Are you planning a visit to Dorset and wondering what exciting events are happening this year? Dorset is home to a vibrant calendar of festivals and events, offering something for everyone.
From mouthwatering food festivals to electrifying music events and breathtaking air shows, there’s no shortage of things to do in this beautiful county.
Be sure to bookmark this page, as we’ll keep you updated with the latest Dorset festivals for 2025 and 2026 as they are announced. Whether you’re a foodie eager to explore Dorset’s culinary delights, a music lover looking for live performances, or an aviation enthusiast thrilled by spectacular air displays, Dorset has an event tailored just for you.
Insider Tips for Attending Dorset Festivals
- Plan Ahead: Many festivals are popular and tickets sell out fast. Book your tickets and accommodation early to avoid disappointment.
- Public Transport: Use public transport where possible, as parking can be limited at some events.
- Dog-Friendly Options: Many festivals in Dorset welcome dogs. Check event details beforehand and bring water and waste bags for your furry friends.
- Weather Preparedness: Dorset’s weather can be unpredictable. Pack layers, sunscreen, and waterproofs to stay comfortable.
- Stay Updated: Follow event organisers on social media to get the latest news and updates.
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- Insider Tips for Attending Dorset Festivals
- Camp Bestival 2026 – Family-Friendly Festival at Lulworth Castle
- Littledown Family Fun Day
- Jurassic Fields Music Festival
- Lyme Splash Water Polo Sea Championship
- Stompin' On The Quomps
- Beach Fest Bournemouth
- Christchurch Carnival
- Bridport Carnival
- Gillingham And Shaftesbury Show
- Purbeck Valley Folk Festival
- Vdub At The Pub Festival
- Dorchester Cider Festival
- Melplash Agricultural Show
- BeCider Seasider 21
- Lyme Regis Folk Festival
- Dog, Sausage & Cider Festival
- End Of The Road Festival
- Swanage Railway Classic And Steam Vehicle Show
- Dorset County Show
- Bournemouth Vegan Festival
- Swanage Folk Festival
- Seafest – The Dorset Seafood Festival
- Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival
- Shaftesbury Carnival
- Gillingham Carnival
- Swanage Blues Festival
- Oktoberfest Shaftesbury
- Weymouth Pirate Fest
- The Gin To My Tonic Festival
- Poole Beer Festival
- Dorset Food & Drink Winter Food Fair
- Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland
- Poole Christmas Maritime Light Festival
- Illuminate At Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
- Weymouth's Steampunk Christmas Weekend
Dorset Festivals And Events In January
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Dorset Festivals And Events In February
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Dorset Festivals And Events In March
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Dorset Festivals And Events In April
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Dorset Festivals And Events In May
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Dorset Festivals And Events In June
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Dorset Festivals And Events In July
Camp Bestival 2026 – Family-Friendly Festival at Lulworth Castle
Dates: 30th July – 2nd August 2026
Location: Lulworth Castle, Dorset
Camp Bestival 2026 is a must-visit family-friendly festival in Dorset, offering four days of live music, fairground rides, art and crafts, and much more. Set within the stunning grounds of Lulworth Castle, this festival provides a diverse range of activities to enjoy, from relaxing in front of the Castle stage to taking part in a rejuvenating yoga class.
Don’t forget your festival trolley
Lulworth Castle is located near Lulworth Cove and the famous Jurassic Coast, making it the perfect base to extend your visit and explore this UNESCO World Heritage site.
If camping isn’t for you, day passes are also available for a more flexible experience.
Read a full review of Camp Bestival
Learn more about Camp Bestival and plan your visit.
Littledown Family Fun Day
Date: 26th July 2026
Location: Littledown, Chaseside, Bournemouth
There will be plenty of local talent showcasing gymnastics, taekwondo and cheerleading. There will also be a Punch and Judy show, magic acts and a fun fair.
Stay refreshed at the licensed bars and enjoy a BBQ and wood fired pizzas. There’s also plenty of other food stalls available too.
Related post – What’s on in Dorset in July
Dorset Festivals And Events In August
Jurassic Fields Music Festival
Dates: 8th, 9th, 10th August 2025
Jurassic Fields brings together not only some amazing top acts from around the country but will be showcasing the best music, comedy, food and entertainment the local area has to offer.
