Wimborne Minster Folk Festival

2027 Dates: Friday 11th – Sunday 13th June 2027

Location: Wimborne Minster town centre, Dorset

Website: https://www.wmff.co.uk

Wimborne Minster Folk Festival is one of Dorset’s biggest and most colourful annual events, filling the streets and venues of Wimborne with live music, traditional dance and entertainment over three days in June.

The festival runs from Friday evening through to Sunday evening, with events taking place throughout the town centre. Expect to see Morris dancers and other traditional dance teams performing in the streets, musicians playing at indoor and outdoor venues, market and food stalls, children’s activities and plenty of entertainment simply while walking around town.

While some headline concerts and ceilidhs require tickets, much of the festival atmosphere can be enjoyed simply by visiting Wimborne and exploring the town centre.

Music and Concerts

Live music is at the heart of Wimborne Minster Folk Festival, with performances taking place at venues around the town throughout the weekend.

The programme traditionally includes established folk musicians alongside local and emerging performers, with music ranging from traditional English and Celtic folk to acoustic music, choirs and other contemporary styles.

Some of the larger headline concerts take place indoors and are ticketed separately, while numerous other performances can be enjoyed around the town.

The detailed programme changes each year, so check the official festival website before visiting if there is a particular performer or concert you would like to see.

Morris Dancing and Traditional Dance

For many visitors, the dance displays are one of the highlights of Wimborne Folk Festival.

Dance teams from Dorset and across the country perform at locations throughout the town centre, bringing colourful costumes, bells, music and plenty of noise to Wimborne’s streets and squares.

Morris dancing features prominently, including Cotswold, Border and North-West traditions, but the festival is not limited to Morris. Previous festivals have included Appalachian step dancing, clog dancing, longsword dancing and traditional European dance.

The displays take place at various locations, making it easy to encounter performances while exploring the festival rather than having to remain at a single venue.

Around Wimborne Town Centre

One of the great attractions of the festival is its setting. Rather than being confined to a field or single event site, Wimborne’s streets, squares, pubs, community spaces and historic buildings become part of the festival.

The town centre is largely taken over by pedestrians and festival activities, with dance displays, music and entertainment taking place only a short walk from Wimborne Minster and The Square.

Trading and catering stalls add to the atmosphere, while a festival Microbrewery beside the Allendale Community Centre traditionally combines independent beers and ciders, food and live music.

Most outdoor events take place on streets, squares and other hardstanding areas, which also means visitors don’t usually have to contend with the muddy conditions associated with some countryside festivals.

Children’s and Family Activities

Wimborne Minster Folk Festival is very family friendly, with activities for children taking place alongside the music and dancing.

The programme varies from year to year but has included craft activities, storytelling, singing and dancing sessions, games, workshops and other entertainment.

Many family activities and outdoor performances are free, making it possible to enjoy a substantial part of the festival without buying tickets for the headline concerts.

History of Wimborne Folk Festival

The first full Wimborne Folk Festival was held in June 1981, following the end of the Christchurch Folk Festival and a desire among local folk enthusiasts to continue the tradition in the area.

The festival grew to become a major celebration of folk music and traditional dance, attracting performers from across the UK and beyond. Over the years it has expanded to include family activities, markets, food and drink and other entertainment, while traditional music and dance remain at its heart.

Getting to Wimborne Folk Festival

The festival takes place throughout Wimborne Minster town centre, just off the A31 in east Dorset.

Visitors arriving by car should be aware that some town-centre roads are normally closed during the festival and the usual public car parks can become busy.

The festival has previously provided additional parking outside the centre with a shuttle service into town. Arrangements can change from year to year, so check the official travel and parking information before setting off.

Wimborne does not have a railway station. The nearest mainline station is Poole, approximately 6.5 miles away, with bus and taxi connections to Wimborne. Local bus services also connect Wimborne with Poole, Bournemouth and surrounding towns.

If possible, arrive early, particularly on Saturday when the town can become very busy.

Visiting the Festival

You don’t necessarily need to plan every part of a visit to Wimborne Folk Festival. One of the best ways to experience it is simply to walk around the town, stopping when you come across an interesting dance display, musician or performance.

If you want to attend one of the headline concerts or ceilidhs, booking tickets in advance is advisable. Official festival programmes provide performance times and maps showing the different music and dance locations.

The festival also provides a good opportunity to explore Wimborne itself. Wimborne Minster, the Museum of East Dorset and the River Allen are all in or close to the festival area, although the town will be considerably busier than on a normal weekend.

Information updated: August 2026

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