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