The BV

The Fairy Tale Forest
2022-12-17 10:00 - 15:30 (Europe/London) | Thorngrove Garden Centre, Gillingham, Thorngrove Garden Centre, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4RE
Come and visit The Fairy Tale Forest. Wander through a magical wintery woodland and meet Mary Godmother in her gingerbread emporium. Look around her shop, hear the latest fairy tale gossip and help her prepare for Christmas in this free immersive theatre experience for all the family at Thorngrove Garden Centre.
Dorset based company Angel Exit Theatre (angelexit.co.uk) transform an indoor area of Thorngrove Garden Centre, Gillingham into a beautiful wintery forest with help from Employ My Ability and local volunteers.

The Fairy Tale Forest
2022-12-17 10:00 - 15:30 | Thorngrove Garden Centre, Gillingham, Thorngrove Garden Centre, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4RE
Angel Exit Theatre bring to you The Fairy Tale Forest – Wander through a magical wintery woodland and meet Mary Godmother in her gingerbread emporium. Look around her shop, hear the latest fairy tale gossip and help her prepare for Christmas in this FREE immersive theatre experience for all the family at Thorngrove Garden Centre.

Father Christmas at 1855 Sturminster Newton
2023-11-25 11:00 - 15:00 | 1855 Building, Old Market Cross, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1AT
Experience the enchantment of a Winter Wonderland with a personal visit to Father Christmas at 1855 Sturminster Newton. This festive season, create a memorable adventure for your child, children, or the whole family. Join us at this magical location each Saturday, from the 25th of November to the 16th December, for a unique opportunity to meet Father Christmas himself.
Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit by reserving a special session with Father Christmas. Available dates for this heartwarming experience are as follows:
Saturday, 25th November
Saturday, 2nd December
Saturday, 9th December
Saturday, 16th December
( Book your place here – https://bit.ly/Santa1855BV )
Sessions run from 11 am to 3 pm. To secure your preferred date and time, simply use the drop-down calendar on our booking page, and then navigate to your chosen time slot.
Each booked familysession, lasting up to 10 minutes, promises an intimate and joyous encounter with Father Christmas. It includes a unique gift for every child and an opportunity to capture this special moment with a photo.
What’s more, this wonderful event is completely free, graciously sponsored by SturAction as a festive gift to the community. Don’t miss out on creating these priceless holiday memories with your loved ones. Book your spot now and get ready for a magical experience!
Book here NOW! – https://bit.ly/Santa1855BV

Festive Fun at Woodlands Village Hall
2023-12-02 15:00 - 17:30 | Woodlands Village Hall, Verwood Road, Woodlands, BH21 8LJ
Arrive at any point
• Try your hand at festive crafts
• Join in with singing to live music
• Listen to seasonal stories
• Enjoy mince pies and mulled wine
• And when it turns dark,
join us to switch on our Christmas lights
This is a free family event
All Welcome!

Christmas Tree Festival
2023-12-09 10:00 - 2023-12-10 16:00
Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Marshall on Sat 9th & Sun 10th December 10 am to 4pm. Beautifully decorated trees dedicated to charities. Children’s activities. Toy service Sun 9.15am. Carol singing Sun PM. Refreshments FREE ENTRY

Christmas Lunchtime Concert
2023-12-16 12:30 - 13:00 | St Peter’s Church Dorchester, 26 High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1XA
Join us at St Peter’s Church, Dorchester on Saturday 16th December between 12.30 and 1pm for a Christmas lunchtime concert! Britten’s ‘A ceremony of carols’ will be performed by vocal consort and talented young harpist, Marni Lai. Enjoy a restful half an hour in the midst of this busy December Saturday! Admission is free and all are very welcome.