Lyme Splash Water Polo Sea Championship
Dates: 9th – 10th August 2025
This is the UK’s largest Water Polo Sea Championship taking place at The Cobb, Lyme Regis this Summer.
Stompin’ On The Quomps
Dates: 2nd August 2025
There will be a great line up of professional jazz musicians, food traders and bar. You don’t need a ticket and admission is by donation which goes to keeping the event running each year.
Beach Fest Bournemouth
Dates: 9th August 2025
Visit Bournemouth for Beach Fest and see the celebrity beach soccer tournament and volleyball championships. There’s also a live beach DJ, refreshments and entertainment.
Christchurch Carnival
Dates: 15th – 17th August 2025
Enjoy a series of displays and fun activities on the quay, as well as music, events, fireworks and a funfair.
Bridport Carnival
Dates: 10th – 17th August 2025
Carnival Week will be held on the week commencing Monday 12th August, with the Carnival procession on Saturday 17th, and the Torchlight Procession on Sunday 18th.
Gillingham And Shaftesbury Show
Date: 13th – 14th August 2025
Location: Turnpike Showground, Motcombe, North Dorset, SP7 9PL
This large event in Dorset hosts cattle, dog shows, horses, art classes, displays and so much more.
Purbeck Valley Folk Festival
Dates: 14th – 17th August 2025
Purbeck Valley Folk Festival is located on a farm and it’s “how festivals used to be”. A family friendly festival in Dorset that great for kids and adults alike. It’s small enough to be able to wander around and not lose your friends! The stages and bar are in barns, which mean that you’re dry if it rains, but there’s a lot of grass around to sit on in the sunshine.
Vdub At The Pub Festival
Dates: 15th – 17th August 2025
Location: Wimborne, Dorset
A family camping festival of dubs, pubs and hot tubs. There’s a packed entertainment schedule which offer many of the activities free of charge.
Dorchester Cider Festival
Dates: 16th August 2025
Melplash Agricultural Show
Dates: 21st August 2025
Featuring horse and livestock competitions along with rural crafts, local
produce, trade stands, agricultural machinery and a fun day out for all the family!
BeCider Seasider 21
Dates: 22nd – 24th August 2025
This August Bank holiday festival in Dorset welcomes dogs and children. There will be local, national and international touring artists over three days.
Lyme Regis Folk Festival
Dates: 29th – 31st August 2025
The Lyme Folk weekend is the late Summer festival by the sea in Dorset. There’s music on the seafront stage and also in the Marine Theatre.
Dog, Sausage & Cider Festival
Dates: 24th August 2025
Alongside the sausage throwing competition, there will be live music and plenty of fund for the kids. Craft stalls, small animal holding and plenty of refreshments at The Springhead.
End Of The Road Festival
Dates: 28th – 31st August 2025
End of The Road Festival is located at Larmer Tree Gardens, near Blandford, Dorset. Campsites open on Thursday from 11am with the festival arena opening on Thursday lunchtime.
Related post – What’s on in Dorset in August
Dorset Festivals And Events In September
Swanage Railway Classic And Steam Vehicle Show
Dates: 2025 TBC
There is something for everyone at this show with a varied selection of vintage, modern and custom motorbikes. There’s also classic cars, tractors, vintage campervans, commercial vehicles and stationary engines.
Free parking is available as well as trade stalls and displays.
Dorset County Show
Dates: 6th – 7th September 2025
Location: Dorchester Showground
There will be plenty of livestock, horses, show jumping, horticulture and blacksmiths. Not forgetting the trade stands, rabbits, poultry, bee’s & honey and food and drink. You’ll also find the World’s biggest Monster trucks in the main ring twice a day.
Bournemouth Vegan Festival
Dates: 6th September 2025
Location: Citygate Centre,138A Holdenhurst Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH8 8AS
60+ fantastic stalls, world food caterers, exciting cookery demos, inspirational talks, interactive workshops, yoga and children’s activities running throughout the day from 10.30am – 4.00pm
Swanage Folk Festival
Dates: 5th – 7th September 2025
Location: Swanage
Enjoy a weekend of music concerts, traditional dance displays, dance & music workshops, children’s activities and music sessions.
