Lyme Regis switches on its lights on 21 November and Weymouth, Swanage and Dorchester on the 28th, plus the Tank Museum fair and 42 more dates to 20 December.

Dorset’s Christmas season starts this month: Lyme Regis switches on its lights on Saturday 21 November, and Weymouth, Swanage and Dorchester all follow on Saturday 28 November. Before that, the Tank Museum’s Christmas market fills Bovington on 14 and 15 November, and BridLit runs at Bridport’s Electric Palace until the 14th.

This page covers Monday 9 November to Sunday 20 December. Every entry was read on 8 November 2026 from the organiser’s own listing, and each one links back to it so you can check before you travel. Prices are the organisers’ published prices, and an entry with no price means none was published, not that it is free. Bonfire night and Remembrance Sunday have now passed; our fireworks page records what ran.

This week

Monday 9 to Sunday 15 November.

  • BridLit 2026 at the Electric Palace, Monday 9 to Saturday 14 November, Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY. The Bridport Literary Festival’s remaining sessions at the Palace: Jeremy Hunt on Monday 9 November, Ed Davey on Thursday 12 November and Jonathan Freedland on Saturday 14 November, each £16.50 in advance or on the door. Mary Berry on Friday 13 November is sold out, with a waiting list for returns. (Electric Palace)
  • The Comedy Store, Bridport, Friday 13 November, Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY. £19.50 in advance or on the door. Joe Bor, Andrea Hubert, Rob Deering and Ben Van der Velde, part of the Comedy Store’s 2026 residency. (Electric Palace)
  • The Illegal Eagles, Friday 13 November, 7.30pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £41.50. The Eagles tribute show. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • A Head Full of Coldplay, Friday 13 November, 7.30pm, doors 7pm, Dorchester Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester DT1 1HF. £22, or £20 for members and concessions. A Coldplay tribute. (Dorchester Arts)
  • A Dorset Christmas Market, The Tank Museum, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, 10am to 4pm, The Tank Museum, Bovington BH20 6JG. Adults £19.80 online or £24.75 on the door, children £8 online or £10 on the door, family £47.96 online. Local crafters’ stalls, live entertainment, a Christmas trail and Santa arriving in a tank; tickets include free returns for a year. See our Christmas markets page. (The Tank Museum)
  • Fastlove: The George Michael Tribute, Saturday 14 November, 7.30pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £34. The touring George Michael show. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • Ninebarrow, Saturday 14 November, 7.30pm, doors 6.30pm, Dorchester Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester DT1 1HF. £22, or £20 for members and concessions. The multi-award-winning folk duo of Jon Whitley and Jay La Bouchardiere. (Dorchester Arts)
  • A Dorset Autumn Afternoon, Sunday 15 November, 1pm, doors 12.45pm, Dorchester Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester DT1 1HF. £25 including lunch and a welcome drink. Folk music with a ploughman’s lunch: see our story. (Dorchester Arts)
  • Community Fun Day at Dorchester RFC, Sunday 15 November, from 10am, Dorchester RFC, Coburg Road, Dorchester DT1 2HX. Open to all: a military-led junior takeover from 10am to 11am, then the main match at 1pm. (Dorchester RFC)

For the drive, see our Dorset roadworks and travel page and parking in Dorset.

Next week

Monday 16 to Sunday 22 November.

  • WOW Presents We Will Rock You, Wednesday 18 to Saturday 21 November, various times, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. From £20. WOW Youth Musical Theatre’s production of the Queen musical. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • Abbotsbury Illuminate, from Friday 20 November, selected evenings to 31 December, Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Buller’s Way, Abbotsbury DT3 4LA. The longest Illuminate route yet, with a step-free accessibility route of about 45 minutes; family tickets, no booking fee and free parking. Prices are on the gardens’ booking system: see our Illuminate page. (Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens)
  • Brian Bilston: How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside, Friday 20 November, Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY. £26.50 in advance or on the door. The bestselling poet on tour. (Electric Palace)
  • Lyme Regis Christmas Lights Switch-On, Saturday 21 November, Broad Street, Lyme Regis. Free lantern workshop at Pine Hall from 2pm, judging at 4pm, then the lantern parade and switch-on at 5pm, with Santa on his sleigh. See our switch-ons page. (Love Lyme Regis)
  • A Starlit Christmas Ball at Kingston Lacy, Saturday 21 November to Sunday 3 January, house 10.30am to 3pm (last entry), Kingston Lacy, near Wimborne. Normal admission; the house is shut on 25 and 26 December. See our Kingston Lacy page. (National Trust)
  • Fleetwood Bac, Saturday 21 November, Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY. Sold out (£25). Rumours plus the Fleetwood Mac greatest hits. (Electric Palace)
  • Hounds of Love: The Kate Bush Celebration, Sunday 22 November, 7.30pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £30. A recreation of Kate Bush’s 1979 Tour of Life. (Weymouth Pavilion)