Christmas crafts
2023-12-21 10:30 - 11:30 | Sherborne Library, Sherborne Library, Hound street, Sherborne, DT9 3AA
Get into the festive spirit with some wintery crafts at the library. Drop in session, no booking required. Suitable for ages 3 +. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Christmas library gets lively
2023-12-23 14:00 - 14:30 | Sherborne Library, Sherborne Library, Hound street, Sherborne, DT9 3AA
Join us at the library for a special wintery story and craft session. Suitable for ages 3+. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
2023-12-23 16:30 - 18:00 | St Peter’s Church Dorchester, 26 High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1XA
You are warmly invited to our very traditional carol service on Saturday 23rd December at 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. Alongside fantastic choral settings by composers including Morton Lauridsen and Philip Stopford, you can enjoy singing the best-loved, traditional Christmas carols. All are very welcome to this free event!

Woodlands Warm Welcome
2024-01-02 11:00 - 14:00 | Woodlands Village Hall, Verwood Road, Woodlands, BH21 8LJ
A community start to the New Year for all the family.
– Crafts and games
– Skittle alley
– Cooking for children
– Light lunch included
– Free WiFi
All welcome, including accompanied children of all ages
To book your free places email us: woodlandsvillagehall@gmail.com or phone on +44 7462 570117

Artisan Craft Fair
2024-11-03 11:00 - 16:00
Wonderful, Christmas Artisan Craft Fair, with over 20 stall-holders, selling a huge range of unique, festive gifts all under one roof. Delicious cakes and jacket potatoes for sale, as well as art, sculpture, glass, ceramics, prints, jewellery, textiles, soaps, skincare, toiletries, candles, preserves and much more. Free entry and ample parking.

Christmas Open Studio at Strawberry Cottage Studio
2024-11-23 11:00 - 16:00 | Strawberry Cottage, Strawberry Cottage 49 Milton Abbas, Blandford Forum, DT11 0BP, United Kingdom
Christmas Open Studio
Art, cosy cushions, beautiful bunting, small stockings and many more creative gifts by Louise Freir and Annabelle Narey. Please pop in; we’d love to see you!

Studio Festive Pop Up Shop
2024-11-29 10:00 - 2024-11-30 16:00 | Higher, HIGHER GREEN FARM, Twyford, SHAFTESBURY, SP7 0JF, United Kingdom
The Christmas Pop Up Shop is opening on Friday! All local, sustainable handmade or grown work in a studio setting at Higher Green Farm Arts in Twyford, near Shaftesbury, SP70JF. Come and join us, say hello – refreshments and a warm welcome await you. Open Friday & Saturday 29th & 30th November , then again on Friday & Saturday 6th & 7th December.

Sturminster Newton Christmas Tree Light Switch On
2024-11-30 00:00 - 23:59 | Sturminster Newton, Sturminster Newton, Dt10, United Kingdom
The annual Christmas Tree Light Switch On is the most popular Sturminster Newton event of the year and Saturday 30th November 2024 is going to be the best ever to date!!!

10.00am-2.00pm Christmas Market at The Exchange

10.30am Bib the Trike and Father Christmas

11am-7pm Dorset Artisan Market

11.00am-3.30pm Father Christmas at 1855

12noon William Barnes School Choir

1.00pm – 7.00pm Christmas Tree Festival at St Marys Church

2.00pm Conor Smith – The Boy And The Blue Guitar – Market Cross

3.00pm Rock Choir

4.00pm Bulgarian Dancing

4.30pm Vale Ukes – U3A Group

4.50pm Lantern Parade led by Father Christmas from The Exchange to Market Place

5.00pm Christmas Tree Light Switch On with special guests – Father Christmas and Sturminster Newton Amateur Boxing Club

5.05pm Lantern Parade led by Father Christmas from the Market Place to St Mary’s Church.

