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.
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Sunday
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0 events,
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1 event,
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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 county, and hear songs relating to nature and rural ways from years before. Walks are about 3 miles and take roughly 2 hours. Bring your […]
£10
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0 events,
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1 event,
‘The Sound of Music’ – A Music & Drama Group event at Shaftesbury Arts Centre
Join Shaftesbury Arts Centre’s Music & Drama Group this summer, as they transport you to Austria in 1938 – where Maria brings back music and joy to the von Trapp family as the Nazi’s tighten their hold on Europe. The Sound of Music is the most beloved musical of the stage and screen and a […]
£15
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3 events,
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ALOHA. 🌺 The Udder Farm Shop’s ever-popular Old Skool Boogie Bingo is going on holiday to Hawaii. Join us for a night of disco and bingo with a flavour of the Pacific Islands. Fancy dress is encouraged for the night which will feature tropical cocktails, a delicious meal and of course bingo. The fun evening […]
£20
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Bringing you the very best music, arts, crafts, food and drink from around the world to your doorstep.From dubstep and DJ sets to ceilidh and blues rock, we have it all. |
2 events,
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A not-for-profit community music festival in rural Dorset, bringing together talented and innovative musicians from a range of genres. We have musicians - both local and global, emerging and established. From dubstep and DJ sets to ceilidh and blues rock, we have it all. In addition to the live music, we have always been determined […] |
2 events,
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Semley Music Festival returns for its 4th year and the small festival with big ideas just got even bigger! We've extended the event on to an additional day, Sunday July 6th. This year, Feelgood Sunday promises to lift your mind, body and spirit with a day packed full of yoga, tai chi, sound bath healing, […]
£10 – £25
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1 event,
‘The Sound of Music’ – A Music & Drama Group event at Shaftesbury Arts Centre
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2 events,
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Join us at Yewstock School for a night of numbers. Doors open at 6pm eyes down at 7pm. We are cash only. Plus raffle and refreshments. Raising money for Friends Of Yewstock
£10.00
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2 events,
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Enjoy a fantastic evening of great food and laughter, A delicious three-course meal • Choose from fish and non-fish options A complimentary glass of I Prosecco on arrival Sit with your friends - just let us know you'd like to be grouped with A fully licensed bar available
£45
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2 events,
Swanage Jazz Festival
The 34th Swanage Jazz Festival with 35 top quality bands in the ticketed programme from New Orleans to Contemporary Jazz plus a FREE Festival Fringe. Headline acts this year include Elainer Delmar, Andy Sheppard, Hejira, Soothsayers, The Adrian Cox Trio, The Sultan Stevenson Trio, Ian Bateman's Tribute to Louis Armstronic All Stars, Pete Long's Jazz […]
£45 – £145
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3 events,
BBC Garden Rescue(d) Charity Open Garden Weekend 12th & 13th July 1pm – 5pm SP7 8RX
Open garden event raising funds for Dorset Blind Association and Sjogrens UK. Sonia Booth became registered sight impaired in 2022 and applied to the BBC Garden Rescue programme as she could no longer manage her existing garden. She was lucky enough to be chosen and 18 months on is inviting people to come and see […]
£3.00
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4 events,
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Join us at the old railway station in Spetisbury, Dorset, from 10am to 2pm to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of modern railways. Explore this beautifully-kept station […]
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‘Railway 200’ Summer Tea Party Sunday 13th July 2025 Join us at the old railway station in Spetisbury, Dorset, from 10am to 2pm to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of […] |
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0 events,
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1 event,
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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
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1 event,
Community Connections AGM & Charity shop grand re-opening
Community Connection, Stour View DT10 1JF. Grand re-opening of Charity Shop at 2.00pm followed by AGM at 4.30. more info 01258 471359. |
3 events,
Shaftesbury Fringe
For three days, performers of all stripes will be taking over Shaftesbury - with music, comedy, theatre, dance, cabaret, magicians and more, the town will come alive as a record-breaking 300 acts squeeze into venues that range from the typical (Shaftesbury Arts Centre and the Shaston Club) to the unusual (The Lido or the Nun's […]
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Come and join us whilst we raise money for Friends of Yewstock. We are holding our annual summer fair at the school. There will be a Tombola, Raffle, throw a […]
Free
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6 events,
Milton Abbas Art Group Exhibition
Our annual exhibition is held in the Reading Rooms, directly opposite St James' Church, at the centre of The Street. The iconic cottages and beautiful surroundings add to the quintessential village charm and create an inspirational setting. There are lots of unique styles and mediums to suit plenty of different tastes, and exhibiting artists will […]
Free
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🌸 Experience the charm of Pond Farm’s beautiful gardens 🌸 Wander through tranquil surroundings and enjoy a peaceful afternoon in nature. Delicious tea, cake, and light refreshments will be available. […]
