Helen Stiles picks her favourite July fetes, fairs and festivals from around the county
3 – 5 July - UK Boogie Woogie Music Festival
Sturminster Newton hosts three days of great music plus the Dorset Food Producers market.
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4 July - Big Mix Music Festival
Live perfomances on an outdoor stage by the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis from 1pm onwards.
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4 July - Bridport Charter Fair
South Street, the Arts Centre and the Borough Gardens host this free celebration from 9am-3pm
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5 July - Gold Hill Fair
Shaftesbury’s most famous hill hosts this popular annual fair.
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6 – 12 July - Wareham Carnival
A week of celebrations including Pet X Factor, a Safari Supper, and Carnival Procession on final day.
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9-12 July - Cerne Abbas Music Festival
Works by Saint-Saëns, Mozart, Mahler, Wagner and Debussy feature at this year’s event.
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10-12 July - Swanage Jazz Festival
Over 50 acts ranging from New Orleans jazz to contemporary fusion.
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11 July - Jurassic Fields Music Festival
Askers Meadows Bridport plays host to this family-friendly event.
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11 July - Gussage All Saints Village Fete
Traditional fete with locally grown produce, home baked goodies and cream teas.
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11-12 July - Grooves on the Green
Community festival with music on two stages, local food and drink and popular Kidzone.
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11-26 July - Festival of British Archaeology
Corfe Castle hosts Norman maritime-themed living history displays by ‘Regia Anglorum’.
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15-19 July - Larmer Tree Festival
Boutique-style festival on the Dorset/Wiltshire border, headlined by Sir Tom Jones, and featuring over 70 international, national and regional musicians as well as comics including the legendary Bill Bailey.
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17-19 July - Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival
Annual event commemorating the famous martyrs, features music, speakers, comedy and family entertainment.
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18-19 July - Jurassic Rocks Music Festival
Live music on three stages including headliners the Skimmity Hitchers.
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21- 25 July - Dorset Opera Festival
Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball) and Donizetti’s comic love story - L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love) feature at this festival at the Coade Theatre at Bryanston.
Box office 01202 499199 or dorsetopera.com
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24-25 July - Beer & Bluegrass Festival, Branksome
St Aldhelms Hall offers rafter shaking Bluegrass and Americana music from bands including Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys and Hill Folk Noir.
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25 July–2 August - Spirit of Portland Festival
Community festival celebrating Portland’s heritage including walks, talks, firework displays, and open-water swimming.
portlandcommunitypartnership.co.uk
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26 July – 2 August - Milton Abbey International Music Festival
Courses and concerts against the glorious backdrop of Milton Abbey, this year’s musicians include the Gabrieli Consort
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30 July -2 August - Camp Bestival
The award-winning family festival at the castle by the sea in Lulworth has a Go Wild theme
