What’s On
Event types
76 upcoming events
Sep 2025
Jane Austen: Down to the Sea exhibition
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth in 1775 this exhibition will explore the sea as a setting for Austen's fictional worlds and its influence on her.
Thu 11th Sep - All day
and 3 future schedules
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Below the Surface Community Exhibition
Inspired by the Jane Austen: Down to the Sea exhibition, this community project invited people of all ages to explore the sea’s healing power and its deep connections to wellbeing through art, poetry, and film.
Thu 11th Sep - All day
and 3 future schedules
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Regency Waddles – A Literary Duck Hunt
Explore the Museum in a fun and imaginative way with our Regency Waddles
Thu 11th Sep - 10:00am
and 3 future schedules
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PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION: Dorset People
A photographic celebration of the people who shape the heart and soul of this unique county. Curated by John Tilsley and members of Dorchester Camera Club.
Thu 11th Sep - 10:00am
and 16 future schedules
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The Thomas Hardy Archives: a talk by Dr Ruth Burton, project archivist
Learn more about work to catalogue the internationally significant archives of author Thomas Hardy on deposit at Dorset History Centre.
Thu 11th Sep - 7:00pm
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An Evening with Ken Watkins
A relaxed and intimate performance of acoustic music.
Thu 11th Sep - 7:30pm
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Friday Sessions: DJ & Cocktails
Friday Sessions at The King's Arms
Fri 12th Sep - 6:00pm
and 14 future schedules
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Live DJ at Santos + Co
Sunset beats from ADzSHA, spinning live at Santos + Co.
Fri 12th Sep - 6:00pm
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EuroBal Wessex: Dorchester
Join us for another friendly evening of French and Euro dance and music; a chance to dance to fine live music, and enjoy simple comforts in company. Bring a partner, an instrument, or just yourself and enjoy some Balfolk tunes and dances.
Fri 12th Sep - 7:00pm
and 1 future schedules
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Live Music & Freshly Brewed Beer at Brewhouse & Kitchen
Live Music & Freshly Brewed Beer Live Music Fridays at Brewhouse & Kitchen Dorchester – Enjoy talented local artists every Friday at 9pm. Great beer, great food, and a buzzing atmosphere. Book here: https://linktr.ee/brewhouseandkitchendorchester
Fri 12th Sep - 9:00pm
and 1 future schedules
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A Riverside Walk – Exploring the River Frome
Thomas Hardy Readings by the River
Sat 13th Sep - 1:00pm
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Kiddies’ Keilidh
Another of our popular, early-evening ceilidhs for young families, with special dances for little legs!
Sat 13th Sep - 5:30pm
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The Big Dorset Michaelmas Ceilidh
Celebrating 10 years of folky fun, Tatterdemalion bring their popular family ceilidh to the Corn Exchange once again.
Sat 13th Sep - 7:30pm
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Knit and Natter
Bring your knitting, crochet, sewing or any crafty project and join us for a relaxed morning of stitches and chat!
Mon 15th Sep - 10:00am
and 1 future schedules
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Barleycorn (Riddlestick Theatre)
Riddlestick Theatre present a new musical comedy telling tales of folk intrigue, ‘wyrd’ happenings and inebriated villagers.
Tue 16th Sep - 7:30pm
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Cabaret With Balls
Charlie Bicknell and Louise Innes in a new show - a mash of the irreverent and surreal.
Thu 18th Sep - 7:30pm
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Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri – The Long Ride Home Tour
For over 25 years now Kiki and Carmelo have been touring their spellbinding acoustic live show across the UK and Europe.
Fri 19th Sep - 7:30pm
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The 3 Amigos live at the Convivial Rabbit
The Convivial Rabbit welcomes the 3 Amigos!
Fri 19th Sep - 8:00pm
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Roman Town House Tours
Join our trained guides on a tour of Roman Town House site and the precious artifacts recovered and now on display at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
Sat 20th Sep - 10:30am
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Comedy Night with the Dorchester Comedy Club
Dorchester Comedy Club launches with a bang with a stellar opening night line-up featuring Justin Moorhouse, Suzy Bennett and Hatty Preston.
Sat 20th Sep - 7:30pm
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Vanilla Radio – Live at Tom Browns!