5.05pm Vale Ukes – U3A Group

5.00pm – 7.00pm Late night shopping until 7.00pm

5.30pm Happy Birthday 1855 – music & magic

8.00pm Los Pacaminos at The Exchange (ticketed event)

Christmas Wreath Making Workshop
2024-11-30 10:30 - 12:30 | Higher Green Farm, Twyford, HIGHER GREEN FARM, Twyford, SHAFTESBURY, SP7 0JF, United Kingdom
Get into the festive spirit by making your own beautiful Christmas Wreath for your home at Higher Green Farm Arts on Saturday 30th November, 10.30 – 12.30. All materials locally foraged on the farm will be supplied and seasonal refreshments included. £35.00 per wreath, children welcome. To book contact rturner@hotmail.com

Studio Festive Pop Up Shop
2024-12-06 10:00 - 2024-12-07 16:00 | Higher Green Farm, Twyford, HIGHER GREEN FARM, Twyford, SHAFTESBURY, SP7 0JF, United Kingdom
Our Festive Pop Up Shop is open for the final time this year on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December. All local, sustainable handmade or grown work in a studio setting at Higher Green Farm Arts in Twyford, near Shaftesbury, SP70JF. Come and join us, say hello – refreshments and a warm welcome await you.

University Carol Service
2024-12-12 18:00 - 19:30 | St Peter’s Church Bournemouth, Hinton Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2EE
All are welcome to the University Carol Service on Thursday 12th December at 6pm in St Peter’s Church, Bournemouth (BH1 2EE). Following the very traditional nine lesson and carol format, you can expect glorious choral settings sung by the University Chamber Choir alongside all of the best-loved congregational carols. This is a carol service for the entire community, and you do not need to have any association with Bournemouth University or Arts University Bournemouth. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Choral Midnight Mass
2024-12-24 23:30 - 2024-12-25 00:30 | St Peter’s Church Dorchester, 26 High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1XA
Join us for Choral Midnight Mass at St Peter’s Church, Dorchester on Christmas Eve – Tuesday 24th December – at 11.30pm. The music includes Schubert ‘Mass in G’, Will Todd ‘My Lord has come’ and Adolphe Adam ‘O holy night’. All are very welcome to this service.

White Christmas Dip
2024-12-25 09:30 - 11:00
Dip a toe or go all in for the UK’s biggest Christmas Day Dip at Boscombe Beach. Raising money for Macmillan Caring Locally.

Journey of the Magi
2025-11-01 15:30 - 2025-12-01 18:00 | Wimborne Minster, High St, Wimborne Minster,, Wimborne, BH21 1EB
Join us in the Historic Wimborne Minster Church for Springs Dance Companys ‘ Journey of the Magi ‘. This all age 90 Minute Performance tells the story of the first chilstmas while a family in 2025 prepare for their Christmas celebrations.
Doors open at 2.30pm to allow time to purchase refreshments before the 3.30pm Performance
Adult Tickets are £8, children £6 and family Tickets ( either two adults and two children or three children and one adult ) are £20
50% discount for groups – enquiries and bookings – claire@wimborneminster.org.uk

Handmade for Christmas
2025-11-03 09:30 - 2025-12-24 16:30 | The Workhouse Chapel, Strurminster Newton, Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1DS, United Kingdom
Handmade for Christmasat the Workhouse Chapel

Open Daily 1st November – 24th December9.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.

Our gifts are all lovingly Made by Hand by real people, working in real sheds, with real tools. You won’t find anything mass-produced here! We have over 70 local artists and makers exhibiting their work – you might even find something for those tricky to buy for people in your life or a treat for yourself that you just can’t resist!

Wreath Making Afternoon at the Allendale Community Centre
2025-11-26 14:00 - 16:00 | The Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne, BH211AS, United Kingdom
Wreath Making afternoon at the Allendale Community Centre. A fundraising event for the Centre. Enjoy making your own festive wreath to take home whilst enjoying festive nibbles and a soft drink. Only £30 per person. All materials provided.

