26 Christmas Markets in Dorset for 2025

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‘Tis the season… for mulled wine, festive treats, and shopping for unique artisan gifts! The season for Christmas Markets – and there are plenty popping up across Dorset this year!

Sip a steaming mug of mulled wine as you browse for unique gifts handmade by local artists and makers. And get ready for your Christmas parties by picking up some tasty locally made foodie treats! You can even stock up the drinks cupboard with Dorset-made beers, ciders, spirits, and wines.

I’ve divided this post into two sections. First is a list of all the long-term Dorset Christmas Markets which will be running throughout the festive season. The second section is a list of one-off events: markets popping up for just one or two days, listed in order of when they’ll be happening. If you know of any great Christmas Markets around Dorset that aren’t listed here, leave a comment at the end of this post or get in touch and I’ll add it in. Merry Christmas…

UPDATED Nov 2025: I’ve now updated this post with all the latest event dates and details.

Map of all Dorset Christmas Markets

Long-Term Christmas Markets in Dorset

Christmas Market at Bournemouth’s Christmas Tree Wonderland

2025 Dates: 13 November – 31 December
Location: Bournemouth Town Square (for the Alpine Market) and the Lower Gardens
More Info

The Alpine Market in Bournemouth is probably the biggest and best-known of the Dorset Christmas markets. Each year, this takes over the Town Square as part of the huge Christmas Tree Wonderland event.

The Wonderland is a free trail of festive-themed illuminations throughout the Lower Gardens in the town centre, with a traditional Christmas market in the Town Square. There’s also the fantastic pop-up Alpine Lodge Bar, an outdoor ice rink (one of two ice rinks heading to Bournemouth this Christmas), Santa’s Workshop, and more.

Poole Christmas Light Festival

2025 Dates: 22 November – 1 January 2026
Location: Poole Quay, High Street and Lighthouse Poole
More Info

The Poole Christmas Light Trail will be taking over the town centre with a range of impressive light installations, including a 14-metre tree in Falkland Square. The trail will run from the Lighthouse Poole, through the High Street, and down to Poole Quay. There are usually market stalls along the trail – and this year, there’s also a Christmas Window Display Competition, where you can vote for your favourite festive shop window!

One-Off / Short-Term Dorset Christmas Markets

Longthorns Farm

2025 Dates: 1 & 2 November
Location: Longthorns Farm, Wareham
Price: FREE
More Info

 A free two-day Christmas Market full of local small businesses selling amazing presents, decorations and more! Wareham town band and a local choir will also be performing, and the farm’s Alpacas will be present for a ‘meet and greet’!

Athelhampton Christmas Fair

2025 Dates: 8-9 November
Location: Athelhampton House, Puddletown
Tickets: from £5 (under 12’s free)
More Info

Join Dorset Food & Drink at Athelhampton House for this popular Christmas Market. With 40+ stalls around the gardens selling locally made products, delicious food and drink, and crafts.

Highlands End Christmas Makers’ Market

2025 Dates: 15 November
Location: Martin’s Bar & Restaurant, Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport
Price: £1 (children free)
More Info

The annual Maker’s Market held at Highlands End, near Bridport, is back, with all proceeds going to Julia’s House. There will be over 35 stalls of homemade crafts, art, jewellery and seasonal treats – as well as lots of great food and drink.

A Dorset Christmas Fair, The Tank Museum

2025 Dates: 15-16 November
Location: Tank Museum, Bovington 
Price: Included with Tank Museum ticket price
More Info

Get in the festive spirit with the A Dorset Christmas Fair. A Christmassy day out for all ages  – in partnership with Dorset Team, Makers and Creatives from across Dorset. With local crafters, you can buy all your Christmas gifts, watch live entertainment, plus children can see Santa arrive in a tank and explore the Christmas trail.

Kingston Maurward Christmas Craft and Food Fair

2025 Dates: TBC
Location: Kingston Maurward House, Dorchester

The annual Christmas Craft and Food Fair at Kingston Maurward House, with almost 100 stands selling beautiful crafts and delicious food produce.

Shire Hall Christmas Market

2025 Dates: 15 – 16 November
Location: Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, Dorchester
Price: FREE
More Info

Head to the Shire Hall in Dorchester for the annual Christmas Markets. Free to enter, the market will host incredible local businesses, selling everything from food and drink to jewellery and photography.

Littledown Christmas Market

2025 Dates: 23 November
Time: 11am-4pm
Location: Littledown Centre, Chaseside, Bournemouth BH7 7DX
Tickets: £1 for adults, £0.50 for children (5 – 15), under 5’s free.
More Info

This annual event at the Littledown Centre in Bournemouth is one of Dorset’s largest indoor Christmas markets. There’s a wide range of stalls selling handmade artisan gifts made by talented crafters, including jewellery, local preserves & chutneys, award-winning fudge, seasonal cakes, cheeses, and much more.

Upton House Christmas Craft Fair

2025 Dates: TBC
Location: Upton Country Park, Poole
Price: Free
More Info

Get started on your Christmas shopping with a rare chance to explore the ground floor of the 200-year-old Upton House. Soak up the festive atmosphere with performances from local choirs throughout the two-day event.

