Unmissable Events in Dorset and the New Forest 2020
Ten Important Dates for your Dorset & New Forest Diaries
It’s only natural to feel a wee bit glum after all the fun and festivities of the Christmas holidays. We’ve got the perfect antidote to those January blues, a list of exciting dates from the depths of Dorset and the leafy heart of Hampshire to help fill your 2020 calendars.
Toad Hall Cottages has a growing list of holiday properties tucked away in some of the loveliest corners of this enchanting region, from the scintillating clifftops of the Jurassic Coast to the ancient boughs and bluebell glades of the New Forest. Let us be your chaperone…
Bournemouth 7s, 22nd – 24th May
Dubbed ‘the largest sports and music festival in the world’, thousands of festival goers will once again head for the sparkling Dorset coast for a gathering of epic proportions. The international rugby 7s tournament is set to take centre stage, but you can also expect an exciting musical line-up of bands and solo artists, and a schedule crammed full of action and entertainment. Also on the competitive sporting programme are volleyball, netball, hockey and dodgeball.
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Jazz Jurassica, 22nd – 25th May
The masterminds behind Jazz Jurassic – Lyme’s festival of jazz – are already busy putting together this year’s eagerly anticipated programme. Last year saw hundreds of live music enthusiasts revel in the midst of this heady and relaxed south coast get-together, which over the years has welcomed internationally-renowned artists such as: the James Taylor Quartet, Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion, Biscuit Boys, Vince Lee, The Gatsby Gang, Adam Sweet Band… to name but a few! Lyme Regis provides a magnificent coastal setting for this friendly and soulful Maytime festival.
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Mudeford Seafood Festival, 23rd – 25th May
Mudeford Quay, Christchurch, is the setting for this popular Dorset food festival that aims to celebrate the area’s rich heritage and many local delicacies. Another of the region’s many FREE events, Mudeford is full of food stalls and cuisine corrals, welcoming celebrity chefs to the hotplate for displays and demonstrations. Former gastronomes in attendance include Brian Turner and Alex Aitken. Foodies will adore this delicious harbourside banquet.
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Chesil Rocks, 18th – 20th June
Now in its ninth year, Chesil Rocks combines comedy, food and live music throughout its busy three-day schedule. The event opens with a night of chortles and hilarity courtesy of a line-up of local comedians and funny people; this is followed by an evening of high culture and classical music, supplemented by a wining and dining experience. Finally, the festival goes into party mode from midday to midnight with a day of music, entertainment and a whole host of fun-filled activities. Money raised from this much-loved jamboree-by-the-sea goes to help support The Samaritans.
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Sandfest, 12th July
The golden shores of Sandbanks provide the backdrop for this vibrant summer occasion. Best described as a ‘boutique beach festival’, this shoreline shindig is preparing for its fourth year, having previously attracted the likes of Faithless, Idris Elba, Tinie Tempah, Chase and Status and Hannah Wants to the stage. If you’re looking to ‘shell out’, you and your buddies can go VIP and enjoy fast track entry and exclusive access to luxury lounges and chill out zones. Sandbanks is one of the most opulent destinations in the world, so expect nothing but the best from this pristine beach party.
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Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, 17th July
The Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival continues to attract thousands of people to this historic parish, recognised as the birthplace of modern-day trade unionism. The martyrs fought for fairer rights for farm workers and ultimately faced a harrowing trial and punishment, but in the process helped rouse thousands of land-workers to protest up and down the country. Once a year, the iconic village of Tolpuddle, set on the wending banks of the River Piddle, enjoys a weekend of family entertainment, stalls, comedy, live music and political debate, culminating in a grand procession through the village to celebrate the ‘power of the people’.
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Camp Bestival, 30th July – 2nd August
Camp Bestival is a late summer festival staged on the sweeping lawns of the Lulworth Estate. The brainchild of DJ and record producer Rob da Bank, the festival was originally founded on the Isle of Wight before relocating to the rolling hills of Dorset in 2017. This colourful gathering has, over the years, won a string of awards, including; ‘2015 Best Major Festival’ and ‘Fan’s Favourite 2011’. These days, Bestival-goers travel in their thousands to enjoy an internationally renowned musical line-up which last year welcomed Jess Glynne, The Human League, Sister Sledge, The Wailers, Big Shaq, Sara Cox and Goldie to its barnstorming schedule. Best book early to avoid disappointment.
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New Forest & Hampshire County Show, 28th – 30th July
Tickets are now on sale for the New Forest & Hampshire County Show, one of the most prolific agricultural shows in the UK. This popular family attraction has something for everyone to enjoy, from the equestrian displays and livestock competitions in the Main Ring and Showground, the trade stalls and markets, the family fun area, timber jacking and forestry demonstrations, bee keeping, sheep shows, fly casting and police dog training displays… plus a whole heap more. A more action-packed schedule you will not find!
