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
Swanage
3rd – 5th June 2022
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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, mermaids and even a pirate pub crawl!
World Nettle Eating Championship
Dorset Nectar Cider Farm
25th June 2022
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The World Nettle Eating Championships has a new venue for 2022. This year it will be held at Dorset Nectar Cider Farm, following the closure of the popular Bottle Inn. The nettle eating 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.
The 2022 World Nettle Eating Championship will be ran as a fundraising event.
Chilli Eating Competition
Great Dorset Chilli Festival
6th & 7th August 2022
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If you think you can handle the heat, why not enter Dorset’s chilli eating competition? Compete against other chilli enthusiasts and sample a range of the hottest chilli’s in the UK. The chilli eating competition takes place at 4pm each day of the festival. To enter you must email the event organisers at least two weeks before the festival. Entry forms are available to download on the Dorset Chilli Festival website.
Life Boat Funday and Raft Race
Mudeford
7th August 2022
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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
Bridport
21st August 2022
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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. The procession will begin at 9pm.
Bridport Hat Festival
Bridport
3rd September 2022
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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!