Vanilla Radio's live performances are a dynamic fusion of influences, drawing from acid jazz, funk, soul, and rock.
Sat 20th Sep - 9:00pm
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Heritage Open Day
Free walks, tours, experiences and activities to celebrate Dorchester's heritage.
Sun 21st Sep - All day
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Free Guided Walk from Hardy’s Cottage to Hardy’s House, Max Gate
Free guided walk from Thomas Hardy's birthplace to Max Gate.
Sun 21st Sep - 10:30am
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Reverie: The Life and Loves of Claude Debussy. Lucy Parham and Sir Simon Russell Beale.
Lucy Parham returns with Rêverie, the fourth in her extraordinary Composer Portrait series, and on this occasion is joined by one of the most popular and critically acclaimed talents in British theatre, Sir Simon Russell Beale.
Sun 21st Sep - 7:00pm
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Roman Dorchester Walk
Join our trained guides to step back in time and immerse yourself in the historic Roman town of Durnovaria...
Tue 23rd Sep - 10:30am
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Store Tour
Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in Dorset Museum & Art Gallery's Collections Discovery Centre.
Wed 24th Sep - 12:00am
and 3 future schedules
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From the Stacks – Free lunchtime talk
Recurring event, 'From the Stacks', which is a free lunchtime talk on selected archival treasures at Dorset History Centre, taking place on the last Wednesday of every month.
Wed 24th Sep - 12:30pm
and 1 future schedules
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Talk – Clouds Hill Cottage – A picture of the families who lived here
Dorchester Association for research into local history and archaeology event
Thu 25th Sep - 7:30pm
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Dorchester Repair Cafe
The amazing repairers will be waiting for you, ready to tackle your broken clocks, clothes, small appliances and more!
Sat 27th Sep - 10:00am
and 2 future schedules
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Drawing You, Heavy With Sleep: Celebrating Sylvia Townsend Warner
Discuss the life and work of the musicologist and LGBTQ + pioneer Sylvia Townsend Warner.
Sat 27th Sep - 2:00pm
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The Dorchester Artisan Market
Dorset Artisan Markets are bringing a fabulous collection of over 200 artisan traders to the streets of Dorchester!
Sun 28th Sep - 10:00am
and 2 future schedules
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Oct 2025
To Yollow Autumn Turn’d
An evening of words and music relating to the turning of the year towards Autumn: the harvest, countryside ways and, most importantly, cider!
Fri 3rd Oct - 7:30pm
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Quiet Opening
Explore the Museum and take part in drop-in activities during our Quiet Openings. Especially suitable for visitors with autism or other sensory conditions, and their siblings, parents and carers. The sessions are also suitable for any group or individual who would like to visit our museums and galleries at a quieter time.
Sat 4th Oct - 10:00am
and 2 future schedules
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Walk & Talk: Hardy and Religion
Dorchester's Charismatic Church Leaders and their Impact on Hardy
Sat 4th Oct - 12:00pm
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Knightmare Live: 10th Anniversary Tour
Light the beacons! Rouse the villagers! Gather all your courage… for the smash hit comedy show of the cult 90s TV classic is back!
Sat 4th Oct - 7:30pm
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Chris Difford
Chris Difford is a Grammy nominated and double Ivor Novello Award winning lyricist who has brought us characters and sketches from everyday life, and has successfully turned the mundane into the beautiful, the urbane into the exquisite, for over 40 years.
Sun 5th Oct - 7:30pm
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Volunteer Open Day
Find out more about the volunteer opportunities available in Dorchester at a Volunteer Open Day.
Wed 8th Oct - 10:00am
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Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman
For three decades Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman’s partnership has proved personal, permanent and pivotal.
Thu 9th Oct - 7:30pm
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Autumn Market
For our second year this popular Autumn Market brings more stalls and all nice things in preparation for Winter hibernation and dare i say some 'early Christmas shopping
Sat 11th Oct - 10:00am
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A Noise Annoys – Jude Simpson
“A Noise Annoys” is a poetry show for all the senses! It features rhymes, noises, songs, surprises and lots of audience interaction.
Sun 12th Oct - 2:00pm
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Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horrors
The silent film masterpiece with a brand-new live score
Wed 15th Oct - 7:30pm
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Dorchester Literary Festival
Whether you’re interested in fiction, crime, science, history, politics, the natural world, health, music, walking, biography or cosy crime, there will be plenty to tempt you to join us in October.
