Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Dorset
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Pliosaur the Terrifying Sea Rex
1st-2nd January 2026
Venue: Museum of Jurassic Marine Life - The Etches Collection
Website: www.theetchescollection.org/giant-sea-monster
See the amazing Pliosaur skull discovery and learn more aobut how it lived, hunted and died in the Jurassic seas of Kimmeridge
Giant Sea Monster
1st-1st January 2026
Venue: The Etches Collection
Website: www.theetetchescollection.org
See the Pliosaur skull discovery and learn more about how it lived, hunted and died
Secrets of the Shadows Family Quest
29th August-29th November 2025
Venue: Corfe Castle
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle
Family quest to learn about the ghostly figures roaming the castle ruins
Heritage Open Days: Bridport Town Hall
12th-20th September 2025
Venue: Bridport Town Hall
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Access to the Town Hall with paintings, memorabilia, audio guides and children's activities
Inside Out Dorset
12th-21st September 2025
Venue: Various locations
Website: www.activateperformingarts.org.uk/whats-on/inside-out-dorset
International outdoor arts festival - see the website for the full line-up
Inside Out Dorset: River of Hope
12th-15th September 2025
Venue: Christchurch
Website: www.activateperformingarts.org.uk/whats-on/inside-out-dorset
Finale of this major artwork with over 60 inspirational flags created by young people
Canopy
13th-21st September 2025
Venue: Moors Valley - in the forest
Website: www.activateperformingarts.org.uk/whats-on/inside-out-dorset
Sound installation where you are invited to discover a trail of suspended seed pods you may even come across performers while exploring the trail
Walx Festival
15th-21st September 2025
Venue: Various locations
Website: www.walx.co.uk/walx-dorset-forest-2025
Week of walking events - see the website for schedule
Heritage Open Days: Lulworth Castle and Park
16th-17th September 2025
Venue: Lulworth Castle
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Visit and discover Lulworth Castle
Heritage Open Days: Lulworth Castle and Park
18th-18th September 2025
Venue: Kingston Lacy
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Free entry to this opulent family home built to resemble a Venetian Palace
Arts By The Sea Fringe
19th September-5th October 2025
Venue: Bournemouth
Website: www.artsbythesea.co.uk/fringe-festival
See the website for the full schedule of activities
Dusk Til Dark
19th-20th September 2025
Venue: Weymouth
Website: www.weareweymouth.co.uk
Free to attend performing arts event transforming Weymouth into a vibrant hub of music and light
Family foraging adventures: Discover the fascinating world of mushrooms
19th-19th September 2025
Venue: Happy River Retreat
Website: www.happyriver.co.uk
Mini foraging walk through wider Wareham Forest to spot and gather mushrooms fo the season and be guided through the edible, medicinal and incredible world of mushrooms
Lyme Eats Boutique - Street Food Market
19th-19th September 2025
Venue: Lyme Regis
Website: www.lovelymeregis.co.uk
Pop-up evening street food market
Open Day - Knoll Gardens
19th-19th September 2025
Venue: Knoll Gardens
Website: www.knollgardens.co.uk
Open event raising funds for families
Portland House Open Day
19th-21st September 2025
Venue: Weymouth
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Visit the 1930s art-deco house, surrounded by a huge garden and terraces
Sonnet of Samsara
19th-20th September 2025
Venue: Locations across Weymouth
Website: www.activateperformingarts.org.uk/whats-on/inside-out-dorset
See Weymouth's street come alive with hundreds of silk pennants, local dance groups and international dance artists and witness a fusion of contemporary dance, marital arts and live soundscapes coming...
