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.

Hosting an event in Dorset? Add it to the calendar for free and share it with Dorset Life readers.

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

  • Introduction to Bats

    Kingcombe Visitor Centre Lower Kingcombe, Toller Porcorum, Dorchester

    Join expert, Nick Tomlinson, to learn about our bat species and how to detect them. BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Adults over 18 only please. £100 per person. All money raised helps to support the vital conservation work of Dorset Wildlife Trust, protecting wildlife now and for future generations to come.  

    £100.00
  • Milton Abbas Street Fair

    Milton Abbas The Street, Milton Abbas, Dorset, United Kingdom

    The Villagers of Milton Abbas invite you to their 18th Century Street Fair Whatever the weather, we hope you join in the fun of our Street Fair. We have tried to recreate the flavour of a country occasion using costume, rural crafts, entertainment and craft demonstrations. We expect to have a large number of stalls, with […]

    £17
  • Strawberry Cottage Studio at Milton Abbas Street Fair

    Milton Abbas The Street, Milton Abbas, Dorset, United Kingdom

    Strawberry Cottage Studio is opening as part the Milton Abbas Street Fair on Saturday 26th July. Louise Freir will be displaying many creative pieces such as pen and watercolour paintings of Dorset, silk paintings and specialist fabric cushions. If you are unable to attend the street fair, you could always contact Louise to make an […]

    £7
  • Beaver Ecology and Field Signs

    Kingcombe Visitor Centre Lower Kingcombe, Toller Porcorum, Dorchester

    Delve into the ecology of beavers and discover what makes them such vital ecosystem engineers. Take a trip to the Dorset Beaver Project site to see the incredible habitats created by the beavers. Beavers are nocturnal animals, so we hope to catch a glimpse of these elusive creatures during our evening visit to the site. […]

    £75.00
  • 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 26th July at 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes Parsons’s ‘Ave Maria’, the ‘Preces & Responses’ by David Trendell, Howells’s ‘St Paul’s Service’ and Bainton’s ‘And I saw a new heaven’. Admission is free and there is a […]

    Free
  • Ballet Under the Stars 2025

    Hatch House West Hatch, Tisbury, United Kingdom

    Ballet Under the Stars, held from July 25th to 27th 2025 at Hatch House in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, is a truly unforgettable event. This annual ballet gathering has captivated many audiences, offering a blend of classical, neo-classical, and contemporary ballet in an extraordinary setting. The performances take place in a stunning 17th-century two tier walled […]

    £185
  • National Marine Week: Rockpool Ramble at Kimmeridge

    The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre, Kimmeridge Kimmeridge Bay, Kimmeridge

    This National Marine Week, join us for a guided walk along the beach at low tide to discover what fascinating seashore wildlife can be spotted in Kimmeridge Bay, the best rockpooling site in Dorset. We will follow the Seashore Code to avoid causing any harm and find out what we can all do to help […]

    £6.00
  • Ballet Under the Stars 2025

    Hatch House West Hatch, Tisbury, United Kingdom

    Ballet Under the Stars, held from July 25th to 27th 2025 at Hatch House in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, is a truly unforgettable event. This annual ballet gathering has captivated many […]

    £185
  • National Marine Week: Kimmeridge Seashore Challenge

    The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre, Kimmeridge Kimmeridge Bay, Kimmeridge

    Are you a crab or a starfish? This National Marine Week come along to Kimmeridge Bay and complete a series of seashore challenges to achieve your starfish, octopus or crab […]

    £6.00
  • National Marine Week: Seashore Safari along the Fleet Lagoon

    The Fine Foundation Wild Chesil Centre Portland

    This National Marine Weeks join us for a guided walk along the edge of the Fleet Lagoon at low tide. We'll be searching for the marine wildlife which calls these […]

    £6.00
  • A Folk Song Walk

    John's Pond and Watermeadow Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom

    Join local folk singer Alastair Braidwood for walks in the countryside close to Dorchester, accompanied by traditional folk songs from Dorset and further afield. Explore a beautiful part of the […]

    £10