Whether you’re looking to soak up some art, enjoy a fish dish, or watch motorcycling stunts there is a lot to do across the county this weekend.
Skies are set to clear up from the week's yellow weather warning for rain, with highs of 20C across most of the county meaning there will be a chance to get out and enjoy the weekend.
Here is a list of just some of the events going on across Dorset this weekend:
Bridport Hat Festival
One of the quirkiest events in Bridport’s calendar is the Hat Festival, an annual event held in Bucky Doo Square on the first Saturday of September (September 7 this year).
Originally starting in 2010 as a low-key bit of charitable fun, the Bridport Hat Festival has grown to be an important and much-anticipated event in the town’s calendar which sees people don their most creative and spectacular hats
A fun hat competition is open to everyone with categories such as the best lady, best gent, best boy, best girl, best couple and family or group.
Judging will be at 1pm, just after the mass-hatted photo in Bucky Doo Square.
Live entertainment will also take place throughout the day from young local musicians, as well as performances from the Bridport Broadsides shanty group and The Psychodahlias.
Dorset County Show
The Dorset County Show returns on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8 promising days packed with entertainment and new experiences.
Motorcycle display team, the IMPs, will be performing awe-inspiring fire jumps, and the show will also play host to tomahawk throwing displays, a huge flock of more than alpacas, giant pumpkins weighing more than 1000lbs, horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes from horse logging to Shetland racing, vintage tractors and steam engine displays, a bees and honey section as well as waggiest tail classes of dogs.
Stretching over 100 acres, organisers expect visitors to build up an appetite and are setting up the biggest food hall at the show to date. There will be pop up micropubs dotted around the site as well, to give the weekend a festival vibe.
Tickets are still available, with children gaining free entry across both days. For further information and to book your Show Ticket, visit www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk.
Dorset Seafood Festival
The 2024 edition of the festival was originally cancelled earlier this year, with organisers blaming the increase in the site fee. Three weeks after announcing the festival cancellation, organisers revealed that it would return.
This year's festival promises Dorset and UK seafood, the best of Dorset ales, English sparkling wine, cocktails, live music curated by local legends The Leggomen and a line-up of seafood chefs.
Admission is £15 for a day ticket for the Saturday or Sunday or £25 for a weekend ticket. There is a senior citizen rate (over 65s) of £10 for either day and entry is free for children.
There is also a 'locals' rate on the Sunday of £5 for anyone who lives within the DT3, DT4 and DT5 postcode areas. Tickets can be purchased online from, www.dorsetseafood.co.uk/
B-Side festival
This year the festival boasts an international programme of artworks, performances and experiences that will include the likes of Dhagan Collective, Deborah Bowness, Miss High Leg Kick, Gil Mualem Doron and Kirstie Macleod.
As well as the core programme that’s set to take over Portland, the B-Side Fringe Festival is back from Saturday, August 31 until Sunday, September 8.
A dynamic extension of the festival's main event, The Fringe will showcase a plethora of art, craft and installations from open studios and live music to window and garden displays. Across the Island, B-side goers should look out for Fringe signs and discover hidden and not-so-hidden, creative gems on their travels.
For more details and to purchase tickets for £7.50, visit b-side's official website.
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