Find events in Dorset, from village fêtes and jumble sales to the county’s biggest shows, alongside theatre, live music, exhibitions, markets, talks, walks and family days out. The Dorset Life What’s On calendar brings together things to do across the county, with dates, locations and details to help you plan.

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Please note: inclusion in the online calendar does not guarantee inclusion in the magazine, though a selection of events is featured each month.

Events

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Today

  • Charity Concert

    Marnhull Village Hall Burton St, Marnhull

    Concert by The Phoenix Cafe Orchestra in aid of Read Easy Blackmore Vale North.  Playing music from the 1920s and 1930s.  Free refreshments.

    £10.00

  • TALK & GUIDED TOUR – CANFORD SCHOOL ARBORETUM

    Canford School Canford Magna, Wimborne, Dorset

    The arboretum at Canford School has been nationally recognised and has several unusual and rare tree species and two National Collections.  A limited number of tickets have been made available for this special event kindly hosted by Canford School on behalf of the National Garden Scheme. It includes a talk and guided tour with Andrew […]

  • OPen House Shaftesbury Charity Dinner & Auction

    Father's House, Christy's Lane, Shaftesbury, SP7 8PH Christy's Lane,, Shaftesbury, Dorset,

    Open House Shaftesbury is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with a Charity Dinner & Auction on Friday, 9th of May from 7:30 PM to which all and everyone are most warmly invited. Available from Eventbrite, tickets for this event are £25 per person and will include a pre-dinner drink upon arrival, dinner, live music, a bar […]

    £25

  • Murder At Upton Manor

    Upton Country Park Upton Country Park

    Murder At Upton Manor- A Regency Mystery Date: Thursday 15th May 2025 Time: 7pm-10.30pm Location: Upton House, Upton Country Park, Poole Rd, Upton, Poole BH17 7BJ, UK Join us on Thursday, 15th of May 2025, at Upton House, Poole, for a captivating Regency-themed murder mystery evening in support of Julia’s House, Dorset & Wiltshire Children’s Hospices. […]

    £32

  • Defashion Dorset

    Hawkers Farm Stour Provost, Gillingham

    Hawkers Farm is hosting Defashion Dorset on Fri 16th & Sat 17th May 2025 now in its third year. Founded by Jennifer Morisetti as an opportunity to celebrate local fibre growers and makers and a local clothing culture. Enjoy talks, demonstrations and inspiring local exhibitors. Workshops will run over the 2 days and include upcycling, […]

    £1 – £7

  • The Meetings (Black Comedy Play)

    Anne Biddlecombe Hall Valley Road, Tarrant Keyneston, Blandford Forum

    "The Meetings" written by Ben Bayer. A Black Comedy based on Parish Council Meetings held in the near future, set in the fictional village of Tarrant Queenston. Our hard-pressed Councillors not only have to contend with the vagaries of valley life, from Planning Applications to complaints about bonfires - there is now the end of […]

    £7.00

  • Poyntington May Fair 2025

    Poyntington Manor House Poyntington, Sherborne, United Kingdom

    Held in the Courtyard and Gardens (open to the public) of the lovely 15th C Manor in Poyntington, a small village just north of Sherborne, we have over 30 stalls from local artisans & villagers, including our renowned plant and cake stalls, and an Art Fair for you to browse.  Sharandy's Birds of Prey (11-2pm), […]

    Free
  • Gillingham Singers Spring Concert

    Spring Concert from Gillingham Singers

    St Mary's Church, motcombe Nr Shaftesbury

    Faure's Requiem and a programme of varied sacred and secular music. ‘Earlybird’ tickets are £10 (£12 on the door) and include a glass of wine. For tickets please contact Carole on 07572 786416

    £12

  • Sydling St. Nicholas Open Gardens

    Sydling St. Nicholas Village Hall Sydling St. Nicholas

    12 lovely gardens plus our beautifully decorated church open from 2 to 6 pm on both days.  Excellent selection of locally grown plants to buy.  Tickets on sale at the Village Hall from 1 pm. Tea and cakes available all afternoon.  Gardens £5 per person, accompanied children under 16 free.  A lovely day out.  Sorry […]

  • A Folk Song Walk

    Watercombe Dogs Farthing Gate Farm, Holnest, United Kingdom

    Join Dorset folk singer Alastair Braidwood for a walk around fields and woods of the Blackmore Vale, accompanied by traditional folk songs from Dorset and further afield. Explore beautiful countryside, and hear songs relating to nature and rural ways from years before. Meet at Watercombe Dogs, Farthing Gate Farm, Holnest, DT9 5PX for 2pm. Refreshments, […]

    £10

  • Choral Evensong

    St Peter's Church Dorchester 26 High East Street, Dorchester

    You are warmly invited to our monthly, cathedral-style service of Choral Evensong on Saturday 31st May at 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music marks Ascension Day and includes Stanford’s ‘Coelos Ascendit’, the ‘Preces & Responses’ by Philip Radcliffe, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange’s ‘Kings College Service and Finzi’s ‘God is gone up’. We are delighted […]

    Free

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