What's On?

Here are some events taking place over the year!

Carnivals

Wareham Carnival - July

Swanage Carnival and Regatta - 29th July to 5th August 2023

Bridport Carnival & Torchlight Procession August

Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival - 12th August 2023

Other local festivals through the year

Local Firework Displays

Free fireworks display, music & family events at Poole Quay

Wareham Wednesdays: Events in Wareham every Summer Wednesday.

Have a look at monthly events happening in Dorset at What’s On in Dorset

The Purbeck Gazette: A local Community Magazine - local news, events, features, art & entertainment news, tide times, public notices, a food section & local business adverts.

Festivals, Shows, Fairs and Events Through the Year

Click the links to find out more information and check dates

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole 2020 Festival Poster

January

British Sled Dog Racing in Wareham Forest (sometimes Nov or Dec)

Discover Arne Nature Reserve RSPB - Wednesdays January to April

February

Purbeck Literary Festival

Light Up Poole, Evening festival of digital light art

Various wildlife and walking events at Durlston Country Park

March

Spring Lambing Weekend at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester

Sika Trail Run through Wareham Forest (starting at Birchwood)

Swanage Blues Festival

April

NT Cadbury Easter Egg Trails - Corfe Castle or Brownsea Island or Studland or Kingston Lacy

Wareham Beerex

Various Dorset Food Festivals - from Easter/April each year

Spring Garden Fair at Mapperton House

Tiger Day at Bovington Tank Museum - Special Event

Kingston Maurward Garden and Animal Park Easter Days

Sherborne Abbey Festival - April/May

Diesel Gala and Beer Festival at Swanage Railway

Poole Dream Machines- Motorbike event every Tuesday from April to September

May

Dorset Knob Throwing & Frome Valley Food Festival - Back in 2021

VenFest 2020: Dorset Food and Vension Festival - Lytchett Minster

Mini Steam on the Quay, Poole

Christchurch Food & Wine Festival

Tank Museum Street Party VE day 75 (kids for a quid) 2020

Swanage VE Day with a Community Street Party

Women at War at the Royal Signals Museum

VE Day Afternoon Tea at Swanage Railway

Poole at War 75 VE day in the High Street

Brownsea Island: Step back in time as we remember victory for Europe in 1945

Lyme Regis Fossil Festival

Spring Tide Festival at Hive Beach (NT) Burton Bradstock

Upton Country Park Concerts 3 day music weekend

Purbeck Pirate Festival Swanage

Bournemouth 7s Sport and Music Festival - usually May Bank Holiday weekend

Purbeck Arts Week - May & June

June

Poole Festival of Running

Swanage Fish Festival

Wimborne Minster Folk Festival

Harry Paye Day- Pirate themed Family Fun day for local Charities, Poole

Poole Harbour Boat Show, Free event

The Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair, Dorchester

Weymouth and Portland Armed Forces & Veterans Day Celebrations

Bridport Food and Drink Festival

Folk on the Quay is a free folk music festival around Poole Harbour

TankFest at Bovington Tank Museum - booking advisable

July

Swanage Jazz Festival

Quay for my Car, themed car event on Poole Quay every Friday in July & August

Sandbanks Beach Volleyball Festival

British Beach Polo Championships -Sandbanks

Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival

Sandfest at Sandbanks

Dorset Seafood Festival around Weymouth Harbour

Sherborne Castle Classic and Supercars Show

Poole Goes Vintage

Church Knowle Food Fayre

Beer and Bluegrass Festival Poole

Rockley's Summer Spectacular FREE live music & fireworks on Poole Quay every Thursday

from 7pm 23rd July to 27th August

Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle

Wilkswood Reggae Festival Langton Matravers

Poole Harbour Festival

August

Great Dorset Chilli Festival

The Dorset Arts & Crafts Summer Exhibition

Mowlem Theatre Revivial Rep Season, 3 summer shows Swanage

Melplash Agricultural Show

Purbeck Valley Folk Festival - between Corfe Castle and Swanage

Bournemouth Air Festival

Great Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford - August Bank Holiday weekend

September

Bridport Hat Festival

Dorset County Show at Dorchester

Swanage Folk Festival

Weymouth Classic and Sprint Triathlon

Classic & Steam Vehicle Show at Harmans Cross near Swanage

Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival

Swanage and Purbeck Nordic Walking Festival

Purbeck Bikemonger Bimble (not for 2020)

Purbeck Running Festival

Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival

October