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Lymington Seafood Festival, 8th – 9th August
Another of Dorset’s gastronomic delights hosted by the attractive seafaring town of Lymington, famous for it’s bustling port and rich maritime history. Expect two days of culinary seafood delights, scores of food stalls crammed with ocean fayre and offerings from Dorset’s award-winning artisan producers, plus a music stage all set to entertain you with soul, jazz, ska and a longlist of feel-good summer hits. Where better to enjoy a romantic early August break than the charming port of town of Lymington.
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Bournemouth Air Festival, 20th – 23rd August
A chance to witness the biggest air festival in Great Britain, when the skies over the much-loved seaside town of Bournemouth are filled with incredible fly-bys, anything from RAF Typhoons to classic Spitfires. On land you can enjoy the thrills and spills of the funfair, marching bands, military displays and talks, scrummy food stalls and family-fun activities. You can also expect to see some of the Royal Navy’s finest on the waters of Lyme Bay all adding to the pomp and ceremony of the prestigious weekend. The air festival takes place on the seafront between Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers. The sky’s the limit.
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Great Dorset Steam Fair, 27th – 31st August
It’s one of the West Country’s most spectacular events, an engine enthusiast’s delight, full of showman’s gleaming, brass steam engines, vintage and classic tractors, a historic motor cavalcade and a traditional steam funfair, all set to light up the night. The vibrant showground is an electric frisson of dazzlement and sounds, guaranteed to fill you with a glowing sense of wonderment and nostalgia. Other popular attractions include the heavy horse and rural displays, stunt teams, craft marquees and trade stands, live music, a bustling food hall and a busy schedule of arena events. Celebrate a glorious and bygone age and have a chuffing good time on the grassy meadows of Blandford Forum.
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Bridport Hat Festival, 5th September
Spend ‘Haturday’ on the famous cobbles of Bucky Doo Square in the historic town of Bridport for one of the region’s quirkier celebrations. The Bridport Hat Festival is a late summer party dedicated to all types of headwear. Join the sea of bowlers, trilbies, fedoras, berets and bakerboys while also enjoying some live music, fun competitions, demonstrations, auctions and displays all set to take place during this day-long, hat-filled extravaganza.
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Swanage Folk Festival, 11th – 13th September
The Swanage Folk Festival not only boasts an exceptional musical line-up, it also runs music and dance workshops where you can join in for yourselves. This much-loved shindig-by-the-sea remains embedded in the local community and sees visitors return year-on-year to revel in the joyfulness. You can expect a weekend of concerts, dance troops and displays, a ceilidh, intimate music sessions, family activities, a crafts fair and trade stalls, all of which takes place around the sparkling Swanage sea front and characterful town centre.
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New Forest Marathon, 13th September
The countdown clock is ticking for the next annual New Forest Marathon, a chance to explore the New Forest’s many tracks and trails. Whether you’re running for fun or to beat your personal best, this scenic event is sure to deliver that ‘runner’s high’. Starting and finishing on the showground meadows around Brockenhurst, other routes include a half marathon, 10K, 5K, Junior 1K and 200m dash, and also a woodland walk. If you’ve vowed to get fit for 2020, why not combine this popular outdoor challenge with a Toad Hall cottage holiday in the enchanting New Forest.
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Isle of Purbeck Walking Festival, September (dates TBA)
The Isle of Purbeck, described as a ‘walker’s paradise’, once again provides the stunning scenery for one of Europe’s most celebrated walking festivals. Beach strolls and clifftop hikes await all those who venture to the Jurassic Coast, a coastal sweep known for its scintillating and far-reaching views. Pretty pub gardens, ancient footpaths and towering peaks help characterise these inspiring routes, plus the opportunity to exercise your right to roam with fellow ramblers and walking enthusiasts.
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Dorchester Literary Festival, 13th – 17th October
Lovers of the written and spoken word will thrive at the Dorchester Literary Festival, an event that last year welcomed the likes of former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy to the speaker’s lectern. Expect talks from the country’s leading novelists, historians, cookery and travel writers, all of them sharing fascinating insights into their personal creative processes. This meeting of minds is a must for booklovers and literature devotees.
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Purbeck Film Festival, 16th – 31st October
This pioneering South West film festival continues to gain traction, having entertained thousands of enthusiasts throughout its twenty-three-year history (and counting). Multiple venues help showcase a wide range of titles, featuring thought-provoking reels from a variety of genres; world cinema, arthouse, independent, unreleased, classic, cult to name but a few. Buffs and critics will relish the opportunity to immerse themselves in this filmic feast on the dramatic coastal sweeps of Purbeck.
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With hundreds of holiday cottages scattered across the region’s most sought-after locations, it’s easy to see why Toad Hall Cottages remains everyone’s favourite South West chaperone.