Local Special Events

Shaftesbury Snowdrop Festival 14-22 February 2026 - sorry you missed this year

Shaftesbury has become a well-known location for viewing snowdrops. The hill's sides and local parks are home to hundreds of thousands of the bulbs that make a truly unforgettable sight. Our own garden (picture) has tens of thousands of bulbs as well, with at last count 14 different varieties.

February may be a cold month but there is no denying seeing the carpets of white flowers bursting out on a sunny day is a wonderful sight.

https://www.shaftesburysnowdrops.org/

Shaftesbury Book Festival 20-22 March 2026

'Reading the Land'

Sorry you missed this year - the Cottage was fully booked.

The annual book festival will be held in Shaftesbury and proves a great draw for many with the varied and thought provoking themes.

More information from organisers to follow:

https://www.shaftesburybookfestival.com/

Shaftesbury Food Festival

2nd May 2027

Food stalls, demos, and much more -

https://www.shaftesbury-food-festival.co.uk/trade-stands

Image courtesy of:

KamranAydinov - fried chicken with vegitables

Chalke History Festival 22-28 June 2026

Discover history as you've never seen or been involved in it before...

Just a few dates available at start of the festival - for booking the cottage.

Each year we visit it and are captivated by the amazing topics that bring yesterday's history and events of today as they become our living history with world class speakers:

https://www.chalkefestival.com/programme/

Edwardstowe-East is the an ideal location to experience the festival - just 15 minutes drive away.

Plan Your Visit - we still have a few dates free at Edwardstowe-East

Start planning your visit to the festival in 2026:

https://www.chalkefestival.com/

Don't wait to start your adventure!

Shaftesbury Fringe 17-19 July 2026

Shaftesbury Fringe - Official Site:

https://www.shaftesburyfringe.co.uk/

Cotttage now fully booked

Comedy

Folk Music

Poetry

Pop & Rock

The Great Dorset Chilli Festival 1-2 August 2026

Gillingahm & Shaftesbury Show - 19-20 August 2026

A real taste of the countryside - show-casing farming, food & country life!

More information here:

https://gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk

https://tickets.gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk/events/1394/gillingham-shaftesbury-show

2 days of fun for all

Cottage now fully booked - maybe next year?

From children’s events, dog shows, farm equipment, vintage motors (like this photo), food outlets, heritage skills and crafts, extensive retail, cattle shows and judging, horse events - it is all here in one place just 5 minutes drive from Edwardstowe-East

Our argricultural heritage

Join in the fun!

Wessex Heavy Horse Show - 13th September 2026

The 2026 Show & Country Fayre takes place on the 13th September 2026

The Wessex Heavy Horse Society has a long tradition in promoting nad show-casing heavy horses across the Wessex region. The Society is open to all who own, work with or just admire and love these wonderful horse breeds.

https://wessexheavyhorsesociety.co.uk/