Literary festival in the market town of Shaftesbury with talks, author events and book-related activities. Running from 20-22 March 2026 across multiple venues in the town.

Various Venues, Shaftesbury

Mix of free and ticketed events

Markets & Fairs

Featured

Sun, May 3

09:30 – 17:30

The Shaftesbury Food festival

The Shaftesbury Food Festival is a day packed full of fun food and festivities, held on 3rd May 2026 — the bank holiday. Set in the stunning historic hilltop town of Shaftesbury, the festival brings together local food producers, regional Dorset cuisine, and a vibrant community celebration. Stretching across the high street, Park Walk and surrounding areas, the festival features over 100 trade stands and food outlets, the world-famous Gold Hill Cheese Race, chef talks organised by The Kitchen Table, live entertainment and much more. The festival is run entirely by volunteers from the Shaftesbury Chamber of Commerce and proudly supported by Shaftesbury Town Council. It celebrates the best of what this historic hilltop town has to offer — from vibrant shops, bars and restaurants to the unique character of one of England's most beautiful small towns.

Various Venues, Shaftesbury

Gold Hill Cheese Race 2026

The Gold Hill Cheese race is back for 2026

Gold Hill

About Shaftesbury

Perched on a hilltop 215 metres above sea level, Shaftesbury is one of England's oldest and most picturesque towns. Founded by King Alfred the Great in 880 AD, the town is famous for Gold Hill — the iconic cobbled street featured in the beloved Hovis bread advertisement.

With stunning views over the Blackmore Vale, a thriving high street of independent shops and cafes, and a vibrant calendar of community events, Shaftesbury is a wonderful place to visit, live and work.

Learn more about Shaftesbury

Proudly supporting our local town of Shaftesbury