In 2015 the first Dorchester Cider Festival & Perry in The Park took place at the beautiful Borough Gardens. The event’s origins stem back to a casual conversation between members of Dorchester Round Table suggesting that the county town could do with a Cider Festival where all the great local producers could showcase their drinks. Eight years later, we have an event that is attended by roughly 4,000 people and have so far raised over £35,000 for local causes since the festival began.
The event has grown to become a firm fixture in the Dorset events calendar. Roughy 15 cider producers typically attend the festival’s cider village. Together they offer over 80 different types of cider to sample. Ranging from traditional scrumpy for the purists to raspberry & bubblegum flavours – ensuring there is everything under the sun to choose from. The food village also offers a wide variety of locally produced dishes to try.
The full event name includes the subtitle ‘Perry in the Park’ which refers to the live music element of the festival with both a pleasing nod to pear-flavoured cider, and previous Round Table event – The Party in the Park. The bandstand has played host to numerous artists including ‘scrumpy & western’ favourites The Skimmity Hitchers, Imprints, The Leggomen and The Jimmy Hillbillies.
All profits from Dorchester Cider Festival are donated to local good causes and charities. If you’d like to get involved, please get in touch!
Dorchester Cider Festival Photo Gallery
Next Event Date
Saturday 17th August 2024.