Later in November

Monday 23 to Monday 30 November.

  • The Manfreds, Thursday 26 November, Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY. £32 in advance or on the door. The sixties band on their Get Your Kicks On tour. (Electric Palace)
  • Imperial Classical Ballet: The Nutcracker, Thursday 26 November, 7.30pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £38 or £40, with £2 off for concessions. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • That 80’s Movie Band, Friday 27 November, 7.30pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £31. An eight-piece band playing the decade’s film soundtracks. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • Steve Knightley and the Winter Yards Band, Friday 27 November, Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY. £30.50 in advance or on the door. The Show of Hands co-founder’s Long Road Tour. (Electric Palace)
  • Elf World Record Attempt and Christmas Lights Switch-On, Weymouth, Saturday 28 November, Weymouth town centre. Elf workshops 9am to 12pm, registration at Weymouth Pavilion 11am to 1pm, the elf parade led by a marching band and Santa at 1.15pm, a main stage from 1pm, and the lights switched on from the stage in New Bond Street at 5pm. (Weymouth Town Council)
  • Swanage Christmas Lights Switch-On, Saturday 28 November, 3pm to 4.30pm (to be confirmed), Swanage. Live entertainment, a countdown and Father Christmas. (Swanage Events)
  • Brewery Square Christmas Lights Switch-On, Dorchester, Saturday 28 November, from 5pm, Brewery Square, Dorchester DT1 1GH. Wessex Theatre and a Michael Bublé tribute before the countdown, then the house band, stalls and pop-up bars; the countdown time is not published. Skating in the Square is back for the season: see our ice rink page. (Brewery Square)
  • Total Stone Roses, Saturday 28 November, 8pm, doors 7.30pm, Dorchester Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester DT1 1HF. £25, or £23 for members and concessions. A Stone Roses tribute, with Oaysis in support. (Dorchester Arts)
  • Father Christmas Yuletide Express, from Saturday 28 November, Swanage Station, on weekends to Christmas Eve (28 and 29 November; 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December, then more dates to the 24th). Standard seats £29.95, under-2s on laps £14.95, family compartments £199.95, prices frozen at 2025 rates. See our Santa page. (Swanage Railway)
  • Storytelling with Santa at Kingston Lacy, from Saturday 28 November, Kingston Lacy, near Wimborne. £15.50 per child up to 12 with one adult, plus normal admission; relaxed sessions on 18 December. Booking essential. (National Trust)

The Christmas season has its own pages: Christmas lights switch-ons, Christmas markets, pantomimes, Santa specials and grottos, carol services and the ice rinks.

December

Tuesday 1 to Sunday 20 December.

