A staple of the Dorset festival calendar since 1999, the Cheese Festival is a must-visit for cheese lovers everywhere with the region’s finest cheese makers present - from Bath Soft Cheese and Glastonbury Dairy to Wookey Farm Cheese and Hampshire Cheese. Add in arts, crafts and live music and you can while away hours at this mouthwatering event.

Dorset wouldn’t be Dorset without a seafood festival, so here we have it - one of the country’s most popular foodie events, drawing in 10,000 visitors to sample fish, shellfish and other artisan food and drink from local producers. There’s live music (including sea shanties, of course) and family fun too. Residents get a discount and under 16s go free.

A volunteer-run festival, taking place on the Swanage seafront, that not only serves jazz fans from across Dorset, but supports local charities too. Live music from Granny’s Attic, Cara, The Luke Jackson Trio and others. Crafts and stalls too.

A small but perfectly formed end of season two-day camping festival at Bredy Farm. Previously adults only, but now open to kids (and dogs) too. Live music from the likes of Bonsai Pirates, Pretendulum, The Dix and more, with DJ sets from Aphrodite, Rebel Soundsystem, Dave Scott and others. Extra entertainment in the form of fire shows, dog shows and freak shows.

Another party in a brewery brought to you by Pronghorn (who will of course play a set of rabble rousing cowpunk!), Barnstomper marks the end of the summer - and what a way to see it out. The line-up includes some big names - Flogging Molly and EMF - accompanied by local banks Black Water County, Skimmity Hitchers and. Over 18s only.

We’ll claim this one for Dorset, even though it straddles the Wiltshire border too. A staple in the annual festival calendar, the stunning Larmer Tree Gardens are transformed into one of the finest festivals in the land with discos in the woods, a cider bus and postal service (it’s all about the detail). The music is an indie lovers’ dream too, with Idles, Slowdive, Baxter Dury, Sleater Kinney and more.

A wonderfully grounding celebration of all things wood - oak, timber, woodland and conservation. 200 exhibitors and a jam packed family friendly programme of crafts and demonstrations, tree climbing and whittling, falconry and heavy horse logging there is zero chance of getting bored here and we challenge you not to come home with a renewed appreciation for the humble tree and all it gives us.

A modest indoor weekend of music (which we’ll call a festival!) at the fantastic Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis, the county’s finest folk is the order of the day with performances from Stephen Knightly (Show of Hands), Angeline Morrison, Nick Hart and Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Project featuring Jim Causley, John Palmer and Miranda Sykes.

One of many festivals at the brilliant Bredy Farm (see campsite feature), the hilariously named BeCider Seaside 19 is an August Bank Holiday party and follows BeCider Seaside 18 which took place in May. This one features The Land of the Giants, Krafty Kuts versus Jimi Needles, Mad Apple Circus and local favourites Surfin Birds and Guns of Navarone.

Take a trip back in time for three days of classic dance with some of the biggest names in 90s dance - Judge Jules, David Penn, Tall Paul, Angie Brown, K-Klass, Slipmat, Who and more. This family friendly Purbeck camp out event will have you moving til the early hours with plenty to keep the kids entertained during the days.

A brilliant affordable festival for VW owners, fans and their friends on the outskirts of Wimborne. Friday night is a party in the pub for those early adopters, with DJs and acoustic sets and fully plugged in live music kicking in on Saturday and Sunday - along with yoga, dodgeball, tug-of-war and creative activities for kids. Bands include The Shinglalings and Cantaloop.

One of the three biggest hitters in Dorset, this festival - the brainchild of Gilles Peterson - is a bit of a new kid on the block but continues to attract thousands of people from across the country. Looking at the line-up, it’s not hard to see why - Andre 3000: New Blue Sun, Kae Tempest, Mount Kimbie and more. Plus pop up record stores, charity shops, wellness area, talks and a family area. Under 14s go free.

One of the best folk festivals in the country, this staple in the Dorset calendar is a must-attend for folk fans (and music fans in general). A family friendly event with enough local cider and ale for late night parties, the site boasts incredible views across the Purbecks. This year’s line up includes 3 Daft Monkeys, Martha Tilston, Quinn’s Quinney, Seckou Keita and the Homeland Band and more.

The 13th Great Dorset Chilli Festival is for those heat seeking (and we don’t mean sunshine) folk who are game for a challenge. With chilli growing competitions, chilli eating competitions and chilli cooking demonstrations, there’s plenty to keep you entertained as you sample some fiery delights. Organisers are keen to emphasise that you don’t need to like chilli to attend as there’s plenty more food to try too.

After a bit of a hiatus, Endorset returned last year for a p*ss up in a brewery! Run by Bournemouth band Pronghorn, it brings together a whole wave of bands who were made for festivals, including Mungo’s Hifi ft Eve Lazarus, Zion Train Soundsystem, Beans on Toast and more. This boutique event caters for just 500 people, so if you want to grab a ticket, be quick!

Head to Lodmoor Country Park from 10-5pm each day and work your way through an array of food and drink with this annual food festival. The offering doesn’t stop there though, there’s also live music, cooking classes, a dog show, bubble party, fun fair, crazy golf and a chilli eating competition! Tickets are cheaper if booking online.

An 90s-lovers’ dream, Poole Harbour Festival always brings some big indie and dance names to these southern shores. This year it’s Razorlight, The Coral, Reef and Artful Dodger, Lisa Lashes and N-Trance. They’re joined by local heroes Mother Ukers. Family tickets and drinks bundles available. Offsite camping with free shuttle bus is available in nearby Lycthett Matravers.

One of Bournemouth’s most vibrant festivals returns to Kings Park attracting thousands of reggae fans from across the country with a 30-strong line up that includes General Levy, David Rodigan, Seani B, Saxon Sound System and more. Run by Afro*disiac Live Radio, it’s a truly inclusive event with creative arts and stalls as well.

The world-renowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) returns to Bournemouth’s Meyrick Park for its popular Proms in the Park concerts. Friday night is a Classics Extravaganza which features film music by Hans Zimmer and John Williams among more traditional composers; while Saturday night is disco night with reimagined hits by disco greats.

One of the county’s biggest festivals returns to Lulworth Castle for the first weekend of the school holidays. Designed with kids in mind, Camp Bestival has no shortage of activities to keep the kids entertained but also packs a punch when it comes to live music with Paloma Faith, Orbital, McFly and more. There’s plenty of ticket types available, including backstage camping options.