Arrels
20th-20th September 2025
Venue: Corfe Castle
Website: www.activateperformingarts.org.uk/whats-on/inside-out-dorset
Collection of twenty games based on various cultural traditions. The games are intuitive and free, with no instructions to follow
Heritage Open Days: Allendale House Open Day
20th-20th September 2025
Venue: Allendale House, Wimborne Minster
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Information boards, quiz, exhibition, tearoom and more
Heritage Open Days: Blandford Fashion Museum
20th-20th September 2025
Venue: Blandford Fashion Museum
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Visitors are welcome to appreciate the Georgian building, plus the Museum's collection of historical costumes and textiles as well as a tearoom
Heritage Open Days: Hardy's House, Max Gate
20th-20th September 2025
Venue: Hardy's House, Max Gate
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Join a guided tour with one of the volunteer guides and discover the stories of Hardy's home
Heritage Open Days: Upton House
20th-20th September 2025
Venue: Upton Country Park
Website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Open house nad guided tours to tell the story of the House's connections to Poole and the local community
Idiofona
20th-21st September 2025
Venue: Corfe Castle
Website: www.activateperformingarts.org.uk/whats-on/inside-out-dorset
Performance with metal tubes that brings together the ideas of material, space and community - not suitable for under 8s
Poi
20th-20th September 2025
Venue: Corfe Castle Village hall
Website: www.activateperformingarts.org.uk
Join a guided tour with one of the volunteer guides and discover the stories of Hardy's home
Ringwood Carnival
20th-20th September 2025
Venue: Ringwood
Website: https://ringwoodcarnival.org
Community floats, fun fair, marching bands, steam engines, fireworks and more
Sturminster Newton History Week
20th-28th September 2025
Venue: Sturminster Newton
Website: www.sturminster-newton.org.uk
Full week celebrating the rich history of Struminster Newton with exhibitions, talks, guided walks and community activities
Tiger Day Autumn
20th-20th September 2025
Venue: The Tank Museum
Website: www.tankmuseum.org
See a WWII tank display and explore The Tank Museum on a day dedicated to the world's most infamous tank. Live tanks in action, expert lectures, Living History and more
Wild wetland bird walk
20th-20th September 2025
Venue: Brownsea Island
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/brownsea-island
Guided birdwatching walk - see the website to find out more
Wessex Heavy Horse and Country Fair
21st-21st September 2025
Venue: Turnpike Showground
Website: www.wessexheavyhorsesociety.co.uk
See the website for details
Arts By The Sea Festival
26th-28th September 2025
Venue: Bournemouth
Website: www.artsbythesea.co.uk/fringe-festival
Celebration of art, culture, people and place - see the website for the full schedule
Wimborne Flower Festival
26th-29th September 2025
Venue: Wimborne Minster
Website: www.wimborne.info
Flower festival with the theme of "The Delights of Dorset"
Apple Weekend
27th-28th September 2025
Venue: Ancient Technology Centre
Website: www.ancienttechnologycentre.com/public-events
See the website for details
Gillingham Carnival Week events
27th-27th September 2025
Venue: Gillingham
Website: www.gillinghamcarnival.org.uk
See the website for the full schedule
Quiet at the Tank Museum
27th-27th September 2025
Venue: The Tank Museum
Website: www.tankmuseum.org
Quiet morning aimed at anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the Museum. From 0900 to 1100 all sounds and interactives will be turned off to reduce sensory input
Shaftesbury Carnival
27th-27th September 2025
Venue: Shaftesbury
Website: www.shaftesburycarnival.co.uk
See the website for timings
Sweet and Sour
27th-27th September 2025
Venue: Lighthouse Poole
Website: www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Olivia Rodrigo vs Sabrina Carpenter tribute show
The Zoo That Comes To You
27th-27th September 2025
Venue: Lighthouse Poole
Website: www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Animal themed show with puppetry, live music and playful characters - suitable for ages 5+ but they welcome younger audiences and unaccompanied grownups
Muddy Dog Dash
28th-28th September 2025
Venue: Avon Heath Country Park
Website: www.lewis-manning.org.uk/muddy-dog-dash
Obstacle course designed for all abilities and dog show raising funds for Lewis Manning hospice
