It wouldn’t be summer without a good food festival. Here’s a guide to some of the best events taking place around Dorset.

Back for its second year, Taste of the South will return this time in a new location. The two-day festival will be held at Chapel Gate, Christchurch over the weekend of July 21-22, and will showcase the best food the South has to offer. Not only will there be tastings and chef demonstrations, but there will also be entertainment and live music.

At the other side of the airport, The Cheese and Chilli Festival will also return for its second year in Christchurch. Held on June 9-10 between 10am and 5pm, the festival will offer more cheese and chillies from around the world than previous years. To top it off, there will be live music, activities for the whole family and a beer festival from Downton Brewery.

Coming back to the Square with ten days of demos, street food and live music from June 15-24, Bournemouth Food and Drink Festival will once again be a massive fixture on any foodie’s summer festival list. Last year’s edition saw professional chefs, masterclasses and even the Wagamama Experience, festival-goers have plenty to look forward to this time around.

Taking over the town for the weekend, Christchurch Food Festival is back this year on May 12-13. The festival attracts over 70,000 visitors and features stalls lining the High Street and cookery demonstrations, a beer festival, cocktails as well as a Kids Kitchen down on the Quay. This year, 2016 winner of The Apprentice Alana Spencer will also be there.

All the usual demonstrations, entertainment and food stalls can be found at this year’s Highcliffe Food Festival, taking place on June 2-3. Open on the Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm, you’ll find wines, gins, cheeses, coffees and much more. Children aged between seven and eleven can look forward to Kidz Kitchen, taking place four times across the weekend, where they will learn how to cook Pork Kofta Wraps with a Cucumber and Mint Yoghurt dressings.

Family festival Sorted in Dorset takes place at not one but two venues this summer. The first is in Poole's Hamworthy Park on July 21 and 22 with the second in Bournemouth's shelley Park on August 26 and 27. Sorted in Dorset showcases local produce, plus there will be arts and crafts, fashion and music, plus sport and children's activities. 

If seafood is more your thing, then Swanage Fish Festival is the place to be this summer. Taking place over the weekend of June 9-10 in the lovely Prince Albert Gardens, all proceeds will go to Swanage Lifeboat, The Fisherman’s Mission, Swanage Coast Watch and more. Stalls will offer an array of dishes, from champagne and oysters to a fish finger bap and a cup of tea.

If Giant Paellas, Mexican street food and Thai curries amongst chilli heaven is your idea of a great weekend, then look no further than The Great Dorset Chilli Festival. ‘The Hottest Day Out in Dorset’ will be held at St Giles House in Wimborne St Giles, Home of the Earl of Shaftesbury, from July 28-29.

The Dorset Vegan Festival will be coming to Poole on 20 May, where you can expect to find 80 stalls showcasing the best vegan delicacies. Taking place at The Lighthouse in Poole, entry is just £5 and free for under 16s.

Bridport will once again host the Bridport Food Festival from June 10-16. Culminating on Saturday 16th with the main event in Asker Meadows and showcasing the finest food from the Bridport area, there’s also the opportunity to learn new skills from cooking experts and take home what you’ve made. Entry is £3.50 and free for under 16s.

From September 8-9, Food Rocks will bring chefs and exhibitors together by the sea to promote the food of Dorset and the South West. As well as the demonstrations and the opportunity to meet the producer of some of your favourite foods, there will also be the British meat, crab and mackerel supper, hosted by Lyme Regis’s own Mark Hix MBE.

For those wanting a slightly different experience, head over to Venfest at Post Green House, Lytchett Minster. Whilst there will be plenty of Venison to be enjoyed, there will also be the tastes of Jurassic Seafood’s finest products. Entertainment includes Morris dancing and falconry displays. The event takes place on Saturday May 5, with entry for over 12s at £3.50.