There’s so much to do in Dorset this summer and plenty of family friendly festivals to enjoy with live music, local food and drink, workshops, performances, creative arts, fun fairs and plenty of children’s entertainment.

    

DORSET VOLKSFEST (WAREHAM)

Info: Family friendly weekend of live entertainment, beer, great street food and VWs!

Dates: Friday 12 – Sunday 14 July 2024

Tickets: Dorset Volkfest

 

SANDFEST (POOLE)

Info: SandFest is a one day boutique beach festival, headlined by some of the best global artists Sandbanks Beach.  Strictly over 18's only.

Date: Saturday 14 July 2024

Tickets: SandFest

 

JURASSIC FIELDS MUSIC FESTIVAL (BRIDPORT)

Info: Jurassic Fields is well known for showcases amazing live music, comedy, food and entertainment.  Camping options are available.

Dates: Friday 12 – Sunday 14 July 2024

Tickets: Jurassic Fields Music Festival

 

LABYRINTH ARTS FESTIVAL (WIMBORNE)

Info: Labyrinth Arts Festival is a brand new celebration of outdoor live performance encompassing theatre, storytelling, music and dance.

Dates: Friday 12 – Sunday 14 July 2024

Facebook: Labryinth Arts Festival

 

 

SWANAGE JAZZ FESTIVAL

Info: 3 days of jazz performances on the Purbeck coast.

Dates: Friday 12 – Sunday 14 July 2024

Tickets: Swanage Jazz Festival

 

WILKSWOOD REGGAE FESTIVAL (SWANAGE)

Info: The Wilkswood Raggae Festival is held in Langton Matravers and offers plenty of reggae music, food and drink and a kids field with hale bales to clamber over, children’s entertainers, nature walks and more.  Under 3’s are FREE!

Dates: Thursday 18 – Sunday 21 July 2024

Tickets: Wilkswood Reggae Festival

 

 

TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS’ FESTIVAL

Info: The Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival returns with inspiring programme of discussion, music, performance, children's activities, speakers, food stalls and more.

Dates: Friday 19 – Sunday 21 July 2024

Tickets: Tolpuddle Martyrs

 

PURIFY FESTIVAL (STURMINSTER MARSHALL)

Info: 3 days of music, wellness therapies and camping in the Dorset countryside, all to raise funds for the Dorset Mind charity.

Dates: Friday 19 – Sunday 21 July 2024

Tickets: Purify Festival

 

XCHURCH MUSIC FESTIVAL (CHRISTCHURCH QUAY)

Info: The music festival which is held on The Quomps offers 3 days of non-stop music and entertainment.  Under 12's go FREE!

Dates: Friday 19 – Sunday 21 July 2024

Tickets: Christchurch Music Festival

 

BOOGIE IN THE PARK (BOURNEMOUTH)

Info: Boogie in the Park is a family friendly event held in Shelley Park in Boscombe with inflatables, kids entertainment, food, drink and music. Under 12's go FREE!

Date: Saturday 20 July 2024

Tickets: Boogie in the Park

 

CAMP BESTIVAL (LULWORTH)

Info: Undoubtedly Dorset’s largest family friendly festival.  Camp Bestival has numerous stages, headline acts, multiple children’s activities, stalls, food and drink, workshops, planetarium, enchanted cinema and so much more.  Camping options are available.

Dorsetmums Blog Review: Camp Bestival 2017

Dates: Thursday 25 – Sunday 28 July 2024

Tickets: Camp Bestival

 

POOLE HARBOUR FESTIVAL

Info: Poole Harbour Festival has over 50 live acts across 4 stages, an array of street food, bars, stalls, children’s entertainers and dinosaur shows!  Under 5’s go FREE!

Dates: Friday 26 – Sunday 28 July 2024

Tickets: Poole Harbour Festival

 

BOURNEMOUTH REGGAE WEEKENDER

Info: Enjoy reggae music, trade stands, entertainment and catering.  Children go FREE!

