If you’re visiting South Lytchett Manor this spring or summer, why not visit one of the fantastic food and drink festivals happening across Dorset? Held in stunning countryside and coastal locations across the county, you will be able to sample produce and artisan makes from some of the best local producers. All of the food festivals we have selected are just a short drive from our Dorset holiday park, so you won’t have to travel far to enjoy the ultimate foodie day out!
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Burton Bradstock
18th – 19th May 2019
£2 per person
The Spring Tide Food Festival is back for its 10th year and set to be bigger and better than ever before. Held on the shores of Hive Beach on Dorset’s impressive Jurassic Coast, you can enjoy a range of delicious delights from over 60 stalls.
Poole
19th May 2019
Free entry
The whole family will love the RNLI’s annual food and drink festival, which overlooks Poole Harbour. With more than 40 stalls serving up some of the finest local produce, you’ll be spoilt for choice when choosing from a range of food, drink and crafts.
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Axminster
25th – 26th May 2019
£15 per person. Under 16’s go free.
Set in the grounds of celebrity Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Dorset home, the River Cottage Food Fair is a ‘back to basics’ event, which celebrates home cooking and fresh produce. Over the course of the event there’s opportunity to participate in a range of cookery and cocktail masterclasses and talks on foraging, gardening and growing your own fruit and veg. There will be a range of artisan food stalls on site as well as food grown and produced in the grounds of this wonderful home.
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Mudeford
25th – 27th May 2019
Free entry
Sample a range of fresh seafood whilst you enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at the first Mudeford Seafood festival. With live music and demonstrations from renowned chefs, the festival has a strong focus on promoting sustainability and will be sponsoring the ‘Take 4 from the shore’ beach clean initiative.
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Highcliffe
1st – 2nd June 2019
Free entry
The Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival is an annual event, which celebrates Dorset produce and local independent restaurants. Wander round the streets of Highcliffe during this popular event and taste a range of lovingly prepared food and drink.
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Swanage
8th – 9th June 2019
Free entry
Enjoy locally sourced fish from the waters around Dorset at Swanage’s Fish Festival. Held in Prince Albert Gardens with beautiful views over Swanage Bay, you can while away the afternoon enjoying champagne and oysters!
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Bridport
9th – 15th June 2019
£3.50 per person. Under 16’s free.
Bridport Food and Beer Festival is an annual event organised by Bridport Local Food Group, with the aim of promoting the wonderful food and drink available in West Dorset. All food served at the event is sourced and produced no more than 20 miles away from the venue, giving you peace of mind that you are enjoying a true taste of Dorset. This is a family friendly event with plenty for younger members of the family. Children can participate in a forest school and a number of edible activities.
Christchurch
8th – 9th June 2019
£6 per person
The Christchurch Cheese and Chilli Festival is returning for its 6th year this June and set to be a fantastic event with activities for all ages. If you’re feeling brave, why not enter the chilli eating or man vs food competition and put your taste buds to the test. If you fancy a challenge without the heat, there’s also free crazy golf and a human sized table football to try!
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Poole
22nd – 23rd June 2019
£5 per person. Under 15’s free.
Experience a taste of Thailand at this years Magic of Thailand Festival. Sample delicious freshly cooked food from the different regions of Thailand as well as a selection of Thai beer. The event begins with a traditional food offering to Buddhist monks and there will also be carving demonstrations, a costume parade, Thai boxing and massage.
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Lyme Regis
12th – 14th July 2019
Free entry
Experience a wonderful atmosphere and mouth-watering aromas at the annual Dorset Street Food Festival. Held on the promenade overlooking Lyme Regis’s beautiful seafront, you’ll find it difficult to choose which stall to visit first, with so many delicious food and drink options on offer. What’s more, if you register for tickets in advance, you could be in with a chance of winning a meal and cocktails for 4 people!
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Weymouth
13th – 14th July 2019
Free entry
The Dorset Seafood Festival is one of the best food festivals in the UK and with new headline sponsors, Nyetimber onboard, 2019 is set to be an unmissable year. With more than 100 stalls lining Weymouth’s historic harbourside, you can enjoy seafood prepared by some of the best chefs in the country whilst soaking up the atmosphere. Over the course of the weekend there will be a number of hands on sessions to participate in, where you can hone your skills and support the events dedicated charity, the Fishermen’s mission. Like previous years, this years festival aims to promote the use of under-utilised sustainable species.
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Wimborne St Giles
3rd – 4th August 2019
The Great Dorset Chilli Festival is a must visit for any lovers of hot food! Sample a wide range of products, which have incorporated chilli’s in inventive ways and learn new recipes to try at home from the chefs attending the event. There will be top tips on how to grow chilli’s as well as a plant growing competition, chilli con carne cook off and the famous chilli eat competition!
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Dorchester
3rd August 2019
More than 50 stalls will descend on Queen Mother square in Poundbury this August for a day filled with delicious food and drink. As well as small and local artisan producers such as Fordington Gin, there will also be larger recognised brands attending the Dorset Food and Arts Festival, so you can stock up on some of your favourite treats!
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Dorchester
17th August 2019
Free entry
Sample over 80 ciders from some of the best cider makers in the county at the Dorset Cider Festival held in Dorchester’s Borough Gardens this summer. Enjoy a relaxed day at this family friendly event whilst listening to a range of local bands on the acoustic stage.
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Poole
31st August 2019
£5 per person. Under 16’s free.
Dorset Vegan Festival is one of the more recent additions to Dorset’s foodie calendar. Head to Poole Lighthouse this summer to try a range of meat free, plant based and cruelty free products. There will also be inspirational talks, interactive workshops and yoga classes to join.
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Lyme Regis
7th – 8th September 2019
Free entry
Organised by esteemed local chef Mark Hix with the vision of promoting the wonderful food available locally, the Food Rocks Festival is a fantastic event held in Lyme Regis each year.
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Sturminster Newton
14th – 15th September 2019
£6 per person. Under 14’s free.
The Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival is not to be missed if you’re a fan of cheese! With marquees filled high with some of the best cheese the south west has to offer, you’re certainly be spoilt for choice when choosing some to bring home! The festivals situated in a pretty spot in Sturminster Newton, surrounded by trees and farmland. A great day out for foodies and families alike!
What a fabulous place! Our first outing in our new campervan to try it out, the campsite and facilities are... 
thewardrobem, Nov 2023
The best campsite I've ever stayed at, usually large complexes lose a bit of what camping is about, but not... Colin, May 2023
Great stay, very clean excellent facilities. Bus into Poole 15 mins nice shops and great walk by the Quay. Definitely... Janet, Nov 2023