Free
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Taking place in the Village Garden at the rear of the Charlton Marshall Church beside the river with Classic Cars, BBQ, Pimms, Tea and Cakes, Plants, Tombola, Raffle and so […]
£1
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The Fifeheads’ Village Fete and Flower Festival Stalls, refreshments, children’s games, raffle, plants
£1.50
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4 events,
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Join us on 20 July 2025 for a show of automotive finery, all built around The Ascent. Watch a stunning array of variety power their way up the hill, all […]
£22.38
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3 events,
Community Connections AGM & Charity shop grand re-opening
Milton Abbas Art Group Exhibition
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In this lively interactive presentation – ESCAPE THE MATRIX – Alex Retrov reveals how you are unknowingly controlled by a system the very day the State created a ‘legal fiction’ […]
£10
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4 events,
Summer Season of Plays
A second Summer Season of Plays, bringing rep theatre to the beautiful Marine Theatre, on the sea front at stunning Lyme Regis, again. Following the successful performances last year, this year we bring you five popular plays from 23rd July to 27th August. For five weeks, you can enjoy a company of professional actors bringing […]
£5 – £18
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Come and enjoy a Summer Concert by The North Dorset A Capella Choir Including music by Handel, Purcell, Morley and Rachmaninov directed by James Crawshaw on Wednesday 23rd July in St Eustace Church, Ibberton DT11 0EN @ 7 pm Free entry but a donation to the fabric fund would be gratefully received Drinks and food […]
Free
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5 events,
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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
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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
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8 events,
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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5 events,
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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
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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
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3 events,
Community Connections AGM & Charity shop grand re-opening
Summer Season of Plays
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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 award. Challenges are a range of tasks and activities to help you discover the wildlife of Kimmeridge Bay. In order to complete the challenge you […]
£6.00
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4 events,
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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 shores their home, as well as looking for the tell-tale tracks and signs of species hidden from view. Learn why this area is so important […]
£6.00
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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 county, and hear songs relating to nature and rural ways from years before. Walks are about 3 miles and take roughly 2 hours. Bring your […]
£10
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3 events,
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Join us at Portland Bill to look out for dolphins and other marine animals as part of the 2025 National Whale and Dolphin Watch. Help with our survey, learn what signs to look for, how to spot and identify them and find out more about the types of whale and dolphin that can be seen […]
Free
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2 events,
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Join us on the Kimmeridge cliffs to keep a look out for dolphins and other marine animals as part of the 2025 National Whale and Dolphin Watch survey. Learn what signs to look for, how to spot and identify them, and find out more about the types of whales and dolphins that can be seen […]
Free
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4 events,
Great Dorset Chilli Festival
This is a real foodies festival, with over 110 artisan food producers from around the region and beyond, with some added HEAT! This is a great day out for chilli lovers and chilli haters, with enough chilli sauces to make steam come out of your ears (disclaimer: if this actually happens, please contact our onsite […]
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Artsreach Event Twelfth Night Miracle Theatre @ Ibberton, Belchalwell & Woolland Village Hall DT11 0EL Thursday 31st July, 2025 7:00pm Site open for Bar & BBQ from 5:30pm (cash/card). Bring a chair and a torch! Assistance dogs only Standard Ticket £16 Under 18s £8 Family ticket £40 Bar BBQ £6 each with a vegetarian option […]
£8 – £40
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On Saturday 2nd August I am hosting a Charity Auction and Preloved Fashions Cat Walk show, with a Wedding feature, at The Tithe Barn, Hinton St Mary The evening is a ticketed event ( tickets available from 1855 , The Emporium and by email to me) and will include:- A Dorset Deluxe grazing supper from […]
£35.00
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4 events,
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eat:Shaftesbury will take place on Sunday 3rd August 10am-4pm - on Park Walk by kind permission of Shaftesbury Town Council. Join us for a one day celebration of local and regional food and drink, free to attend, accessible for all (even the dog!) organised by multi-award winning eat:Festivals. You can expect to find over 70 […]
Free
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Have you ever wondered how marine creatures float or how some are able to dive deep underwater? In this interactive, hands-on session we’ll discover more about some of the amazing creatures that live in our oceans by carrying out fun and exciting scientific investigations. Suitable for the whole family. Children must be accompanied by an […]
Free
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