Dorset is home to a number of weird and wonderful events that take place throughout the year. From a stinging nettle and chilli eating competition to a giant hat themed festival, there are so many quirky things to see and do. Join in the fun during your stay at our Swanage holiday park and enjoy a traditional Dorset day out!
Purbeck Pirate Festival
View this post on Instagram
Swanage
24th – 27th May 2019
Experience a pirate extravaganza at the Purbeck Pirate Festival in Swanage. Watch beach skirmishes, cannon firing and sword fighting as the pirates descend on the shore. There will be plenty of themed activities to join in over the course of this 3 day event, including a children’s pirate disco, treasure hunts and even a pirate pub crawl!
Guitars on the Beach
View this post on Instagram
Lyme Regis
15th June 2019
Guitar players of all ages and abilities are invited to form the biggest band in Britain on the shores of Lyme Regis Beach. Join the house band to play a number of popular tunes from the 60’s at the UK’s largest guitar festival as the party continues into the evening. This year’s ‘play along’ event is joining forces with local climate change charities and aims to encourage attendees to take an active role in reducing their impact on the environment.
World Nettle Eating Championship
View this post on Instagram
Marshwood
27th July 2019
The Bottle Inn, near Bridport hosts the World Nettle Eating Championships. This unique event dates back to the 1980s and involves competitors eating the leaves from stinging nettle stalks! After an hour the person who has eaten the longest length is crowned the winner. This famed annual event is accompanied by performances from traditional Morris dancers and live music into the evening.
Chilli Eating Competition
View this post on Instagram
Blandford Forum
3rd & 4th August 2019
If you think you can handle the heat, why not enter Dorset’s chilli eating competition. Held at the Great Dorset Chilli Festival each year, you can compete against other chilli enthusiasts and sample a range of the hottest chilli’s in the UK.
Life Boat Funday and Raft Race
View this post on Instagram
Mudeford
11th August 2019
Cheer on the teams in the Mudeford raft race as the they complete the ‘Mudeford run’ in hand-built rafts. Look out for wacky costumes and innovative builds at this fun, family friendly event as the teams compete to win prizes for fast raft, best dressed team as well as the wooden spoon prize!
Bridport Torchlight Procession
View this post on Instagram
Bridport
18th August 2019
Join hundreds of families in a torchlit procession from Bridport’s Bucky Doo square to West Bay as part of the towns carnival week. Torches can be purchased before the parade, which culminates with a bonfire, fireworks and live music.
Bridport Hat Festival
View this post on Instagram
Bridport
7th September 2019
Join in the fun at Bridport’s Hat Festival! Held in the towns ‘Bucky Doo Square’ in support of a number of head related charities, this quirky event is loved by visitors and locals alike. Don your most creative hat and enjoy an end of summer party jam packed with live music, hat competitions, auctions, games and much more. The event culminates with the annual mass hat wearing photo!
Giant Hokey Cokey
Dorchester
15th September 2019
Get your dancing shoes on and join in the Giant Hokey Cokey outside Tom Browns Pub in Dorchester. Last year a couple of hundred people put their left leg in and their left leg out, and this year the event is set to be bigger with a BBQ, face painting and live music.
