What’s On – Local events guide

During the October half term, families can combine wildlife spotting with adventure on Brownsea Island’s new Forest of Secrets trail. Inspired by Enid Blyton’s stories this hands-on event challenges young detectives to follow clues, uncover hidden secrets and crack the case. The trail is free and families can drop in anytime between 10am – 4pm, no booking required. Normal admission fees apply.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist on Sunday 1st November at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. In this special service, the setting is Bob Chilcott’s ‘Little Jazz Mass’, accompanied by jazz ensemble. Other music includes: Chilcott’s ‘O nata lux’ and Lauridsen’s ‘Ubi caritas’. All are very welcome to this free service.

7:00 pm. Come and enjoy a traditional bonfire at Lower Muckleford Farm. Fireworks and refreshments provided. £10.00. Please contact Rosemary for catering purposes.

We will be hosting a very interesting talk by metal detectorist and YouTube video creator Keith Brown along with his detecting partner Gillian Greening. They will be giving a presentation on metal detecting finds. The presentation will show you numerous coins and artefacts of gold & silver all found in Dorset. Please email Godmanstonevh@gmail.com  for tickets

Our annual market event will feature a range of stalls for the perfect Christmas gifts. This event will be opened by the Mayor of Dorchester Councillor Les Fry and the mayoress Julie Fry.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Matins for Remembrance on Saturday 7th November at 11.00am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Stanford’s ‘Te deum and Jubilate in Bb’, Guest’s ‘For the Fallen’, Ayleward’s ‘Responses’, Eleanor Daley’s ‘Remembrance’ and Parry’s ‘Crossing the bar’. All are very welcome to this free service.

Join us at St Peter’s Church Dorchester on Saturday 7th November between 12.30pm and 1.00pm for our monthly lunchtime concert. Outstanding young French Horn player, Danny Mitchell is accompanied by Rob Taylor in an engaging programme of music lasting 30 minutes. Admission is free. More information via web link below.

Lots of local, handmade unique items for sale. Hand-knitted hats and scarves, jewellery, cards, bags, toys, glass and wood items. Christmas things include unique Christmas cards, plus quirky Christmas decorations, banners and Advent Calendars (and where else could you find one for dogs?) Ideal for Christmas presents, especially those stocking fillers. Refreshments featuring homemade cakes.

Come and join The Oddfellows for an afternoon of table top games. Come and play or learn to play: Scrabble, Upwords, Bananagrams, Rummicub, mah jong, Cribbage and much much more at PIP cafe on Poundbury. This is a free event. Refreshments including homemade cake.

Playing on a Robin Jennings Flemish Reproduction harpsichord, Royal College of Music scholar Markus Sadler performs Bach’s Goldberg Variations in the evocative, candlelit setting of St Peter’s Church Dorchester. The 75 minute programme will be performed without interval and tickets, priced £15 are available online. Early booking is advised. Tickets via web link below.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist on Sunday 15th November at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Victoria’s ‘O quam gloriosum’, Mozart’s ‘Missa brevis in Bb K.275’ and MacMillan’s ‘Ave maris stella’. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.

Come and join us for a whist drive at The Trumpet Major Pub in Dorchester at 2pm for a whist drive. Everyone welcome, experienced players and beginners. Prize for top-scoring man and top-scouring lady! Cost £5.00 to include tea and a slice of homemade cake.

An Evening of Swing, Carols & Christmas Cool presented by the well known Julie Dunn Jazz Quartet. Bar opens at 18.30 and the performance starts at 19.00.

Raising money for Dorset Nightstop for a 2nd year, we are holding our final fundraiser of the year. FREE ENTRY, lots of local craft stalls, refreshments available, fantastic raffle, plus at 11 am a performance of Christmas songs by the Encore Singers. Please come along and support us.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Evensong on Saturday 21st November at 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes Gibbons’s ‘Almighty and Everlasting God’, Smith’s ‘Preces & Responses’, Weelkes’s ‘Service for Trebles’ and Howells’s ‘Like as the hart’. The service is free to attend and is followed by a glass of wine.

Discover local DJ talent at the first Open Decks Dorset event, featuring 10 DJs playing 20-minute sets across house, dance, drum and bass and more. Enjoy a relaxed, alcohol-free atmosphere with 0% beers, cider, mocktails and soft drinks. Free entry, with donations welcomed to support The Den Café’s running costs and community support schemes.

: ‘Comfort and Joy!’ Advent Concert – a programme of Advent songs and carols chosen to bring ‘Comfort and Joy’ taking us from 1596 through to the present day, composers will include Monteverdi, Poulenc, MacMillan and many others. Admission is free with a retiring collection in aid of Dorchester Poverty Action. Everyone is most welcome.

We are delighted to welcome University Music Chamber Choir Bournemouth to lead the singing in our annual candlelit Advent Carol Service on Saturday 28th November at 4.30pm. Through plainsong antiphons, readings, rousing congregational carols and beautiful choral settings we move from darkness to light. The music includes works by Melissa Dunphy, Charles Wood and Jim Clements. The service is free.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist for Advent on Sunday 29th November at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Kerensa Briggs’s ‘A tender shoot’, Haydn’s ‘Missa brevis rorate Coeli desuper’ and Anna Lapwood’s ‘Drop down ye heavens’. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.

Join us for a festive experience on Brownsea Island. Enjoy a scenic boat ride, followed by a wreath-making workshop in Brownsea Castle. Afterwards, indulge in a festive two-course lunch and explore the island’s beauty during closed season. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to create a beautiful wreath to adorn your home. Please bring secateurs.

7:30 pm. A concert to start your Christmas festivities & to celebrate the work of John Rutter The first half features John Rutter’s well known “Requiem” as well as his vocally challenging work “Cantate Domino”. After an interval for drinks & free mince pies, Dorchester Choral Society will sing varied Christmas music. Duncan Emerson conducts with soprano soloist Georgie Malcolm & professional musicians.

12:00 midday. Get festive, get moving and support local mental health at Dorset Mind’s first Mental Elf Festive Fun Run in Poundbury! Join us for a festive 5K walk, jog or run, bringing the local community together to raise funds and awareness for mental health across Dorset. Book your place now to take advantage of Early Elf prices, available until 13 November 2026. Get your festive outfit ready and join us!