The Dorset Food & Arts Festival 2026 returns this summer with a celebratory showcase of the very best local flavours, creativity, and community spirit.

Saturday 1st August 10am – 4pm – The Great Field, Poundbury, Dorchester

This popular one-day event offers an unbeatable opportunity to support Dorset makers, bakers, brewers, artists, and growers in a vibrant outdoor setting.

What to Expect– Over 80 stalls will pop up around the Great Field offering:

• Delectable food & drink from local award-winning producers
• Handmade gifts, crafts & art
• Live music
• A welcoming space to catch up with friends and discover more about Poundbury

FREE entry for all – Explore the stalls, savour a local tipple, and soak up the laid-back, atmosphere. Whether you’re shopping for gifts, meeting the makers and producers, or simply enjoying the vibe; this community celebration has something for everyone.

Old Town Poole & The Quay – Sat 12th & Sun 13th September 2026

Now in its third year, Seafood and Sounds is a vibrant community festival celebrating the very best of locally sourced seafood and talented Dorset musicians, all set against the charming backdrop of Old Town Poole and The Quay.

About the Event

Seafood and Sounds was created by five passionate local business owners:

• Coastal Cruises Poole
• The Custom House
• The Poole Arms
• Saint Tropez Restaurant
• Truly Scrumptious

Together, they have built an inspiring event that brings people together, supports local enterprise, and showcases Poole as a fantastic destination for food, music, and culture.

What to Expect

• Exceptional local seafood, prepared and served by established Poole businesses
• Live music performances by talented Dorset artists
• Atmospheric waterfront locations throughout Old Town and The Quay
• A community-focused celebration, championing local businesses and residents

This two-day event offers the perfect opportunity to indulge in incredible food while enjoying unforgettable musical performances in one of Dorset’s most beautiful settings.

Join them this September for Seafood and Sounds 2026 — a celebration of food, music, and community by the sea.

The countdown is on for the return of the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival, taking place on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September 2026!

Organised entirely by volunteers and held in the heart of the Blackmore Vale, the festival has become one of Dorset’s most popular food and community events, attracting thousands of visitors each year from across the South West.

The festival celebrates the very best of local food, drink, crafts, music and community spirit. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of artisan cheese producers, local food exhibitors, craft stalls, live entertainment, family activities, demonstrations, real ale, cider and wine bars, alongside a variety of refreshments throughout the weekend.

More than just a celebration of cheese, the festival is a charitable event run under the auspices of the Sturminster Newton Rotary Club. Thanks to the support of visitors, exhibitors, volunteers and sponsors, the festival has donated more than £450,000 to local charities, community groups and good causes over the last decade.

Recent beneficiaries have included local schools, youth organisations, community projects and charities that make a significant difference to people across Dorset and the surrounding counties.

The festival continues its commitment to being an affordable family day out, with children aged 15 and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Visitors can expect:

• Award-winning cheese and food producers
• Artisan crafts and gifts
• Live music and entertainment throughout the weekend
• Children’s entertainment and family activities
• Real ale, cider and wine bars
• Local charity and community organisation displays
• A warm welcome from our volunteer team

Advance tickets are available now through the festival website.

For tickets, programme updates and further information visit – Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival or
Email: info@cheesefestival.co.uk

What Three Words: doted.deleting.sway

*For satnav users, the postcode for the car park is DT10 1DQ

Escape the high street this winter. Soak up the seasonal atmosphere, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy a cosy tipple as you browse stalls from a curated selection local producers and makers, offering delicious food and drink, handmade gifts, and beautiful crafts.

Whether you’re picking up something special for yourself or getting ahead on thoughtful Christmas shopping, it’s the perfect way to support local independent small businesses and savour the season.

With around 60 stalls, there’s plenty to choose from! Dorset Food & Drink are bringing together a fantastic collective of producers and makers with the buzz of a traditional market.

Stalls include local wines, cheese, spirits, honey, bakery, beer, cider, confectionery, preserves, chutney, coffee, olives, fresh meat, hot food, and a festive bar! Artisan crafts and homewares – perfect for gifts and practical too.

When you shop at events like this, you get to MEET the amazing people who make, bake, brew, farm, grow, cook, milk, preserve, pickle, and serve you with all this festive local loveliness!

To get you in a festive mood there will be music over the weekend from – Blue Bridge, Dr Jazz, Barbara Gasior and Aaron Carter.