What's on in October around Dorset

Local attractions and events in Dorset

Months Highlights....

Swanage Blues Festival - 7th to 9th October
A celebration of the blues in all its forms – rural, urban, acoustic and electric. 40 gigs in 15 indoor venues, and admission is free!

Enchanted Floodlit Gardens at Abbotsbury - 12th to 30th October
Take a magical evening stroll along candle-lit pathways through enchanted glades...the Gardens stay open until 8.30pm for magical lighting

Purbeck Film Festival - 14th to 29th October
The Purbeck Film Festival is the longest running rural film festival in the UK. A wide variety of titles are screened throughout Dorset venues to celebrate film. There is something for everyone.

Sherborne International Film Festival 2011 - 20th to 23rd October
Sherborne's third annual film festival which brings you exceptional films that you would not ordinarily be able to see in this part of the world.

Full Listing....

2 October. Antique Fair. Kingston Maurward Gardens & Animal Park.

9 October. Wedding Fair. Kingston Maurward Gardens & Animal Park.

10 October 2pm. Art Connoisseur Tour. Kingston Lacy House.

12 October. The Enchanted Floodlit Garden Charity Preview Night - in aid of the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust. Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens.

13 October. Country House Fair in aid of The Dorset Red Cross. Lulworth Castle.

13 to 30 October, dusk to 8.30pm. The Enchanted Floodlit Garden Floodlighting of the Subtropical Garden. Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens.

15 October 7.30pm. SIGNALS - A Concert by the Band and Pipes and Drums of the Royal Corps of Signals. Weymouth Pavilion. tickets from the Box Office.

21 October. Murder Mystery Evening. Kingston Maurward Gardens & Animal Park.

22 October. Museum Sleepover! Dorset County Museum.

22 to 27 October. Tracked Vehicle Rides. The Tank Museum.

22 to 30 October. Half Term Fun Week. Swanage Railway.

22 to 30 October 10.30-4pm. Squirrel Scavenger Hunt. Brownsea Island

22 to 30 October. Half Term Halloween Fun. Abbotsbury Children's Farm

22 to 30 October 11am - 4pm. Spooky Stories. Portland Castle - English Heritage.

22 to 30 October. Spooky Halloween Events. Scary shows in Happydrome Theatre. Haunted maze. Adventure Wonderland.

22 to 30 October. Halloween Quests. Corfe Castle

23 to 30 October. Autumn Colour Week. Forde Abbey & Gardens.

24 to 30 October. Halloween Fun. Farmer Palmer's Farm Park.

25 to 29 October. Soldiering in the Snow. The Tank Museum.

25 to 29 October. Tank Action Days. The Tank Museum.

26 October 10.30am-12.30pm. The Big Draw - our sixth year with this national event. Dorset County Museum.

27 to 30 October 5pm to 8.30pm. The Enchanted Floodlit Garden Halloween Fun Evenings. Free facepainting (scary faces) and free prize for children in fancy dress. Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens.

29 October. A Taste of Autumn. Kingston Maurward Gardens & Animal Park.

29 & 30 October. 11am to 4pm. Frances Bankes Ball. Kingston Lacy House.

29 & 30 October 10.30am-4.00pm. Batty about Bats. Brownsea Island