THERE is never a shortage of events happening in Dorset – but this year’s calendar is looking busier than ever.
From now until the end of the summer season and beyond, there are a host of attractions to suit all tastes.
Here are just some of the major events planned this year:
May 5: Poole Street Arts Festival sees the Quay taken over by street arts companies and live music.
May 9-11: South Coast Fashion Week celebrates the best the British industry at the BIC.
May 17: Steam on the Quay sees mini traction engines coming to Poole.
May 23-25: The Bournemouth 7s, billed as the world’s largest music and sport festival, is at Bournemouth Sports Club, East Parley.
May 24-26: Bournemouth hosts its first ever Wheels Festival, with action from classic cars to BMX stunts, monster truck parades and supercars.
May 26: Poole Carnival returns, with a parade down Parkstone’s Ashley Road and on to Branksome Recreation Ground.
May 30-June 1: The Powerboat P1 and Aqua X Jetski Championships take place off Bournemouth beach.
June 15-21: Christchurch priory Music and Arts Festival.
June 20-29: Bournemouth Food and Drink Festival – 10 days of food-related fun at a host of venues.
June 21: Harry Paye Day is one of Poole’s colourful events, honouring the renowned pirate with a procession, live music, family fun and rowing races.
June 28-29: Tankfest 2014 brings spectacular entertainment to the Tank Museum at Bovington.
July 5-6: The British Volleyball Festival takes place at Poole’s Sandbanks.
July 5-6: Food and Drink Festival at Corfe Castle.
July 5-6: Gold Hill Fair features stalls, activities and entertainments at Shaftesbury.
July 11-12: Sandbanks hosts the British Beach Polo Championships in a specially built arena, with a host of entertainment in the evenings.
July 7-13: Wareham Carnival Week features seven days of entertainment.
July 11-13: The Bourne Free Bournemouth Pride Festival celebrates Bournemouth’s gay, lesbian and transgendered community, with a host of events including a carnival procession.
July 11-13: Swanage Jazz Festival at venues across the town.
July 13: Bournemouth’s Pier to Pier Swim for the British Heart Foundation.
July 24: Bournemouth Children’s Festival – a host of family fun at Meyrick Park.
July 26-27: Mudeford Arts Festival takes place on the Quay.
July 26-August 2: Swanage Regatta and Carnival, including fireworks on July 26 and 30.
July 28-August 5: Bournemouth Carnival features an array of fun.
July 29-31: The New Forest and Hampshire County Show at Brockenhurst.
July 31-August 3: Camp Bestival – music and family fun at Lulworth.
August 28-31: Bournemouth Air Festival – another year of spectacular aerial displays as well as entertainment on the ground.
September 6: Guitars on the Beach at Lyme Regis - musicians attempt to create Britain’s Biggest Band with a version of Status Quo version Rocking All Over The World.
September 6-7: Poole Thai Festival features food and entertainment at Baiter Park.
September 26-October 12: Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival, bringing a host of artistic and cultural events to the town.
October 4-5: Bournemouth Marathon Festival, a full weekend of running events.
October 17-18: Rallye Dorset brings some of the top rally drivers in the country to Poole Quay and the surrounding area.
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