A month-long festival is set to return, promising a packed programme of events, workshops and activities.
Discover Wimborne will begin in April and will feature performances, guided tours, creative workshops, and a host of new and returning highlights for all ages.
Now in its tenth year, the festival created, organised and funded by Wimborne BID (Business Improvement District) has become a staple of the town’s cultural calendar, with nearly 200 events recorded in 2025—one for every day in April.
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Sir William Hanham, owner of Deans Court, said: "We’re delighted to be partnering with Discover Wimborne.
"They’re highlighting the ancient and often undiscovered history of this town by making it accessible to visitors.
"Deans Court plays a key part in Wimborne's history and we believe the best way to interpret it is through physical tours with Discover Wimborne."
This year’s festival will also include the first-ever sports festival, linking to Wimborne’s Town of Culture 2026 celebrations and encouraging residents to get active with hands-on taster sessions.
There's also a Town of Culture Youth Festival, with schools and youth organisations working with local businesses in a fringe-festival-style takeover of art, sculpture, film, music, poetry and much more.
Walford Mill will mark its 40th anniversary as a craft centre during the festival, offering workshops and public activities.
Terry Wheeler of Walford Mill Education Trust said: "With our own anniversary to celebrate, this year’s Discover Wimborne feels especially exciting.
"The festival is a brilliant way to promote the range of workshops we offer and to reach new audiences.
"The free Window Trail is particularly valuable for us as an edge-of-town location, encouraging visitors to discover Walford Mill and everything we do here."
The festival aims to celebrate Wimborne’s unique history, community, and businesses, with organisers keen to encourage involvement from residents and visitors alike.
Fiona Pawsey, chair of Wimborne BID, said: "Doorstep visitors are just as important to Wimborne businesses as tourists.
"We’re all guilty at times of not discovering what’s on our own doorstep and Discover Wimborne really helps to change that."
A free festival guide will be available from mid-March at the Museum of East Dorset Information Centre and participating businesses.
The full programme is also available online at Wimborne Website.
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