A Dorset Christmas Festival: Pull a Pine at RSPB Arne
2025-11-29 10:00 - 15:00 | RSPB Arne, Arne Rd, Arne,, Wareham, BH20 5BJ
Join us for one of the biggest conservation events in the country.
While we love trees, what nature needs is the right trees in the right place. On our precious and rare lowland heathland pine and silver birch trees being prolific at seeding can quickly take over, blocking out the light and pushing heathland wildlife out as they grow. If allowed the trees will completely take over this very rare environment. By helping us to remove the pine trees, you can help us protect the beautiful heathland for the future and look after an area which some of our rarest wildlife in the UK call their home. Sand Lizards, Smooth Snakes, and our specialist heathland birds – Dartford Warblers and Nightjars rely on the heathland as their home. By cutting your own pine tree for Christmas you are not only taking home a piece of Arne, but you will be making a real difference to help the RSPB protect this rare and wonderful environment.
So, get your wellies on, dig out your hats and scarves and join us for a special festive day in nature. This year’s Pull a Pine will be held over 2 days on the weekend of 29 & 30 November, giving you more choice on which day or days to book.
The event runs from 10:00am – 3:00pm (last entry to site at 2:00pm). There will be live music, Christmas craft stalls, with locally made artisan and festive items for you to browse at your leisure, as well as carol singing and delicious festive foods. Advanced ticket sales only.
Our café team will be hosting a festive tent on the heath with refreshments, hot tasty food and mulled cider. Our shop and café in the wildlife garden will also be open for festive shopping and your Arne café favourites. The festival is a chance to start the festive season with family and friends and most importantly the opportunity to do your bit for nature.
Early Bird Tickets are available until October.
Prices for the Early Birds Tickets are:
RSPB Members : £11.00 each
Non Members : £13.50 each
Child : £2.75 each

A Dorset Christmas Festival: Pull a Pine at RSPB Arne
2025-11-29 10:00 - 15:00 | RSPB Arne Nature Reserve, RSPB Arne Nature Reserve, Wareham, BH20 5BJ
Join us for one of the biggest conservation events in the country.
While we love trees, what nature needs is the right trees in the right place. On our precious and rare lowland heathland pine and silver birch trees being prolific at seeding can quickly take over, blocking out the light and pushing heathland wildlife out as they grow. If allowed the trees will completely take over this very rare environment. By helping us to remove the pine trees, you can help us protect the beautiful heathland for the future and look after an area which some of our rarest wildlife in the UK call their home. Sand Lizards, Smooth Snakes, and our specialist heathland birds – Dartford Warblers and Nightjars rely on the heathland as their home. By cutting your own pine tree for Christmas you are not only taking home a piece of Arne, but you will be making a real difference to help the RSPB protect this rare and wonderful environment.
So, get your wellies on, dig out your hats and scarves and join us for a special festive day in nature. This year’s Pull a Pine will be held over 2 days on the weekend of 29 & 30 November, giving you more choice on which day or days to book.
The event runs from 10:00am – 3:00pm (last entry to site at 2:00pm). There will be live music, Christmas craft stalls, with locally made artisan and festive items for you to browse at your leisure, as well as carol singing and delicious festive foods. Advanced ticket sales only.
Our café team will be hosting a festive tent on the heath with refreshments, hot tasty food and mulled cider. Our shop and café in the wildlife garden will also be open for festive shopping and your Arne café favourites. The festival is a chance to start the festive season with family and friends and most importantly the opportunity to do your bit for nature.
Early Bird Tickets are available until the end of October.
Prices for the Early Birds Tickets are:
RSPB Members : £11.00 each
Non Members : £13.50 each
Child : £2.75 each
image credit Terry Bagley (RSPB-images.com)

Magic of Christmas Food and Craft fair
2025-11-30 10:00 - 15:00 | Riversmeet Active, Harding's Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4HX, United Kingdom
We are really looking forward to this fabulous event.
We have over 70 stalls all selling quality handmade products. We have crochet, jewellery, art, wooden items, textiles, cakes, wine, gin, vodka, liqueurs, children’s clothes, Christmas decorations, soaps, candles, wax melts and so much more.
It really is the place to do your Christmas shopping.
We also have choirs singing for you, we have sand art to do on the day and purchase kits to take home, also decorate your own Christmas decoration, you can purchase or order your Christmas tree.
Father Christmas will be visiting in his grotto too.