Dates: Friday 26 – Sunday 28 July 2024

Website: Bournemouth Reggae Weekender

 

WEYMOUTH FOOD & FAMILY FESTIVAL

Info: The festival at Lodmoor Country Park features a live music stage with amazing local artists, a kitchen cooking theatre, dog shows, bubble parties, magic shows, balloon modelling, a chilli eating competition and much more.  Children under 4 go FREE!

Dates: Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 July 2024

Tickets: Weymouth Food and Family Festival

 

DORSET FOOD AND ARTS FESTIVAL (POUNDBURY)

Info: The festival celebrates local food, drink and artistic creativity in Dorset.  FREE EVENT!

Date: Saturday 3 August 2024

Website: Dorset Food & Drink

 

GREAT DORSET CHILLI FESTIVAL (STURMINSTER NEWTON)

Info: A great weekend for chilli enthusiasts, food lovers and families with stalls, artisan food producers, music, chilli eating competitions, street food and more.  Children 10 and under go FREE!

Dates: Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 August 2024

Tickets: Great Dorset Chilli Festival

 

WE OUT HERE FESTIVAL (WIMBORNE ST GILES)

Info: The 4 day festival celebrates world-class music, alongside wellness, family and cultural activities.  Children under 14 go FREE!

Dates: Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 August 2024

Tickets: We Out Here Festival

 

PURBECK VALLEY FOLK FESTIVAL (HARMANS CROSS)

Info: Purbeck Valley Folk Festival is a small festival set on a farm with a good variety of local music, workshops, children’s area, crafts, food and drink.  Camping options are available and children under 3 go FREE!

Dates: Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 August 2024

Tickets: Purbeck Valley Folk Festival

 

VDUB AT THE PUB (WIMBORNE)

Info: A great family friendly festival with live music and DJ’s, stalls, food and drink, sports games, children’s activities and VW’s.  Camping options are available and children under 12 are only £1.

Dorsetmums Blog Review: Vdub at the Pub 2018

Dates: Friday 16 – Sunday 18 August 2024

Tickets: Vdub at the Pub

 

RIVERSIDE FEST (STURMINSTER NEWTON)

Info: Riverside Fest is held in the beautiful north Dorset countryside and this year they will be raising money for Children with Cancer UK, The Vale Pantry and Big Yellow Bus Project. And kids go FREE!

Date: Saturday 17 August 2024

Facebook: Riverside Fest

 

BOURNEMOUTH AIR FESTIVAL

Info: FREE event with a packed programme of world-class aerobatic displays along 1.5 miles of coastline plus fairground rides, Pier to Pier trading, fireworks, demos from the Armed Forces and family entertainment.

Dates: Thursday 29 – Saturday 31 August 2024

Website: Bournemouth Air

 

SWANAGE FOLK FESTIVAL

Info: A weekend of music, dance, fun and children’s activities around the beautiful town of Swanage.

Dates: Friday 6 – Sunday 8 September 2024

Tickets: Swanage Folk Festival

 

THE DORSET SEAFOOD FESTIVAL (WEYMOUTH)

Info: Enjoy an amazing choice of locally caught seafood, drinks, gifts and shopping, live music, chefs’ theatre stages, the School of Fish and lots more family fun.

Dates: Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 September 2024

Tickets: Dorset Seafood

 

SWANALULU FESTIVAL (SWANAGE)

Info: A 2 day music extravaganza supporting WillDoes charity with headliners and support acts, funfair, traders, bars and stunning sea views.  Children aged 11 and under go FREE!

Dates: Friday 13 & Saturday 14 September 2024

Tickets: WillDoes

 

STURMINSTER NEWTON CHEESE FESTIVAL

Info: A festival of cheese with local producers, stalls, arts & crafts, children’s activities and music.

Dates: Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 September 2024

Tickets: Cheese Festival

 

If you know of any more family friendly festivals in Dorset then please do Contact Us with the details. 

Dorsetmums has made 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 you should consider checking an event is still going ahead before travelling.