park to Pier Walk
28th-28th September 2025
Venue: Meeting at Durlston Castle
Website: www.swanagepiertrust.com
Guided walk from Durlston Castle to Swanage Pier learning about wildlife geology and history of Durlston Country Park, the Pier and Swanage
Swanage Blues Festival
2nd-5th October 2025
Venue: Swanage
Website: www.swanage-blues.org
See the website for details
Pirate Weekend
3rd-5th October 2025
Venue: Weymouth
Website: www.weymouthpiratefest.com
See the website for the full schedule of activities and events
Gillingham Carnival Processions
4th-4th October 2025
Venue: Gillingham
Website: www.gillinghamcarnival.org.uk
Children's procession at 3pm and grand illuminated procession at 7:15pm
Quiet opening at Dorset Museum
4th-4th October 2025
Venue: Dorset Museum
Website: www.dorsetmuseum.org
Explore the Museum and take part in drop-in activities during the Quiet Opening
Quiet at the Aquarium
5th-5th October 2025
Venue: SeaLife Weymouth
Website: www.visitsealife.com/weymouth
Discover a range of fascinating creatures from sharks to seahorses while the centre is quieter to create a more enjoyable experience for those with sensory experience for those with sensory sensitivities
Autumn Market
11th-11th October 2025
Venue: Athelhampton
Website: www.athelhampton.com
See the website for details
Run Bournemouth
11th-12th October 2025
Venue: Bournemouth
Website: www.runbournemouth.com
Running events of varying distances incluidng kids and junior races
Weymouth Beach Motocross
12th-12th October 2025
Venue: Studland Bay
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/studland-bay
Nature journal activity to encourage kids to explore their surrounding and connect with nature
Sherborne International Film Festival
16th-19th October 2025
Venue: Powell Theatre, Sherborne
Website: www.rcsc.org.uk/our-key-events/shiff
Film screenings - see the website for the full line-up
Purbeck Film Autumn Festival
17th October-2nd November 2025
Venue: Various locations
Website: www.purbeckfilm.com
See the website for the full line-up
Belle and Sebastian
18th-18th October 2025
Venue: Powell theatre
Website: www.rcsc.org.uk/our-key-events/shiff
Film screening based on the beloved children's TV series
Dorchester Literary Festival
18th-25th October 2025
Venue: Various locations
Website: www.dorchesterliteraryfestival.com
See the website for the full-line-up
The Dorset Open - Celebrating Creativity Across the County
18th October-30th November 2025
Venue: Dorset Museum
Website: www.dorsetmuseum.org
Brand-new major art competition
Protest
5th-9th March 2024
Venue: Theatre Royal Plymouth
Website: https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/protest/
For ages 7+. Running is Alice’s happy place – you might even say it’s in her DNA. She’s the best runner at her school but is struggling to prove her worth. Jade is slowly coming to realise that...
30% off Oceanarium memberships
Venue: Oceanarium
Address: Bournemouth
Website: www.oceanarium.co.uk
See the website for details
Attenborough's Giant Sea Monster - Sea Rex
Venue: The Etches Collection
Website: www.theetchescollection.org/giant-sea-monster
Pliosaur Skull Discovery - see the amazing creature and learn more about how it lived, hunted and died in the Jurassic seas of Kimmeridge 150 years ago
Beautiful Bournemouth Mini Exhibition
Venue: Russell Cotes Museum
Website: www.russellcotes.com
Discover the evolution of Bournemouth through this display in the Print Room
Easter Hunt at Moors Valley Country Park
Venue: Moors Valley Country Park
Website: www.moors-valley.co.uk/easter
Find the hidden giant Easter egg shapes around Moors Valley - solve the riddles, spot the eggs and write down the letters to work out the hidden answer
Fantazy
Venue: Babbacombe Theatre
Website: www.babbacombe-theatre.com
Variety show with comedy, illusion, vocalists and dance
Pieces of our Past
Venue: Highcliffe Castle
Website: www.highcliffecastle.co.uk
Experience the history of the Castle with never before seen photographs and artefacts
Rebellion and Revolt
Venue: Museum of East Dorset
Website: www.museumofeastdorset.co.uk
Thought provoking exhibit delving into two pivotal national struggles that profoundly impacted Dorset: the English Civil War of the 1640s and the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685. Themed trail around the Museum,...
West Bay In The War
Venue: West Bay Discovery Centre
Website: www.westbaydiscoverycentre.org.uk
Discover what happened locally in WW2. Find out about local memories, coast defences and more