The Sherborne Travel Writing Festival is the first travel literature festival to be held in the UK in recent years. At its heart is the idea – and the timely theme – of reaching for the horizon

The Cerne Giant Festival celebrates humanity in the landscape and takes place over several weeks in April and May each year. Join in gathering herbs for the Beltane Brew (to be consumed by thirsty revellers dancing in the dawn on May Day on Giant Hill), take part in scupture workshops or mindfulness activities and enjoy fascinating talks on subjects ranging from ghosts to butterflies. A true celebration of rural Dorset.

The first show of the year in Dorset’s rural events calendar starts here with heavy horse displays, steam engines, artisan food stalls, local crafts and traditional contry skills.

Every month through the summer, Sherborne hosts the very best local artisans, crafts and food producers with over 200 stalls and free music and entertainment. The market runs from 10a.m until 3p.m.

The second of the county's spring shows with livestock, farming, crafts, food and country pursuits.

Welcome the sunrise on May Day with the Wessex Morris Men as they dance in the dawn. Partake of the Beltane Brew and follow the revellers to the village to join in dancing and on then to The Silver Well for a celebration of spring.

Sherborne Abbey Festival is an annual, week-long celebration of music with events held in a variey of locations in and around the beautiful town of Sherborne. Experiece a wide range of performances from opera, choral and classical to jaz sing and more.

Between mid-May and the end of June, colony of wild Mute Swans at Abbotsbury hatch their chicks. A great time to visit the swannery and witness the unique site of hundreds of fluffy, grey signets.

Every month through the summer, Sherborne hosts the very best local artisans, crafts and food producers with over 200 stalls and free music and entertainment. The market runs from 10a.m until 3p.m.

Two week festival of art across the Purbecks. Open Studios showcasing local art around the Purbecks offering a broad selection of paintings, ceramics, prints, photography, woodcrafts and much more.

One of the largest open studio events in the country. Grab yourself a brochure or download the app to visit hundreds of participating artists.

Held in the grounds of Sherborne Castle, this spectacular lakeside event highlights traditional rural skills, as well as dog events, rare breeds, trade stands, music and the mad English tradition that is terrier racing.

Established for over twenty years, the Wessex Folk Festival is one of the largest free festivals in the UK. Held on the picturesque harbourside in Weymouth, it includes live music, morris dancing, workshops and stands selling food, drink, clothing and gifts.

A literary festival celebrating the three writers associated with Sturminster Newton (Thomas Hardy, William Barnes, Robert Young), contemporary Dorset and Wessex writers, and aspiring Dorset and Wessex writers.

The annual Lyme Regis Fossil Festival has exhibits, talks, shows and guided walks, all celebrating the geological heritage of the Jurassic Coast.

Every month through the summer, Sherborne hosts the very best local artisans, crafts and food producers with over 200 stalls and free music and entertainment. The market runs from 10a.m until 3p.m.

A weekend celebrating the fishing heritage of Swanage, with food stalls, crafts, cooking demonstrations and champagne to wash it all down.

The theme for this year’s Festival is ‘Think Local’, in celebration of the unique and delicious flavours of Dorset, showcasing the local producers, chefs and farmers that contribute to our local food scene.

Set amidst the rolling hills of West Dorset, the small but vibrant town of Beaminster plays host to their annual festival of music, theatre, literature and art.

Come and see the great British tradition that is Morris dancing. Hanky-waving, stick-wielding dancers with bells on will be performing all day on the seafront at Lyme Regis.

The world-famous Woldlife Photographer of hte Year exhibition from The Natural History Museum comes to Dorchester Museaum for five days in July. Over one hundred photographs of fascinating animal behaviour and spectacular species from over ninety countries.

Every month through the summer, Sherborne hosts the very best local artisans, crafts and food producers with over 200 stalls and free music and entertainment. The market runs from 10a.m until 3p.m.

Shaftesbury Fringe is an open access performing arts festival that takes place every summer in the beautiful hilltop town of Shaftesbury. The Fringe is a celebration of all things creative, which means anyone with a story to tell can put on a Fringe event. With over 30 unique venues within our town, which range from traditional venues, such as the arts theatre, the town churches and various pubs, to a mobile cheese van, the rear garden of a dentist, the outside area of the local garden centre and an estate agent’s shop floor. There truly is a venue for everyone.

One of the town's biggest summer attractions, Lyme Regis and Charmouth Lifeboat Week is a whole week of entertainment, music and displays including a bath tub race, illuminated boats, a crab fishing competition and the spectacular Army parachute display team The Red Devils.

Lyme Regis harbour offers the perfect setting for a display of light and colour which illuminate the skies above Lyme Regis seafront with a stunning pyrotechnic display. The display kicks off the Lyme REgis Regatta and Carnival.

Billed as the hottest day out in Dorset, the Great Dorset Chilli Festival takes place in the beautiful 80 acre deer park at Stock Gaylard. Featuring the country's best chilli growers and food producers as well as chilli-eating competitions, spicy food stalls, artisan food producers and local beers and icecream to cool the palate.

Every month through the summer, Sherborne hosts the very best local artisans, crafts and food producers with over 200 stalls and free music and entertainment. The market runs from 10a.m until 3p.m.

An annual celebration of the countryside, conservation, woodland, timber, traditional craft and rural history in Dorset, all set in a beautiful 80 acre deer park.

A weekend of concerts, dance and music all based around the seafront and town centre at Swanage. International folk artists and dance troupes perform in free and paid venues and there are crafts, food stalls and (of course) a beer tent.

A truly unique Dorset experience celebrating the most creative, quirky, stylish and inventive headwear! Live music, a garden party, best hat competition, hat hurling, plus food and drink are part of the Bridport Hat Festival

For over 175 years, the Dorchester Agricultural Society has celebrated agriculture and rural life in Dorset and their annual show still takes place on the first weekend in September each year. Competition classes include cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, horses, show jumping, homecrafts and farm produce as well as showcasing rural skills and local food and drink producers.

A weekend of celebrating everything cheese in Thomas Hardy's Vale of Little Dairies. Artisan cheese makers from throughout the West Country (and further afield) gather to showcase their wares, along with other local food producers. There are also local cider and beer tents, food stalls, music and crafts to enjoy.

Every month through the summer, Sherborne hosts the very best local artisans, crafts and food producers with over 200 stalls and free music and entertainment. The market runs from 10a.m until 3p.m.

Every month through the summer, Sherborne hosts the very best local artisans, crafts and food producers with over 200 stalls and free music and entertainment. The market runs from 10a.m until 3p.m.

The Cobb provides a spectacular backdrop to this popular annual display. Join the crowds of people who come to watch the fireworks over Lyme Bay .

On Boxing Day every year, Wessex Morris come to Cerne Abbas to present their annual Mummers' Play. Expect silliness, murder and mayhem as King George vanquishes his foes and the Good Doctor resurrects the full cast for a happy ending. Follow them to the pub for a pint of local beer and a round of English folk songs.