Salamanca Band and Bugles of The Rifles Christmas Concert
2025-12-06 14:00 - 15:00 | Sherborne Abbey, The Abbey Close, SHERBORNE, DT9 3LQ, United Kingdom
Kick start your Christmas and join us for some free Christmas Cheer at Sherborne Abbey.
This free to enter event will have a retiring collection that is split 50/50 with Sherborne Abbey and The Rifles Charity.
The Rifles have a long steep history with Sherborne with the Dorset Regiment and Devon an Dorset Regiment being antecedent Regiments of The Rifles.

Festive Farmers Market and Santa Visit
2025-12-07 11:00 - 15:00 | Bere Marsh Farm Shillingstone DT11 0QY, Bere Marsh, shillingstone, dorset, DT11 0QY, United Kingdom
Meet Santa and get in the festive spirit at our Farmers’ Market
Enjoy our Farmers Market Christmas Edition on Sunday 7th December, from 11am-3pm and shop from a selection of fantastic local products.
At 11am, Santa will arrive on his sleigh to officially open our market, as he visits us in support of local children’s charity Teddy20.
Bring your children along to meet Santa, receive a gift and take a family photo. A small fee will be applicable per child to raise funds for the Teddy20 charity. Santa visits will take place from 11.15am-2pm.
The Buzz Café will be open selling mulled wine, hot chocolate, mince pies and delicious cakes made by our CRT volunteers.

Bere Marsh Farm Christmas Farmers's Market
2025-12-07 11:00 - 15:00 | Bere Marsh Farm Shillingstone DT11 0QY, Newmans Drove, Shillingstone, DT11 0QY, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
A very special visitor is coming to Bere Marsh Farm!
We’re thrilled to share that the Teddy20 Santa Sleigh will be joining us for our first-ever Christmas Farmers’ Market on Sunday, 7 December.
The event opens at 11am in the Threshing Barn, where Santa will officially start the celebrations.
You’ll be able to browse a wonderful range of local producers and craftspeople, including:

Purbeck Ice Cream
Mikey’s Dog Rescue
The CoCo House
Photography by Marilyn Peddle
Pothecary Gin
The Secret Garden
Dorset Chocolate Company

Plus, visit the CRT stall for:

Our 2026 wildlife calendar
Handmade wildlife boxes
Our delicious rare-breed pork – the perfect alternative to Christmas turkey!

And don’t forget to stop by The Buzz Café, open all day with homemade seasonal treats and hot drinks, lovingly prepared by our amazing volunteers.
We can’t wait to welcome you for a festive day out at Bere Marsh Farm!

Christmas Concerts under Concorde 11th & 12th December
2025-12-11 19:00 - 2025-12-12 22:00 | The Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester, BA22 8HT
The much-loved Christmas Concert beneath the wings of Concorde returns to the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton for 2025, taking place on Thursday 11th and Friday 12th December.
Set in the iconic Hall Four beneath Concorde 002, guests will enjoy a festive evening of music performed by the HMS Heron Royal Navy Volunteer Band, featuring a mix of seasonal favourites and classic tunes.
Tickets are £20 and include a mince pie and mulled wine on arrival, with tea and coffee served during the interval.
Doors open at 7:00pm, with the concert starting at 7:30pm.
Places are limited, so early booking is recommended!
Please note: Tickets are valid only for the specific date selected at the time of purchase and cannot be transferred to the other evening. Be sure to double-check your chosen date before confirming your booking.