  • Step Into Christmas 2026, Wednesday 2 December, 7.30pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £26 to £34. A Christmas concert of festive pop hits. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • A Christmas Carol, Thursday 3 December, Electric Palace, 35 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY. £20 adults, £12 students. Live theatre. (Electric Palace)
  • Christmas Carol Trains, Swanage Railway, Thursdays 3, 10 and 17 December, 7pm to 9pm, from Swanage Station. Adults £20, children 3 to 15 £10. An evening steam train with carols: see our Santa page. (Swanage Railway)
  • The Big Christmas Assembly, Friday 4 December, 7.30pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £27.50 to £35. James B Partridge’s festive school-assembly singalong. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • Blandford Yuletide Festival, Friday 4 December, Market Place, Blandford Forum. The lantern parade starts at 6pm with Father Christmas, the Mayor lights the tree at 6.15pm and Stour Valley Band leads carols at 6.25pm; Father Christmas is in his grotto from about 6.30pm. See our switch-ons page. (Blandford Yuletide Festival)
  • Kingston Lacy late openings, Friday 4 and Saturday 5 December, to 7.30pm (last entry to the house 6.30pm), Kingston Lacy, near Wimborne. The shop and cafe stay open, with a show by Squidge and Pop. (National Trust)
  • Swanage Christmas Market, Saturday 5 December, 10am to 4pm, Station Road and Institute Road, Swanage. More than 60 stalls, merry-go-round rides, Father Christmas in his grotto and a small stage, run by Swanage and Purbeck Rotary. See our Christmas markets page. (Swanage Events)
  • Dorset Team Christmas Fair, Wimborne, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 10am to 4pm, Allendale Centre, Wimborne. Free entry. 60 local makers’ stalls each day across two rooms. (Dorset Team)
  • Santa’s Grotto at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, from Saturday 5 December, daytime on 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19 to 23 December, Buller’s Way, Abbotsbury DT3 4LA. Father Christmas in a woodland cabin in the gardens, with a gift; booked tickets. (Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens)
  • Carols by the Coast, Weymouth, Saturday 5 December, 5pm to 6pm, by the Christmas tree in New Bond Street, Weymouth. Carols with the Mayor of Weymouth and the Salvation Army Band. (Weymouth Town Council)
  • This Is Floyd: A Tribute to Pink Floyd, Saturday 5 December, 7.30pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £28. A two-and-a-half-hour Pink Floyd theatre show. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • Sherborne Festive Shopping Day, Sunday 6 December, 10am to 4pm, Sherborne town centre. Free entry, with the parade and lighting of the tree at 4pm. (Sherborne Chamber of Commerce)
  • That’ll Be Christmas, Sunday 6 December, 7pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £31.50 to £34.50. A touring Christmas singalong show. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • Bridport Christmas Cheer, Wednesday 9 December, all day, Bridport town centre. Stalls and activities across the town; times are still to be published. (Bridport and West Bay)
  • ‘Tidings of Joy’ Christmas Concert, Saturday 12 December, 7.30pm to 10pm, St John’s Church, Greenhill, Weymouth DT4 7SS. £20 including wine, mince pies and treats; under-16s free. Includes ‘A Musicological Journey Through the 12 Days of Christmas’. (Weymouth Town Council events)
  • Jack and the Beanstalk, Tivoli Wimborne, Saturday 12 December to Sunday 3 January, The Tivoli, Wimborne. Adults £20.50 off-peak or £21.50 peak, under-16s £16.50 or £17.50; relaxed performance Sunday 27 December at 10.30am. See our pantomimes page. (The Tivoli)
  • Dorset Mind Mental Elf Festive Fun Run, Sunday 13 December, 12pm, registration from 11am, The Great Field, Poundbury, Dorchester. Early Elf entry until 13 November: adults £12, children 5 to 15 £5, family £32; then adults £15, children £7. See our story. (Dorset Mind)
  • Dorchester Christmas Cracker, Sunday 13 December, 11am to 4pm, High West Street and the Corn Exchange, Dorchester. The Chamber’s Christmas street fair. (Dorchester Chamber for Business)
  • Carols in the Gardens, Dorchester, Thursday 17 December, 6.30pm, Borough Gardens, Dorchester. A free carol concert with carol books provided. (Dorchester Town Council)
  • Cinderella, Weymouth Pavilion, Saturday 19 December to Saturday 2 January, various times, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. Adults £22 to £25, concessions £21 to £23, family of four £84 to £92. A relaxed performance is on Tuesday 29 December at 6pm (£21, box office only). See our pantomimes page. (Weymouth Pavilion)
  • Dirty DC: A Tribute to AC/DC, Saturday 19 December, 8pm, Weymouth Pavilion, The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED. £28.50. The AC/DC tribute that has toured since 1988. (Weymouth Pavilion)

Regular events

  • Weymouth parkrun, every Saturday, 9am, Weymouth. Free; register online once before your first run. (Weymouth Town Council, Weymouth parkrun)
  • Dorchester Wednesday Market, every Wednesday, Fairfield Market, Dorchester. The weekly market founded in 1860, run by Dorchester Town Council since 1 April 2026. (Dorchester Town Council)

Send us your event

Running something in the Dorset Council area? Email hello@dorsetpost.co.uk with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free of charge, and yours goes on this page and in the diary on our What’s On section.

Sources