Need ideas for things to do with the family in May? You'll find lots of fun events and shows listed below.
STAMPEDE BY THE SEA TRAIL
Info: A unique and exciting adventure awaits families with Stampede By The Sea, a free and interactive way to explore the stunning landscapes of west Dorset while supporting the incredible work of Weldmar Hospicecare.
Dates: Friday 28th March - Sunday 25th May 2025
Location: Across west Dorset
Website: Stampede by the Sea
GREAT TAIL TRAIL
Info: The Great Tail Trail is an exciting community art adventure in aid of Julia’s House children’s hospice and delivered in partnership with Wild in Art. There are over 40 giant mermaid tail sculptures making a splash in the BCP area.
Dates: Saturday 5th April - Sunday 1st June 2025
Location: Across BCP
Website: Julia’s House
ABBOTSBURY SWANNERY BRAMLEY HEDGE TRAIL
Info: Based on the Summer Story book, the trail includes fun facts, stamp points and an activity booklet. The trail runs alongside the daily mass swan feeds, willow swan maze and pedal go-karts.
Dates: Ongoing
Address: Abbotsbury Swannery, New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4JG
Website: Abbotsbury Swannery
TEDDY ROCKS
Dates: Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th May 2025
Address: Charisworth Farm Cottage, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 9AL
Booking: Teddy Rocks Festival
STALLS AT THE HALL
Date: Saturday 3rd May 2025
Address: Harmans Cross Village Hall, Haycrafts Lane, Harman's Cross, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3EB
Website: Harmans Cross Village Hall
DORSET SPRING SHOW
Date: Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th May 2025
Address: Birch Lane Showground, Puddletown, Dorset, DT2 7LN
Website: Dorset Spring Show
VE DAY EVENTS AT NOTHE FORT
Dates: Saturday 3rd – Sunday 11th May 2025
Address: Nothe Fort, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8UF
Website: Nothe Fort
SHAFTESBURY FEASTIVAL
Date: Sunday 4th May 2025
Location: Shaftesbury High Street & Park Walk
Website: Shaftesbury Feastival
MILKSHAKE LIVE!
Date: Sunday 4th May 2025
Address: Weymouth Pavilion, Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8ED
Website: Weymouth Pavilion
CANFORD HEATH JUMBLE TRAIL
Date: Sunday 4th May 2025
Location: All roads off Adastral Road area, Candford Heath, Poole, Dorset
Facebook: AR Canford Heath
TREE CLIMBING AT LARMER TREE
Date: Sunday 4th & Monday 5th May 2025
Address: Larmer Tree, Tollard Royal, Salisbury, SP5 5PY
Booking: Eventbrite
Dorsetmums special offer! Enjoy a special discount using the code DORSETMUMS10 for 10% off the total booking fee. Valid until Saturday 3rd May at 9pm.
HERSTON COMMUNITY PICNIC
Date: Monday 5th May 2025
Address: Herston Field & Village Hall, 12 Jubilee Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2SF
Facebook: Herston Village Hall
BRIDPORT COMMUNITY ORCHARD MAYFEST
Date: Monday 5th May 2025
Address: Bridport Community Orchard, Priory Lane, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3RW
Website: Bridport Community Orchard
PIG HEART BOY
Date: Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th May 2025
Address: Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: Lighthouse Poole
VE DAY 80TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
On 8th May 2025, we mark the historic 80th Anniversary of VE Day. For a list of upcoming events, please see our list of VE Day 80th Anniversay Events in Dorset.
THE WIGGLES: BOUNCING BALLS TOUR
Info: Experience the magic of this interactive and engaging live show experience set to spark creativity, curiosity and a love of learning through The Wiggles signature mix of entertainment and education.
