What’s On – Local events guide

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.

How well do you know the history of Dorchester? Come to the Corn Exchange to test your knowledge and support the Mayor’s Charities Teams of 6, £10 per person. Physical Tickets (without booking fee) also available Tuesday-Saturday from Teasel & Skylark Bookshop, Trinity Street, Dorchester. Cash prizes for first three teams. Bring your own snacks or food, Corn Exchange bar will also be open.

Stalls include cakes, crafts, gifts, books & puzzles, bric-a-brac.  Refreshments on sale including bacon rolls and mince pies. All proceeds to benefit ‘The Leprosy Mission.’

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.

12 noon. The unveiling of Susie the Dorchester cat patinated foundry bronze sculpture, outside Julia’s house 44 South Street, Dorchester. This is a community event with speeches, poetry recitals, stories being read by the bards of Dorchester about Susie along with a community choir, an rspca stall, Susie books and Susie brooches for sale raising money for children and animal charities.

: ‘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.

7:00 pm for 7:30 pm. Dorchester Baptist Church is once again hosting the Tearfund Big Quiz Night. Tickets are £5 per person or £15 for a family of four or more.
This includes soft drinks, teas, coffees, snacks and a selection of cakes and puddings at half time.
Prizes for the winning team. All welcome. Tickets from Church office or on the night.

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.

7:30 pm. Get quizzical with us at the Brewhouse & Kitchen in Dorchester on Monday 30th November for a fundraising music quiz hosted by the one and only Andy Senior from Keep 106. 7.30pm start to test your music knowledge and join in the fun. There’s also raffle tickets on sale with all proceeds going towards the fundraiser for Bournemouth Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club first International Tour to South Africa.

This magical Santa experience will take place at the Duchess of Cornwall, Poundbury. Cost is £5 per child cash or card and can be booked in advance or on the day. Booking through email link below if required.

Briantspuddle Christmas Fayre Lots of lovely stalls Turkey rolls and Mulled wine Free entry Lots of Christmas cheer

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.

On Saturday 12th December, the singers and instrumentalists of Music at St Peter’s join forces with University Music Chamber Choir to present a performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at 5.30pm in St Peter’s Church Dorchester (DT1 1XA). The concert will last 90 minutes and be performed without interval. Tickets are priced £15 and available via the web link below.

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!

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist on Sunday 13th December at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Otto Goldschmidt’s ‘A tender shoot’, Lennox Berkeley’s ‘Missa brevis’ and Phililp Stopford’s ‘There is no rose’. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.

3:00 pm. Come and hear the West Dorset Singers for their festive concert, featuring highlights from Handel’s Messiah, and other seasonal favourites under the direction of Nick Brown.

Join us at St Peter’s Church Dorchester on Saturday 19th December at 4.30pm for the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. This is a very traditional carol service – you can expect rousing congregational carols, descants, familiar readings and fabulous choral settings. Admission is free. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December at 11.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Sally Beamish’s ‘In the stillness’, Haydns’s ‘Missa Sancti Nicolai’ and Adolphe Adam’s ‘O holy night’. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.