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In the damp conditions the beacon is finally alight after a couple of attempts
Dorchester from The Keep
Queen Mother Square
Poundbury Fountain
Dorchester Borough Gardens
Custom House Quay, Weymouth, England
Chesil Beach from Portland
The area north of Dorchester
HOD Maumbury Rings 180921 04
Thomas Hardy statue
Keep Military Museum 4
Dorset Museum front exterior 270522
Shire Hall front
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The Community Radio Station covering Central-Southern Dorset, run by volunteers and not-for-profit

It’s a Cracker! Again for 2023

The DORCHESTER Christmas Cracker was a huge success in 2022 following a new format which took the event to an all-day affair in Dorchester.   The Christmas Cracker event will be back on Sunday 10th December 2023 with even more festive fun for all the family.   The Christmas Cracker event will start at 11am and run through until 4pm.

Steve Bulley, Cracker Chairman said “Due to the huge success of the event in 2022 we had traders signing up for space at the 2023 event within a few hours.   High West Street in Dorchester will be transformed into a festive shopping spectacular with over 100 trading stalls, and a Christmas fair with a further 75 tables, this year over two floors, which will be held in the Corn Exchange, our thanks to our Christmas fair supporters Farnfields Solicitors”.

This year there will be an Entertainment Stage, managed by local radio station KeeP106 which is kindly sponsored by Al Molo Dorchester, with festive musical acts entertaining across the day. The very popular Santa Hat Children’s Parade will leave the top of High West Street at 12noon.  Last year over 150 children followed the procession through the streets of Dorchester.

The Cracker event has been organised by a committee of volunteers and a significant contribution is made by the Dorchester Chamber for Business, Dorchester BID and Dorchester Town Council. The 2023 event is kindly sponsored once again by Kingston Maurward College and Everycare Dorchester.

Lorrie Truelove, Registered Manager and Director of Everycare Dorchester said “We are thrilled to be sponsoring the Cracker event again this year, which will be our third year of sponsorship.  We always have a positive response from visitors and the event has now become part of our social calendar.  We are looking forward to meeting up with our clients, staff, and friends on the day”.

Esther Baker, Marketing Manager at Kingston Maurward added “Kingston Maurward has supported the Dorchester Christmas Cracker over the last 6 years, and we are delighted to offer the continued support again this year. We believe that the event is vital in bringing the community together and showcasing local products and produce”.

Supplied by Dorchester Cracker – Steve Bulley, Chair and organiser of Cracker, with Paddington who is joining us for 2023 to lead the Childrens Santa Hat parade

Supplied by Dorchester Cracker – Steve Bulley, Chair and organiser of Cracker, with Paddington who is joining us for 2023 to lead the Childrens Santa Hat parade

Dorchester Christmas Cracker 2022

Dorchester Christmas Cracker 2022