What's On in Dorset

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Room On The Broom

1st February-31st December 2026

Venue: Moors Valley

Website: www.forestryengland.uk/moors-valley-country-park

Interactive family trail with Room On The Broom themed activities, fascinating forest facts and plenty of hands-on fun

Brambly Hedge Interactive Story Trail

14th March-31st October 2026

Venue: Abbotsbury Swannery

Website: www.abbotsburyswannery.co.uk

New interactive story trail for children and families

Bonkers Bunnies: Children's Easter Trail

25th March-15th April 2026

Venue: Durlston Country Park

Website: www.durlston.co.uk

Trail taking you on a trip aorund the park to learn about their bonkers bunnies

Fox and Cubs' dads and kids activity sessions

26th March-26th April 2026

Venue: Upton Country Park

Website: www.uptoncountrypark.com

Find out more about the nature on your doorstep in this session designed for dads and kids to spend time together in the great outdoors (mums also welcome)

Easter

Easter Eggstravaganza

28th March-26th April 2026

Venue: Nothe Fort

Website: www.nothefort.org.uk

Easter Egg Hunt, Bunny Bingo, Easter dress up, Easter croquet and parade ground funfair games, party games in the Family Room

Flower Fairies ™: Enchantment by the Sea

28th March-4th October 2026

Venue: Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum

Website: www.russellcotes.com

Exhbition celebrating the timeless artistry of Cicely Mary Barker

Spring Plant Fair

19th-19th April 2026

Venue: Mapperton

Website: www.mapperton.com

Wide selection of plants, flowers and gardening finds from local growers

Bournemouth Writing Festival

24th-26th April 2026

Venue: Bournemouth

Website: www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk

Three days of free and ticket talks, workshops and activities

Classic Vehicle Event

25th-25th April 2026

Venue: Neddy Green, Lytchett Matravers

Website: www.organfordclassicevents.co.uk

Classic vehicles from cars and motorbikes to the more unusual, stationary engines, miniature steam engines and event tanks, kids activities, stalls and live music

Crafting characters and telling Big Stories

25th-25th April 2026

Venue: Patch

Website: www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk

A blockbuster writing workshop for budding young authors and storytellers - for ages 7+

Once Upon A Holiday

25th-25th April 2026

Venue: Patch

Website: www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk

Fun and imaginative workshop for ages 5 to 10

Open Farm Family Fun Day

25th-25th April 2026

Venue: Sturts Farm, West Moors

Website: www.gulliversfarmshop.co.uk

Variety of family friendly things to do, games and crafts, live music, meeting animals, a scavenger hunt and tractor rides

Scary Stories Inspired by Shelley

25th-25th April 2026

Venue: Patch

Website: www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk

The workshop will encourage kids to create their own scary monster story for ages 8+

Spring Market

25th-25th April 2026

Venue: Athelhampton

Website: www.athelhampton.com/events

See the website for details

The Science of Imagination: Write Like a Botanist

25th-25th April 2026

Venue: Patch

Website: www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk

Science becomes magic as children transform experiments into imaginative stories and extraordinary botanical worlds

Free activities for children

26th-26th April 2026

Venue: Patch

Website: www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk

Free, facilitated drop-in activities

Swanage Carnival Classic Car Show

26th-26th April 2026

Venue: Swanage

Website: www.swanagecarnival.com

Selection of vintage cars, motorcycles and bicycles and to help raise money for a selectionof charities and local good causes

The Chase Trail Run

27th-27th April 2026

Venue: St Giles House

Website: www.uktrailrunningfestival.co.uk

Running events including a trail race

Farmer Palmers Car Boot Sales

28th-28th April 2026

Venue: Farmer Palmer's Farm Park

Website: www.farmerpalmers.co.uk

See the website for details

Teddy Rocks

1st-3rd May 2026

Venue: Charisworth Farm at Blandford

Website: www.teddyrocks.co.uk

Multi-award winning 3 day family firendly charity music event

Castles and Dragons

2nd-2nd May 2026

Venue: Nothe Fort

Website: www.nothefort.org.uk

Magical themed weekend - see the website for list of activities

Dorset Team Spring Fair

2nd-2nd May 2026

Venue: Allendale Centre

Website: www.theallendale.org

Event featuring a number of talented makers offering handmade jewellery, homewares, art and more

Early May Bank Holiday Weekend

2nd-4th May 2026

Venue: Corfe Castle

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle

Experience a weekend of family fun packed with engaging activities

Open Garden - 10 Ryan Close

3rd-3rd May 2026

Venue: Ferndown

Website: www.findagarden.ngs.org.uk

See the website for details - kids go free

Shaftesbury Food Festival

3rd-3rd May 2026

Venue: Shaftesbury

Website: www.shaftesbury-food-festival.co.uk

Day packed full of fun, food and festivities on Shaftesbury's historic high street, Park Walk and surrounding areas

Dorset Spring Show

9th-10th May 2026

Venue: Birch Lane Showground, Puddletown

Website: www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

Spring celebration of food, farming, flowers and countryside

Seaside Scramble 2026

9th-9th May 2026

Venue: Baiter Park

Website: www.dsairambulance.org.uk

5K obstacle run organised by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Charity

The Cheese and Chili Festival

16th-18th May 2026

Venue: Christchurch

Website: www.cheeseandchillifestival.com/event/christchurch

Lots of activities for all the family - see the website for more details

Family Fest

29th-31st May 2026

Venue: Wimborne

Website: www.wearefamilyfest.co.uk

Two days of live music, children's shows, family shows, activities, mascot appearances, food, drink and craft, sweet, food and small business traders

Park to Pier Walk

Venue: Swanage Pier/Durlston Castle

Website: www.swanagepiertrust.com

Guided walk from Durlston Castle to Swanage Pier learning about the wildlife geology and history of Durlston Country Park and Swanage

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