Sat 18th Oct - All day
and 7 future schedules
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TALK: Villains, Victims and Tragedies
A fascinating talk by popular local author Brian Bates
Sat 18th Oct - 2:00pm
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Blowzabella
Blowzabella’s first ever visit to Dorchester! They’ll be playing for dancing but if you just want to come and listen, that’s fine too.
Thu 23rd Oct - 7:30pm
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Athelhampton’s Tudor Living History Week
Visit Athelhampton, one of England's finest Tudor Manor Houses surrounded by stunning architectural gardens with the bonus of being able to join in this special Half Term Event
Mon 27th Oct - All day
and 4 future schedules
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Poems of David Bushrod | Robert Eshelby and Mark Damon Chutter
Robert Eshelby, assisted by Mark Damon Chutter, will respond to Bushrod's work using poems that have been recently recorded by the poet.
Mon 27th Oct - 2:00pm
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Talk – The Gentleman who Pays the Rent
Dorchester Association for research into local history and archaeology event
Thu 30th Oct - 2:30pm
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GrandSlam Wrestling – Halloween Special!
This October, Dorchester is in for a night of bone crunching action and Halloween thrills as GrandSlam Wrestling storms back into the Corn Exchange!
Fri 31st Oct - 7:00pm
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Nov 2025
Maiden Castle Day School with Dorchester Association For the Research into Local History and Archaeology
Dorchester Association for research into local history and archaeology event
Sat 1st Nov - 10:00am
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Death of The Monarchy
A world premiere of a new play by Gavin Egan. Join us for a script-in-hand rehearsed reading.
Tue 4th Nov - 7:30pm
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WW1: Hardy at Athelhampton
To set the scene for the War Poetry Conference, local actors will re-create that fateful dinner in the very room it took place, with the audience moving to other historic rooms to watch events unfold.
Fri 7th Nov - 6:00pm
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THS WAR POETRY WEEKEND: A Weekend to Remember
The Thomas Hardy Society is joining forces with other literary groups to give a stage to the words of some extraordinary writers.
Sat 8th Nov - 9:30am
and 1 future schedules
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Dorset Food and Drink Winter Fair
Winter Food and Drink Fair at Athelhampton House
Sat 8th Nov - 10:00am
and 1 future schedules
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REMEMBRANCE – War, Words and English Song
The Thomas Hardy Society in conjunction with the War Poets’ Association present a concert for Remembrance.
Sat 8th Nov - 7:00pm
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Grace Petrie: This Is No Time To Panic!
Like protest songs? Neither does Grace Petrie – and she’s been singing them for 15 politically disastrous years. No longer able to meet the deadened eyes or desperate hopes of leftwing audiences, she reckons there’s no better time for a feel-good show!
Sun 23rd Nov - 7:30pm
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Talk – Hospital Blues – Nursing in Dorset during the First World War
Dorchester Association For the Research into Local History and Archaeology Event
Thu 27th Nov - 2:30pm
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Jan 2026
Janet Street-Porter
From a bolshy child with a Welsh-speaking budgie to National Treasure, Janet Street-Porter’s life (and language) has always been colourful.
Wed 21st Jan - 7:30pm
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Talk – Thomas Fowell Buxton and the Niger Expedition of 1841-1842
Dorchester Association For the Research into Local History and Archaeology Event
Thu 29th Jan - 2:30pm
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Feb 2026
Talk – Policing in the Past
Dorchester Association For the Research into Local History and Archaeology Event
Thu 26th Feb - 2:30pm
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Mar 2026
Talk – The Dorchester Roman Aqueduct
Dorchester Association For the Research into Local History and Archaeology Event
Thu 26th Mar - 7:30pm
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Apr 2026
Talk – Maude Dudley: Nanny to the Williams family of Bridehead
Dorchester Association For the Research into Local History and Archaeology Event
Thu 30th Apr - 7:30pm
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May 2026
Talk – Victorian School Logbooks – Details of everyday school life in rural Dorset.
Dorchester Association For the Research into Local History and Archaeology Event
Thu 28th May - 7:30pm
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Jul 2026
2026 International Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival
2026 International Thomas Hardy Conference and Festival
Sat 25th Jul - All day
and 7 future schedules
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