Date: Saturday 10th May 2025
Address: Bournemouth Pavilion, Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 2BU
Website: Bournemouth Pavilion
BEAMINSTER PRE SCHOOL SPRING FAIR & DOG SHOW
Date: Saturday 10th May 2025
Address: Salway Ash Village Hall, Salway Ash, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5HX
PICNIC IN THE PARK
Date: Saturday 10th May 2025
Address: King George V Playing Field, Ferndown, Dorset
Facebook: Ferndown Town Council
MINI STEAM ON THE QUAY
Date: Saturday 10th May 2025
Location: Poole Quay
Website: Discover Poole
VICTORIA EDUCATION CENTRE CAR SHOW & SPRING FAYRE
Date: Sunday 11th May 2025
Address: Victoria Education Centre, 12 Lindsay Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset, BH13 6AS
Website: Victoria Education Centre
HIGH MEAD FARM SPRING FAYRE
Date: Saturday 17th May 2025
Address: High Mead Farm, Ham Lane, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9DP
Website: High Mead Farm
POYNTINGTON MAY FAIR
Date: Saturday 17th May 2025
Address: The Manor, Poyntington, Nr Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4LF
ST ANDREWS FONTMELL MAGNA SCHOOL BOUNCE & BBQ
Date: Saturday 17th May 2025
Address: St Andrews School, 56 West Street, Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0PF
Facebook: St Andrews School PTFA
PLUSH & PIDDLE VALLEY FUN DAY & CAR SHOW
Date: Saturday 17th May 2025
Address: Plush Cricket Club, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7RJ
Facebook: Plush Cricket Club
TOM BROWNS DUCK RACE & FUN DAY
Date: Saturday 17th May 2025
Address: Tom Browns, 47 High East Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1HU
Facebook: Tom Browns Pub
REDHILL SUMMER FETE
Date: Saturday 17th May 2025
Address: Redhill Park, Redhill Avenue, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH9 2SP
Facebook: 34th Bournemouth Scouts
POPKIDS – THE GREATEST SHOW
Date: Saturday 17th May 2025
Address: Canvas, 45 Poole Hill, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 5PW
Website: Popkids
THE CHEESE AND CHILLI FESTIVAL
Dates: Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 May 2025
Address: Parley Lane, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6AD
Website: The Cheese and Chilli Festival
MAGIC OF THAILAND FESTIVAL
Dates: Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th May 2025
Address: Baiter Park, Poole, Dorset
Website: Magic of Thailand
DORSET VEGAN MARKET
Dates: Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th May 2025
Address: Maumbury Rings, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1TY
Facebook: Dorchester Vegan Market
SALWAY ASH SCHOOL MAY FETE
Date: Sunday 18th May 2025
Address: Salway Ash School, 1 Silverdale, Salwayash, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5JE
LULWORTH MOTOR SHOW & FAMILY FUN DAY
Date: Sunday 18th May 2025
Address: Lulworth Castle, East Lulworth, Dorset, BH20 5QS
Website: Lulworth
DORCHESTER RUGBY FC FAMILY FUN DAY
Date: Sunday 18th May 2025
Address: Dorchester Rugby FC, Coburg Rd, Dorchester DT1 2HX
Facebook: Dorchester Rugby FC
SHILLINGSTONE STEAM & VINTAGE RALLY
Dates: Saturday 17 & Sunday 18th May 2025
Address: Blandford Road, Shillingstone, Dorset, DT11 0SQ
Website: Three Oakfords Rally
CURSUS CIDER & MUSIC FESTIVAL
Dates: Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th May 2025
Address: Myncen Farm, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8DH
Website: Cursus Festival
BECIDER SEASIDE FESTIVAL
Dates: Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th May 2025
Address: Bredy Lane, Burton Bradstock, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 4ND
Website: Bredy Farm
BOURNEMOUTH 7S FESTIVAL
Info: Festival for sport and music lovers with sporting competitions, fun fair and over 100 acts and DJ’s.
