Shaftesbury Festival Festival 2025

Shaftesbury Festival Festival 2025

Shaftesbury Festival is on Sunday 4th May from 10 till 5, along the High Street and Park Walk. There is an Artisan Food Market with food from all over the World, local producers and suppliers and plenty to eat and drink. The Kitchen Table present a number of celebrity Chefs at the Town Hall, then there’s the Famous Gold Hill Cheese Race, Music, Entertainment, Maypole Dancing and The Byzant Walk

The Famous Cheese Race 10 – 2 on Gold Hill
The legendary Gold Hill Cheese Race is back as part of this year’s Feastival celebrations, on Sunday 4th May. This is your chance to race up the famously steep cobbles of Gold Hill…all while carrying a hefty round of ‘cheese’.

Whether you’re racing solo, teaming up with mates, or cheering on from the sidelines, it’s completely free to enter, and this year, everyone who takes part gets a special Gold Hill Cheese Race medal to take home.

One of Shaftesbury’s most brilliantly bonkers traditions, there are categories for all ages, with different cheese weights – from proper 25kg truckles to lightweight kids’ versions. While there is no entry fee, we encourage all participants to support two local charities, The Brace and Determined Company and Boobs – Breast Cancer Awareness by making a donation.
Exclusive merch available too – all profits go to charity.
Races take place throughout the day – sign up here: Book Cheese Race.

Maypole Dancing outside the Town Hall
The Maypole is up and the fabulous Steps in Time will be performing the traditional maypole dancing outside the Town Hall at 10.30 to 11 and again at 12.45 to 1.15

Charlie Greenwood at Shaftesbury Abbey 3pm
A dynamic mix of some of the most iconic music of the 1960s, from Rat Pack, James Bond and Motown classics to Americana & Country; Roots & Folk Rock to British Invasion. Grab a drink and be transported back to the days of Woodstock, for a lazy afternoon in the beautiful setting of the Shaftesbury Abbey Gardens from 3pm – refreshments served, free admission and pass the hat!

The Byzant Walk 2pm from the Town Hall
You are cordially invited to take part in this glorious slice of Shaftesbury history – the Byzant Walk! The Byzant tradition dates back hundreds of years – a walk from the town centre to Enmore Green to thank Gillingham for access to its springs. Over the centuries it’s been revived, retired, and reimagined… but this year, it’s back once more as part of Shaftesbury Feastival. Join in from 2pm outside the Town Hall. Period costume is encouraged but optional! Led by Chair of Gold Hill Museum Elaine Barratt, the walk is full of curious customs and stories, including a certain mysterious object that must be carried through the streets…