8 fantastic Dorset festivals you can't afford to miss!

Looking for something a bit different to do in Dorset? The eight Dorset festivals below offer a great opportunity to explore the county’s attractions, experience fun activities that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, and make some wonderful holiday memories in the process.

1. Camp Bestival

Camp Bestival is a favourite on the summer music festival circuit and is known for its fabulous dressing up costumes and its fun laid back atmosphere. With the beautiful backdrop of Lulworth Castle, Camp Bestival takes place over 4 days around the end of July. With an exciting array of entertainments from big names in music, comedy and theatre to food events, bouncy castles, face painting and fairground rides, no one will be disappointed with this magnificent festival. Adult weekend tickets start from £180, with varying prices for child tickets, though kids aged 4 and under get free weekend tickets.

2. End of the Road Festival

The End of the Road Festival focuses on alternative music and takes place in Larmer Tree Gardens in North Dorset around the end of August. This festival offers diverse delights from live musicians and comedy to food attractions and workshops that include the likes of learning circus skills and stop-motion animation. Adult weekend tickets are £150, with discounted tickets for children.

3. Dorset Seafood Festival

Voted 4th in the UK’s top 10 food festivals by The Independent newspaper, the Dorset Seafood Festival takes place every July on the waterfront in Weymouth. The festival boasts numerous stalls selling a variety of seafood, as well as chef demonstrations, fish auctions, wine talks, film entertainment, a delicious array of street food to choose from and so much more that you’ll soon be hooked.

4. Great Dorset Steam Fair

Whether you love the sedate elegance of vintage cars or the crazy adrenaline of monster trucks and stunt motorbikes, you’ll love the Great Dorset Steam Fair. However these aren’t the only attractions. If you love animals then check out the heavy horse displays and the eagle and vulture show. View demonstrations of fantastic traditional rural crafts, take in some dazzling dance shows or go wild with fabulous fairground rides. The festival takes place in the village of Tarrant Hinton in August, with prepaid adult day tickets costing £15.50, children’s day tickets cost £7, with free entry for children under 6 years old.

5. Swanage and Purbeck Walking Festival

Why not combine fun with sightseeing and exercise and participate in the Swanage and Purbeck Walking Festival. Taking place over several days around the end of September, the festival offers numerous walks that cater to different fitness levels so kids and adults alike can get involved. The walks cover various areas and activities, so you may enjoy a pub lunch on one or a cruise on another or alternatively hitch a ride home on a steam train or spot some of the wonderful local wildlife. Prices are generally around £3.50 per walk and are led by walk leaders so you don’t need to worry about getting lost!

6. Lyme Regis ArtsFest

Get stuck into creative fun with the Lyme Regis ArtsFest which showcases a number of local artists and hosts a variety of exhibitions, events and workshops. The ArtsFest takes place in September and many of the events and workshops are free, while others have a charge for entry to cover the likes of materials and/or refreshments that are included.

7. Bournemouth Air Festival

Expect excitement levels to soar at the Bournemouth Air Festival which takes place at the end of August. Amazing air displays from the likes of the Red Arrows are sure to awe, while on the ground you can explore attractions such as a life-size mock-up of a Chinook helicopter or watch displays from the RAF. However it’s not all about taking to the skies, as the Royal Navy gets involved too with a number of ship displays, plus all the action can be enjoyed for free (not including night entertainment).

8. Greyhound Inn Seafood Festivals

Offering a cosier approach to supping on seafood, the annual May and September seafood festivals in the Greyhound Inn in Wareham are a diner’s delight if you love shellfish and seafood. In addition to sampling some superb dishes you can watch live cooking demonstrations as well as listen to live music. There are some great nearby attractions to check out as well, such as Corfe Castle, Corfe Castle Museum and the Swanage Railway Museum.

Doing Dorset in style

The wide choice of festivals that Dorset has to offer will keep everyone entertained, whether you love seeing the latest bands, exploring the outdoors, sampling scrumptious snacks, getting creative or enjoying amazing mechanical displays. With so many exciting options to choose from you’re sure to find something that will delight and wow you.