Seafest – The Dorset Seafood Festival
Dates: Returning in 2026
Location: Weymouth Peninsula
You may know the festival as Weymouth seafood festival. The Dorset seafood festival has been rebranded to Seafest. Taste fresh seafood from 100 stalls, with plenty of family entertainment on offer throughout.
Top chefs are on location showcasing their skills with locally sourced ingredients.
Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival
Dates: 13th – 14th September 2025
Location: Sturminster Newton (DT10 1DQ)
If you’re a cheese lover the Sturminster Newton cheese festival is not to be missed. There is plenty of children’s entertainment as well as demonstrations, food producers, arts and crafts available.
It’s not just cheese on offer, you can discover local chillies and jams, ciders, coffees and gins to name a few.
Shaftesbury Carnival
Dates: 27th September 2025
For over a 140 years Shaftesbury carnival has brought a variety of colour and light to the high street for one day a year. The carnival has heritage surrounding the hospital and they celebrate the carnival with a week of events.
Related post – What’s on in Dorset in September
Dorset Festivals And Events In October
Gillingham Carnival
Dates: 28th September – 4th October 2025
Carnival processions are on 4th October 2024 and there are plenty of other activities and events happening through the week.
Swanage Blues Festival
Dates: 3rd – 5th October 2025
Enjoy a weekend of open mic, Blues musicians and headline performers across multiple venues.
Oktoberfest Shaftesbury
Dates: 2025 TBC
Dig out your lederhosen or dirndl and visit Shaftesbury for their biggest German inspired bier festival of the year!
Weymouth Pirate Fest
Dates: 2025 TBC
There are piratey shennanigans which begin on Friday 4th October and last until Sunday 6th October. You’ll discover bands playing all day and during the eveing on Saturday too.
The Gin To My Tonic Festival
Dates: 2025 TBC
Location: St Stephen’s Church Bournemouth
The Gin To My Tonic Festival brings together over 100 different gins from across the UK and beyond. Each gin stocked behind the bars has been selected based on outstanding craftsmanship, delightful flavour and the most enjoyable drinking experiences. The festival is here to take you on a journey of gin discovery!
Tickets includes a Gin Explorer guide, Gin Copa glass, glass, bag and pen, and a Stainless Steel straw.
Poole Beer Festival
St Aldhelms Centre, Poole Road, Branksome BH12 1AD
Dates: 2025 TBC
The beer festival is open between 11:00 – 15:30 and 18:30 – 23:00 on both days. Tickets are £10 in advance only. This includes a glass, programme & 2 x ½ pints beer.
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Dorset Festivals And Events In November
Dorset Food & Drink Winter Food Fair
Dates: 2025 TBC
The Dorset Food & Drink Winter Fair is back at Athelhampton House for 2024!
Expect a great line up of Dorset food, drink, artists, and makers, to bring you a weekend of festive shopping and gift inspirations.
Visit whether it’s raining or not as most of the stalls are under cover in the event marquee.
Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland
Dates: 15th November – 31st December 2024
Visit Bournemouth from 15th November for a great festive day and evening out. You can enjoy the thousands of illuminations in the Lower Gardens, as well as the open air ice rink, Alpine Christmas market, and plenty of festive fun.
Poole Christmas Maritime Light Festival
Dates: 23rd November 2024 – 1st January 2025
Enter a world of Christmas in Poole this year, with this FREE Christmas attraction! Be prepared to be dazzled as thousands of twinkling lights take you on a nautical journey that starts at the gateways to Poole; the Twin Sails Bridge, Hunger Hill and The Lighthouse.
Illuminate At Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Buller’s Way, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4LA
Dates: 22nd November 2024 – 4th January 2025
ILLUMINATE. ‘OT Event Technicians’ will be Illuminating the Gardens in the lead up to Christmas this year. The event will run daily 4.30pm to 8.00pm from the 22nd of November to the 4th of January with last entries between 7.00pm and 7.15pm.
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Dorset Festivals And Events In December
Weymouth’s Steampunk Christmas Weekend
Dates: 6th – 8th December 2024
You can expect activities including a fashion show, variety performance, market and more happening across the Steampunk Christmas weekend in Weymouth.
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