What’s On

Arthur Neal in the East Wing Gallery at Athelhampton House

Arthur Neal Exhibition in the East Wing Gallery at Athelhampton House

Wed 30th Apr - All day
and 45 future schedules

Store Tour

Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in Dorset Museum & Art Gallery's Collections Discovery Centre.

Wed 30th Apr - 2:00pm
and 8 future schedules

The Script’s The Thing! 2

The Script’s The Thing 2 will take place on Saturday 3rd May 2025, and is a celebration of new writing for theatre, TV, film, radio and all performance.

Sat 3rd May - All day

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 3rd May - 10:00am
and 6 future schedules

Maiden Castle Guided Tour

Join us on a fascinating guided walk that delves into the rich archaeological heritage of Maiden Castle, one of the largest and most iconic Iron Age hill forts in Europe. This tour will explore the complex history of the hill fort and its surrounding landscape, uncovering layers of human activity that span thousands of years.

Tue 6th May - 6:00pm

Magic Mic Night – Open Mic Sessions

'Magic Mic' open mic sessions at the very plush and popular VIVO Lounge.

Wed 7th May - 7:00pm
and 3 future schedules

Storytime at the Museum

Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery!

Thu 8th May - 10:00am
and 4 future schedules

VE Day Beacon Lighting Event

VE Day Beacon Lighting event on Salisbury Field in Dorchester

Thu 8th May - 8:15pm

Street in the Park 2025

Street In The Park is back! Get ready to witness epic DJ sets, creative street dance and amazing graffiti.

Sat 10th May - 2:00pm

Choral Eucharist

Choral Eucharist

Sun 11th May - 10:30am

VE Day 80th Concert

A free concert in Borough Gardens from 1.00pm until 4.00pm with music with the Decadettes and the Durnovaria Silver Band. Come along with a picnic or enjoy a range of refreshments from the Borough Gardens catering kiosk and listen to a range of patriotic and 1940s music.

Sun 11th May - 1:00pm

Yoga in the Park

Immerse yourself into an evening of movement and calm.

Mon 12th May - 6:15pm
and 2 future schedules

Film screening: Le Petit Nicolas

A comedy/family film with the Dorchester-Bayeux Twinning Society

Tue 13th May - 7:30pm

The life of Rev. John Hutchins, author of The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset

Tue 13th May - 7:30pm

Open for Art

Open studios and art events across Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester celebrating art, craft, and making.

Sat 17th May - 10:00am
and 15 future schedules

Beating the Bounds

Join in with this free annual tradition to “Beat the Bounds” of the old Roman Walls!

Sun 18th May - 2:00pm

Volunteer Open Day

Thinking about becoming a volunteer? Come along and find out more about volunteer opportunities in Dorchester

Tue 20th May - 11:00am

Fairy Folk Tales

Step into the enchanting world of Dorset folklore and immerse yourself in the magical tale of "The Singing Barrows at Bincombe Bumps".

Tue 27th May - 10:00am
and 3 future schedules

Spoken Word Night

Spoken Word Night at The Poet Laureate!

Tue 27th May - 7:00pm

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 28th May - 12:30pm
and 3 future schedules

Hardy Women: Mothers, Sisters, Wives, Muses

Join Paula Byrne for a talk exploring Hardy Women which offers a fresh perspective on Hardy’s life, exploring it through the lens of the women who shaped him—his formidable mother, devoted sisters, first loves, long-suffering wives, and inspiring muses. Through their eyes, we see the man behind the novels, a figure both enthralled by and at odds with the women around him.

Fri 30th May - 6:00pm

Thomas Hardy: Justice of Peace

Saturday 31st May 2025 from 2pm. Join Mark Damon Chutter, Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society to find out more about Hardy's Justice of the Peace role.

Sat 31st May - 12:00am

Thomas Hardy Society Birthday Weekend

Celebration of Thomas Hardy's Birthday with The Thomas Hardy Society

Sat 31st May - All day
and 1 future schedules

Art in the Park 2025

We are thrilled to announce the date for Art in the Park 2025 – Saturday 31st May 2025 10am to 4pm

Sat 31st May - All day Saturday 31st May 10am to 4pm

Preseli Pete playing at the Convivial Rabbit

Preseli Pete playing at the Convivial Rabbit

Fri 13th Jun - 7:30pm

Summer Market at Athelhampton House

For our third year, this Summer Market brings more stalls and delicious treats for you to sample and purchase. Along side Gifts and much much more....

Sat 28th Jun - All day - 10am to 3pm

Empire, the West Country and Thomas Hardy | Corinne Fowler and Rena Jackson

This joint talk explores the British Empire's impact on the West County, examining Dorset's colonial connections, imperial wealth, and literary responses, including Thomas Hardy's portrayal of global influences in Wessex.

Fri 4th Jul - 6:00pm

Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir – Athelhampton: A Musical Portrait

Intimate event with the opportunity to explore this wonderful house and gardens.

Sat 5th Jul - 5:30pm

The Battle for Normandy – Hill 112

Drinks reception followed by a special talk on the Dorsetshire Regiment at Dunkirk

Fri 11th Jul - 6:30pm

‘The Shadow on the Stone’: Hardy and Archaeology | Mark Damon Chutter

Join Mark Damon Chutter, the Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society, for this special talk as part of our Festival of Archaeology programme.

Wed 23rd Jul - 11:00am

Fraught with high tragedy: new insights on the Maiden Castle Iron Age ‘War Cemetery’ | Dr Martin Smith

This talk presents new work by archaeologists from Bournemouth University, that has used radiocarbon dating to arrive at new conclusions regarding the dead of Maiden Castle and why they were laid to rest within the ramparts of this iconic site.

Thu 24th Jul - 6:00pm

Jane Austen and the Sea | Lizzie Dunford

Join Jane Austen's House Director Lizzie Dunford for this illustrated talk exploring the connections of Britain's greatest writer with the coast that surrounds our islands.

Fri 1st Aug - 6:00pm

Jane Eyre – Outdoor Theatre at Athelhampton House

Join Chapterhouse Theatre Company as we bring the windswept moorland of Brontë’s masterpiece to life in open air.

Sat 2nd Aug - 6:00pm

Stand-up Comedy as part of the Festival of Palestinian Culture

Palestinian Comedy Night as part of the wider Dorchester Festival of Palestinian Culture. Join us for what will be an entertaining evening of hilarious comedy from a fantastic line up of comedians. The show will provide a mixture of comedians from both Palestinian and non-Palestinian heritage.

Fri 29th Aug - 7:30pm

Writing Jane Austen | Gill Hornby in Conversation with Tracy Chevalier

Join bestselling author, Gill Hornby for a captivating evening as she discusses her writing inspired by the world of Jane Austen with writer Tracy Chevalier.

Fri 5th Sep - 6:00pm