Local Food Festival, Shaftesbury
- Sherborne Castle Country Fair, Sherborne Castle, Sherborne
- Sherborne Castle Country Fair, Retriever Event & Rare Breeds Show, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne
- Swanage Walking Festival, Swanage
June
- Beaminster Arts Festival, Various venues, Beaminster
- Bournemouth Live! Music Festival, Various Locations, Bournemouth, Late June - Early July
- Bridport Food Festival, Asker Meadows, Bridport, Mid-June
- Chettle Village Fete, Chettle
- CorFest, Corfe Castle
- Dorchester Festival, Dorchester
- Fathers Day at Farmer Palmers, Farmer Palmer's Farm Park, Poole, Father's Day
- Gillingham Festival, Gillingham
- Shaftesbury Book Fair, United Church Hall, Shaftesbury
- Southern Lights Festival, Kimmeridge
- Wimborne Folk Festival, Wimborne
July
- 5th Annual Motorcycle Ride Out, Poole
- Bourne Free Pride Festival, Bournemouth
- Country Fayre @ the Barley Mow, Barley Mow Inn, Wimborne, Late July
- Dorset Opera Festival, Coade Theatre, Bryanston, Late July
- Evolve Festival, Weymouth
- Illyria Outdoor Theatre “Robin Hood, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne, 6th
- Kids Fun Festival, Bournemouth lower Gardens, Bournemouth, Late July - End August
- Mosterton Summer Show, Mosterton
- Shakespeare at Brownsea Theatre, Brownsea Island, Poole
- Steamed up @ the Barley Mow, Barley Mow Inn, Wimborne, Early July
- Summer Ball, Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorchester, 27th
- Swanage Regatta and Carnival, Swanage
- Tolpuddle Martyrs Procession, Tolpuddle, 3rd Sunday in July
- Viking Open Weekend, Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne
- ‘Classics at the Castle’ Classic Car Show, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne, 22nd
August
- Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Fireworks Proms, Meyrick Park, Bournemouth
- Divinemoon Festival, Portland
- Flowers by Candlelight, Bournemouth Lower Gardens, Bournemouth, Every Wednesday in August
- Gaunts House Summer Gathering, Gaunts House, Wimborne, Mid August
- Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Show, Motcombe Showground, Motcombe
- Great Dorset Chilli Festival, St Giles Park, Wimborne St Giles, Early August
- Great Dorset Steam Fair, South Down Farm, Blandford Forum
- Illyria Outdoor Theatre, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne, 10th
- IRONMAN UK Triathlon, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne, 19th
- Kids Fun Festival, Bournemouth lower Gardens, Bournemouth, Late July - End August
- Melplash Agricultural Society Show, West Bay Show Ground, Bridport, Late August
- Open Air Cinema, Corfe Castle
- Shakespeare at Brownsea Theatre, Brownsea Island, Poole
- Stock Gaylard Oak Fair, Stock Gaylard Estate, Sherborne
- Weymouth Carnival, Weymouth
September
- Antique Fair, Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorchester, 15th/16th
- Autumn Flower Show, Allendale Community Centre, Wimborne Minster
- Dorchester County Show, Cokers Frome Showground, Dorchester
- Feast of Dorset Food Festival, Deans Court, Wimborne
- Harley Davison Rally, Bournemouth Square and Pier Approach, Bournemouth, Late September
- Heritage Open Days, Various locations
- Shaftesbury Book Fair, United Church Hall, Shaftesbury
- Steam Gala weekend & Vintage Vehicle Rally, Harmans Cross Field, Swanage
- Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival, Sturminster Newton
- The Classical Prom Company Open Air Classical Concert, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne, 1st
- Wessex Heavy Horse Show and Country Fayre, Shaftesbury
October
- Adrenaline Coast Festival, Weymouth
- Autumn Colours Weekend , Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne, Late Oct / Early Nov
- Farmer Palmer's Halloween Fun, Farmer Palmer's Farm Park, Poole, Halloween
- Halloween, Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorchester, Halloween
- Pack Monday Fair, Main Streets, Sherborne, 1st Monday following October 10th
- Poole Literary Festival, The Lighthouse, Poole
- Purbeck Film Festival, The Rex Cinema, Wareham, Late October
- Swanage Blues Festival, Swanage
- Wedding Fair, Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorchester, 7th
November
- Autumn Colours Weekend, Sherborne Castle, Sherborne, Late Oct / Early Nov
- Bournemouth Christmas Festival, Bournemouth
- Bournemouth Fireworks, Littledown Leisure Centre, Bournemouth, Early November
- Bridport Literary Festival, Various venues around the town, Bridport
- Christmas Craft & Gourmet Food Fair, Kingston Maurward Gardens, Dorchester, Early November
- Christmas Lights Switch on, Town Square, Bournemouth, Late November
- Farmer Palmer's Halloween Fun, Farmer Palmer's Farm Park, Poole, Half-term / Halloween
- Firework Extravaganza, Sherborne Castle & Lakeside Gardens, Sherborne, On or near 5th November
- The Bournemouth Natural Science Society BARN DANCE, 39 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth
- Winter Willow Weaving, Monkton Wyld Court, Charmouth
December
- Bournemouth Christmas Festival , Bournemouth
- Christmas Carol Concert , Christchurch Priory, Christchurch, Early December
- Farmer Palmers Carol Service, Farmer Palmer's Farm Park, Poole, Various days
- Santa visits Farmer Palmers, Farmer Palmer's Farm Park, Poole, Various days
- Save the Children Christmas Parade, Town Centre, Wimborne
- Shaftesbury Book Fair, United Church Hall, Shaftesbury
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