What's On in Shaftesbury

What's On

Discover upcoming events, festivals, markets and community gatherings in and around our beautiful hilltop town in Dorset.

Education & Workshops

Sat, Aug 1

14:30

Make Every Week Wild: Creative Outdoor Adventure

An afternoon of creative outdoor adventure with authors Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield, exploring nature-based activities for families.

FOLDE Dorset, 21 High Street, Shaftesbury, SP7 8JE

Free (booking required)

Markets & Fairs

Sun, Aug 2

10:00 – 16:00

eat:Shaftesbury

eat:Shaftesbury will take place on Sunday 2nd August 10am-4pm – on Park Walk by kind permission of Shaftesbury Town Council. Join us for a delicious, one day celebration of local and regional food and drink, free to attend, inclusive, accessible for all (even the dog!) organised by multi-award winning eat:Festivals. You can expect to find over 70 local food and drink producers, most from within a 30 mile radius, plus street food, music, strolling entertainers and storytelling. Always with a wide range including gluten free, vegan, vegetarian and alcohol free food and drinks. It’s a free day out and a chance to meet friends whilst discovering something new. If you want to have a bit more elbow room, to get the pick of the produce, arrive early! eat:Festivals is a not-for-profit social enterprise that aims to connect communities with the productive landscape that surrounds them, which is good for local business, food producers and for families.

Song Sung Blue (12A) – Cinema Screening

Afternoon cinema screening of the musical feature film at Shaftesbury Arts Centre.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Standard cinema ticket (approx. £6.00 – £7.00)

Education & Workshops

Thu, Aug 6

10:00 – 15:00

Brick Robot Club: Brick Robot Wars

Interactive Lego robot building and battle competition session for kids and tech lovers.

Shaftesbury Town Centre Venue, Shaftesbury, SP7

Standard session entry

Arts & Culture

Fri, Aug 7

19:30

A Conversation About Dickens, Thackeray, and Queen Victoria's Daughter

An engaging evening talk diving into 19th-century literary rivalries and Victorian royal social history.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Event ticket (check box office)

Sports & Recreation

Sat, Aug 8

15:00 – 16:45

Shaftesbury Town FC vs Bishops Cleeve

Southern League Division One South home fixture. Shaftesbury Town FC host Bishops Cleeve at Cockrams, Coppice Street. All fixtures are subject to change — check shaftesburyfc.co.uk before travelling. #UpTheRockies

Cockrams, Coppice Street

Education & Workshops

Mon, Aug 10

09:00

Multi-Arts Summer School Week (Ages 7–11)

Week-long creative arts workshop covering drama, music, and craft for young children. Runs Monday 10 – Friday 14 August 2026.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Course registration fee

Arts & Culture

Tue, Aug 11

14:00

Wuthering Heights (18) – Cinema Screening

Afternoon cinema presentation of the dramatic literary adaptation.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Standard cinema ticket

Music & Entertainment

Fri, Aug 14

19:00

Music and Drama Summer Social Celebration

An evening social gathering celebrating local performative talent, community theatre, and music.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Social ticket (check box office)

Sports & Recreation

Sat, Aug 15

15:00 – 16:45

Shaftesbury Town FC vs Bideford AFC

Southern League Division One South home fixture. Shaftesbury Town FC host Bideford AFC at Cockrams, Coppice Street. All fixtures are subject to change — check shaftesburyfc.co.uk before travelling. #UpTheRockies

Cockrams, Coppice Street

Education & Workshops

Mon, Aug 17

09:00

Multi-Arts Summer School Week (Ages 11–16)

Intensive creative arts, stagecraft, and performance course for teenagers. Runs Monday 17 – Friday 21 August 2026.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Course registration fee

Markets & Fairs

Wed, Aug 19

08:30 – 18:00

Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show 2026

One of North Dorset's flagship agricultural shows, featuring champion livestock, equestrian jumping, stunt ring displays, over 350 trade stands, local food halls, and rural craft demonstrations. Runs Wednesday 19 – Thursday 20 August 2026.

Turnpike Showground, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, SP7 9PL

Adult: £18 advance (£21 gate) | Child (5–15): £3 | Under 5s: Free | Family: £41

Education & Workshops

Mon, Aug 24

09:30 – 16:30

Summer Musical Theatre Course

Create a fantastic performance in just five days, ready to present to an audience on Saturday morning. A week-long musical theatre course for ages 7-17 years, including 38 hours of coaching and performance, presented by Shaftesbury Arts Centre Youth Theatre in association with Limelight Theatre.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Michael (PG) – Cinema Screening

Afternoon screening of the biographical motion picture.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Standard cinema ticket

Arts & Culture

Sat, Aug 29

11:00 – 12:00

Summer Musical Theatre Course - Final Show

The Final Show from the week-long Summer Musical Theatre course. Come and see the hard work of all those on the Summer Musical Theatre Course presented by Shaftesbury Arts Centre Youth Theatre.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

NT Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses

High-definition broadcast of National Theatre Live's stage production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

NT Live admission (approx. £12.00 – £15.00)

Arts & Culture

Tue, Sep 1

14:00

Eddie the Eagle (PG) – Cinema Screening

Matinee cinema screening of the inspirational comedy-drama.

Shaftesbury Arts Centre

Standard cinema ticket

Arts & Culture

Wed, Sep 2

19:00

Marnhull Solitudes: An Evening with Stephen Boyce (Book Launch)

Author event hosted by FOLDE Dorset celebrating Stephen Boyce's new poetry collection focused on the Blackmore Vale. Ticket holders get 10% off dining at The Grosvenor Arms on the night.

Shaftesbury Town FC vs Worcester Raiders

Southern League Division One South home fixture. Shaftesbury Town FC host Worcester Raiders at Cockrams, Coppice Street. All fixtures are subject to change — check shaftesburyfc.co.uk before travelling. #UpTheRockies

Cockrams, Coppice Street

Sports & Recreation

Tue, Sep 29

19:45 – 21:30

Shaftesbury Town FC vs Willand Rovers

Southern League Division One South home fixture. Shaftesbury Town FC host Willand Rovers at Cockrams, Coppice Street. All fixtures are subject to change — check shaftesburyfc.co.uk before travelling. #UpTheRockies

Cockrams, Coppice Street

Sports & Recreation

Sat, Oct 10

15:00 – 16:45

Shaftesbury Town FC vs Tiverton Town

Southern League Division One South home fixture. Shaftesbury Town FC host Tiverton Town at Cockrams, Coppice Street. All fixtures are subject to change — check shaftesburyfc.co.uk before travelling. #UpTheRockies

Cockrams, Coppice Street

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