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

Jane Austen: Down to the Sea

14th June-14th September 2025

Venue: Dorset Museum

Website: www.dorsetmuseum.org

Exhibiton exploring the sea as a setting for Jane Austen's ficitonal worlds and its influence on her

Theatre & Cinema

Bridwell Artisans Makers Market

27th June-5th July 2025

Venue: Budleigh Salterton

Website: www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk

See the website for the full line-up

Summer at Monkey World

1st July-31st August 2025

Venue: Monkey World

Website: www.monkeyworld.org

Celebrate summer at Monkey World with activities, themed weeks and the Children's Activity Centre open daily for crafts, fun and learning

Theatre & Cinema

TOADS Presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2nd-2nd July 2025

Venue: Princess Theatre

Website: www.atgtickets.com/princess-theatre-torquay

Musical production of the classic Roald Dahl

Upton Country Park Festival

4th-5th July 2025

Venue: Upton Country Park

Website: www.uptoncountrypark.com

Tribute acts- see website for line-up

Open Garden - the Old Rectory, Litton Cheney

6th-6th July 2025

Venue: Litton Cheney

Website: www.findagarden.ngs.org.uk

Open garden - children free

Theatre & Cinema

Robin Hood

6th-6th July 2025

Venue: Dorchester Corn Exchange

Website: www.dorchesterarts.org.uk

Hilariously adventurous take on the famous story from The Pantaloons

Dorset Volksfest

11th-13th July 2025

Venue: Wareham

Website: www.dorsetvolksfest.co.uk

Weekend of family entertainment with music, street food and free things for kids to do

Swanage Jazz Festival

11th-13th July 2025

Venue: Swanage

Website: www.swanagejazzfestival.co.uk

See website for programme details

The Rustic Stomp 2025

11th-13th July 2025

Venue: Knoll Farm

Website: www.rusticstomp.co.uk

Festival celebrating Americana Music and culture. Free entries to under 16s

Weymouth Beach Rugby and Netball Festival

11th-13th July 2025

Venue: Weymouth Beach

Website: www.weymouthbeachrugbyfest.co.uk

See the website for the schedule

Food and Drink Festival at Corfe Castle

12th-13th July 2025

Venue: Corfe Castle

Website: www.corfecastle.co.uk

Two day festival showcasing locally produced food and drink in the South Dorset area

Jurassic Fields Music Festival

12th-14th July 2025

Venue: West Bay Fields, Nr Broomhill Farm, Bridport

Website: www.jurassicfields.com

3 day family friendly festival

Monkey World's Chimpanzee recognition week

12th-20th July 2025

Venue: Monkey World

Website: www.monkeyworld.org

Celebrate the anniversary of the rescue of the first chimps at Monkey World, and World Chimp Day. Visitors can learn more about their closest living relatives through stalls, displays, games and activities

Theatre & Cinema

Bin Rat!

13th-13th July 2025

Venue: Lapford Mill

Website: www.theploughartscentre.co.uk

Open air performance

Dog Show at The Walled Garden Moreton

13th-13th July 2025

Venue: The Walled Garden Moreton

Website: www.walledgardenmoreton.co.uk

Day of family fun, delicious food and prizes to celebrate your canine companions

Theatre & Cinema

Obscure Desires

13th-13th July 2025

Venue: Exeter Phoenix

Website: www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

Visually stunning journey through the depths of human emotion - told through jaw-dropping acrobatics, live music and powerful storytelling

Way of the wild - Bushcraft taster sessions

30th-30th July 2025

Venue: Brownsea Island

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/brownsea-island/events/66914a5e-50c7-4ee9-92d8-a92a6b01f44c

Hands-on bushcraft experience - see the website for details

Theatre & Cinema

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

Theatre & Cinema

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

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