Pop-Up Pride Dorchester

Dorchester is celebrating diversity & inclusion with a programme of joyous events and exhibitions this June.

A big thank you to the sponsors of Pop-Up Pride Dorchester: Dorchester Town Council, Risk STOP Ltd, and Dorset Council.

Pop-Up Pride will include events such as:

• Poetry night
• Youth Pride café and market
• Community writing workshop
• Mural painting
• Chill out music sessions
• BBQ & Karaoke
• Record nights
• Spoken work open mic
• Community meals out

See the carousel below for all Pop-Up Pride events!

Pop-Up Pride's main event!

Dorchester Town Council, along with local partners, are hosting a Pride Family Picnic in Borough Gardens, Dorchester.

Join us for a joyful day of pride and togetherness at the Pride Family Picnic on Saturday 21st June from 11am to 2pm!

Bring your picnic blankets and loved ones for a vibrant afternoon with community stalls, family-friendly fun, and feel-good music from the Vinyl Van spinning some sunny tunes.

Delicious snacks also available from the Kiosk in the Gardens – newly opened as the Temple of Refreshments!

Whether you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community or a proud ally, everyone is welcome to come celebrate diversity, inclusion and unity in the heart of Dorchester.

Free entry – all ages welcome!

Sylvia Townsend Warner: A Queer Icon Returns to Dorchester

This December, Dorchester will take a bold step forward in LGBTQ+ visibility and representation with the unveiling of a public statue honouring the groundbreaking writer Sylvia Townsend Warner — one of the 20th century’s most overlooked queer literary figures.

Sylvia lived openly with her partner, the poet Valentine Ackland, at a time when same-sex relationships were still taboo and legally unrecognised. Together, they built a life in and around Dorchester, quietly defying social norms while creating work that still resonates today.

Thanks to the efforts of the charity Visible Women UK — and with support from local communities, schoolchildren, and crowdfunders — Sylvia will finally take her place in the public realm. Her statue will stand not only as a tribute to her remarkable writing and radical spirit, but as a powerful symbol of LGBTQ+ visibility, courage, and pride.

In a town known for celebrating its literary heritage through figures like Thomas Hardy and William Barnes, this is a long-overdue recognition of the rich queer history that’s always been part of the story — even if it’s taken until now to be seen.

Join us at 1pm on the 14th December 2025 outside Goulds fashion store as we unveil Sylvia’s statue and celebrate a legacy that speaks to resilience, authenticity, and love without compromise.