Dates: Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th May 2025
Address: Chapel Gate, East Parley, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6BD
Website: Bournemouth 7’s
ALTON PANCRAS FETE
Date: Saturday 24th May 2025
Address: Next to Alton Pancras Church, Alton Pancras, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7RW
SWANAGE PIRATE FESTIVAL
Date: Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th May 2025
Address: Sandpit Field, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1NR
Facebook: Purbeck Pirate Festival
BRYANSTON SUMMER FAIR
Date: Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th May 2025
Address: Bryanston School, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0PX
Website: Wessex Event Company
ULTIMATE FESTIVAL
Dates: Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th May 2025
Address: Upton Country Park, Upton, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7BJ
Website: Ultimate Festivals
ABBOTSBURY SWANNERY FOOD & CRAFT FAIR
Info: Tickle your taste buds with Dorset food and craft stalls, and don’t miss out on seeing the new fluffy cygnets.
Dates: Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th May 2025
Address: Abbotsbury Swannery, New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4JG
Website: Abbotsbury Swannery
SHROTONBURY FESTIVAL
Dates: Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th May 2025
Address: The Cricketers, Iwerne Courtney, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8QD
Facebook: The Cricketers
CHRISTCHURCH FOOD FESTIVAL
Info: This popular food festival hosts renowned chefs, local producers, interactive workshops, tastings, live music and children’s activities.
Dates: Saturday 24th – Monday 26th May 2025
Location: Christchurch Quay
Website: Christchurch Food Fest
SPETISBURY COUNTRY DAY
Date: Sunday 25th May 2025
Address: Crawford Bridge, Spetisbury, Dorset, DT11 9EA
Website: Spetisbury Country Day
OUTALIMITS DISCO
Date: Monday 26th May 2025
Address: Bournemouth Aviation Museum, Merritown Lane, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6BA
Website: Bournemouth Aviation Museum
SHERBORNE CASTLE COUNTRY FAIR
Date: Monday 26th May 2025
Address: Sherborne Castle, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 5NR
Website: Sherborne Castle
A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE: LIVE ON STAGE
Date: Tuesday 27th – Thursday 29th May 2025
Address: Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Website: A Squash and a Squeeze
BOURNEMOUTH PIER FAMILY RAVE
Date: Wednesday 28th May 2025
Address: Key West, Bournemouth Pier, Bournemouth, Dorset
Website: Party Peeps
OLIVER!
Date: Wednesday 28th – Saturday 31st May 2025
Address: Weymouth Pavilion, Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8ED
Website: Weymouth Pavilion
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Info: Based on the iconic story, this spectacular stage show follows the hit West End and Broadway productions to combine the memorable songs from the original 1970’s motion picture ('The Candy Man' and 'Pure Imagination') with all new numbers from the multi award-winning songwriters of Hairspray.
Date: Wednesday 28th – Saturday 31st May 2025
Address: Bournemouth Pavilion, Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 2BU
Website: Bournemouth Pavilion
SWANAGE FAIRY FESTIVAL
Info: The Swanage Fairy Festival is back with spectacular live mermaid show, fairy parade, pirates, magic shows, meet and greets, bubble disco and more.
Dates: Friday 30th & Saturday 31st May 2025
Address: Sandpit Field, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1NR
Website: Swanage Fairy Festival
STURMINSTER NEWTON BIG WEEKEND
Dates: Friday 30th May – Sunday 1st June 2025
Location: Across Sturminster Newton
Facebook: Sturminster Big Weekend
FAMILY FEST
Info: Introducing you to Dorset's best craft, sweet, food and small business traders, three days of live music on main stage, children's shows, family shows and activities, mascot appearances, bars, fabulous foods, and tons more to start summer in style.
Dates: Friday 30th May – Sunday 1st June 2025
Address: The Meadows, Julians Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1EF
Website: Family Fest
PIDDLEFEST
Date: Saturday 31st May 2025
Address: Piddle Valley School, Piddletrenthide, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7QL
Website: Piddlefest
Please always check an event is running before travelling as cancellations can occur. If you know of any more family friendly events in March then please do Contact Us.
Need more ideas for the things to do with the family?
Dorset Attractions & Places to go
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Car Boot Sales
Sport & Leisure Centres
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Dorsetmums hasmade every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this site and does not accept liability for any errors or omission. Please also note that an event or venue may cancel or close at any time and therefore you should consider contacting before visiting.
