Dorset’s biggest weekend of the year is almost here! The Dorset County Show returns on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September 2025 at Dorchester Showground, promising an unforgettable celebration of countryside life that showcases the very best of what Dorset has to offer.
Why The Dorset County Show Should Be Top of Your September Plans!
A Festival Atmosphere Like No Other
This year’s show brings fresh energy with the debut of a brand new Music Stage featuring local Dorset artists, extending the festivities into Saturday evening until 8pm to create an authentic festival atmosphere. The show has evolved beyond its traditional agricultural roots to become a comprehensive celebration of Dorset culture, making it the perfect weekend escape for families, couples, and anyone seeking genuine countryside entertainment.
Spectacular Main Ring Entertainment
Prepare to be thrilled by the Paul Hannam Stunt Show, making its debut with jaw-dropping motorbike displays featuring huge jumps, precision riding, and death-defying stunts. Returning by popular demand, Ben Atkinson and His Action Horses will showcase the same magnificent horses you’ve seen galloping across television screens in Poldark, Victoria, and Peaky Blinders. These performers bring Hollywood-level excitement directly to Dorset’s countryside.
Agricultural Excellence at Its Heart
The show remains proudly rooted in its agricultural heritage, featuring over 1,000 sheep entries alone, alongside competitive classes for cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and for the second year running, alpacas. The Grand Parade of Livestock on both days provides a magnificent spectacle as champion animals process through the Main Ring, offering visitors an authentic connection to Dorset’s farming excellence.
Dorset’s Largest Food Experience
Food enthusiasts will discover Dorset’s biggest larder in the expansive Food Hall, showcasing over 100 local producers. From artisan cheeses and local gins to traditional Dorset apple cake and sourdough breads, this pop-up paradise offers tastings and the chance to meet the producers behind Dorset’s world-class food and drink. The separate Food & Drink Area provides festival-style dining under picnic marquees.
Traditional Country Skills and Crafts
Witness the Dorset Axemen demonstrating centuries-old forestry skills with razor-sharp axes and crosscut saws in the atmospheric Woodland Area. The blacksmithing demonstrations, traditional thatching, and woodcarving displays offer glimpses into skills that shaped rural Dorset for generations. These live demonstrations provide hands-on learning opportunities rarely available elsewhere.
Family-Friendly Activities Throughout
The Hill Top Zone introduces a Fun Dog Show with classes including “cutest pup” and “waggiest tail,” whilst Shetland pony racing brings pocket-rocket excitement as these diminutive horses thunder around the arena. Free tomahawk throwing adds an adventurous element, ensuring entertainment for all ages and interests.
Exceptional Value and Accessibility
Advanced booking offers substantial savings with adult tickets at £21 (compared to £25 on the gate) and children aged 5-15 at just £2. Family tickets for two adults and two children cost £42 in advance. Parking is completely free, and the show provides free shuttle buses from Dorchester, Poundbury, and Dorchester South Station — and the postcode DT2 7SD makes navigation simple.
More info about this years event: The Dorset County Show 2025
Tickets and more information about the show, what’s on, how to get to there and the new music stage can be found on the official website www.dorsetcountyshow.co.uk
Supporting Local Charities
Your attendance contributes to local good causes, with the show having donated £15,938 to Dorset charities, including recent contributions to Julia’s House Children’s Hospice. This community spirit exemplifies the show’s role as more than entertainment — it’s a celebration of Dorset’s caring community values.
A Tradition Worth Experiencing
Since 1841, this show has celebrated the spirit of Dorset, evolving into an event that attracts over 55,000 visitors annually. It serves as Dorset’s end of harvest celebration, marking the transition from summer to autumn with genuine countryside traditions that urban life rarely provides.
Perfect September Weekend Weather
Early September typically offers some of the year’s finest weather – warm days without summer’s peak heat, making it ideal for outdoor exploration and family activities across the extensive showground.
The Dorset County Show represents far more than a traditional agricultural event. It’s a genuine celebration of everything that makes Dorset special – from world-class food producers and skilled craftspeople to magnificent livestock and thrilling entertainment. Whether you’re seeking family fun, cultural experiences, fantastic food, or simply a perfect weekend escape into authentic countryside life, this show delivers it all in one spectacular location.
With advanced tickets offering excellent value and free parking available, there’s never been a better time to experience Dorset’s biggest weekend. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a tradition that brings together the very best of our county in one unforgettable celebration.