Christmas Mind Body Spirit Fayre, Sherborne

2025 Dates: 22 November
Location: Digby Hall Hound Street, Sherborne, DT9 3AA
Tickets: from £1 (children free)

Expect psychic mediums, beauty therapists, tarot, reiki, reflexology, massage, and more at this spiritual festive fayre in Sherborne. The perfect place to pick up artisanal and spiritual gifts such as handicrafts, candles, crystals, and jewellery.

Poundbury Independent Christmas Market

2025 Dates: 29 November
Location: Crown Square, Poundbury
Price: FREE
More Info

This fab independent Christmas market in Poundbury takes place in Crown Square. Full of local independent businesses from across Dorset – with around 100 stalls! You can even meet Father Christmas at Boo’s Toy Shop (10am till 3.45pm).

Poole Grammar School Christmas Fayre

2025 Dates: 29 November (11-4pm)
Location: New Sports Hall, Poole Grammar School, Gravel Hill, Broadstone
Price: £1 for adults
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Poole Grammar School hold an annual Christmas Fayre in the new multi-million-pound community sports hall. There will be over 100 local traders selling handmade crafts, local sellers, and Christmas gifts, as well as live music, food, face painting, a climbing wall, and much more!

Mapperton House Christmas Market

2025 Dates: 29-30 November
Location: Mapperton House, Beaminster 
Tickets: £5 per person including FREE garden entry. Under 15’s free. Santa’s Grotto: £5 per child.
More Info

Enjoy the magic of Mapperton Estate at Christmas with lots of fantastic stalls focusing on local products and delicious food and drink. You can also explore the Mapperton Gardens in winter!

READ MORE: Best Dorset Stately Homes to Visit

Magic of Christmas Food and Drink Market, Gillingham

2025 Dates: 30 November 2025
Location: Riversmeet Leisure Centre, Gillingham
Price: Free
More Info

Gillingham Crafts is hosting a fab Christmas market at the Riversmeet Leisure Centre. There’ll be over 70 stalls, all handmade, offering a mixture of food and craft. They’ll also have choirs, a children’s play area, a tombola, and more!

Symondsbury Estate Christmas Market

2025 Dates: 5-6 December
Location: Symondsbury Estate Bridport, DT6 6HG
Tickets: Free (parking £3)
More Info

Friday 5th: Merry & Bright Christmas event, 4pm – 8pm. A magical Christmas Trail, choirs, food & drink, and a Santa’s grotto. No Christmas Market, but there’s late-night shopping in Manor Yard with demos, tastings, discounts and gift wrapping.

Saturday 6th: Pop-Up Christmas Market & Wild Words Literary Festival, 10am-4pm. A handpicked selection of 19 local artisans and makers inside the Tithe Barn – with workshops, live music, Santa’s grotto, festive treats, and a Christmas Trail.

Saturday 6th: Wild Words Literary Festival, 10am-4pm. A brand-new literary event celebrating stories rooted in nature, sustainability and local life (£9 per talk).

Swanage Christmas Market

2025 Dates: 6 December
Location: Station Road, Swanage
Price: FREE
More Info

The Swanage Christmas Market will once again be taking place this December. There will be a wide variety of gifts, crafts, food and drink available – as well as rides and a small stage with festive entertainment. Oh, and Father Christmas will also be in town!

Cerne Abbas Christmas Street Fayre

2025 Dates: 6 December, 4pm-7pm
Location: Long Street, Cerne Abbas
More Info

Long Street is transformed into a picturesque seasonal scene with a wonderful array of stalls selling locally produced foods, Christmas gifts and crafts and hot food and drink.

Steampunk Yuletide at Nothe Fort

2025 Dates: 6-7 December
Location: Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Price: Requires entry ticket to the Nothe Fort.
More Info

Join the Ministry of Steampunk for another year of Steampunk-themed festivities at the Nothe Fort, including a number of exhibits, a steampunk market, Mystic Maria fortune telling, themed games and activities, and a number of performances.

Dorset Team Christmas Fair, Wimborne

2025 Dates: 6-7 December (10am-4pm)
Location: Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne BH21 1AS
Tickets: Free
More Info

The Dorset Team’s longest-running event and final event for the year. Perfect to pick up unique Christmas gifts and soak in the festive atmosphere. You will find 60 stalls each day with a wide range of crafts and products available. Shop small and local this year. 

Christmas Market at The Walled Garden, Moreton

2025 Dates: 7 December (10am-3pm)
Location: The Walled Garden, Moreton
Tickets: Free
More Info

A fantastic market amongst the picturesque gardens, with a host of stalls, bratwurst, mince pies, and mulled wine & cider – all accompanied by festive tunes and carolling from local carol singers!

Sherborne Festive Shopping Day

2025 Dates: 7 December
Location: Cheap Street, Sherborne
Price: FREE
More Info

This fun festive market takes over the main shopping centre in Sherbourne. Cheap Street is closed to traffic for a market, with live music, choir performances, and street entertainers. You’ll also have the chance to see Santa in his grotto, and browse Sherborne’s great range of independent shops. This year, the cast of Cinderella will also be in town!

Festive Fair Compton Acres

2025 Dates: 7 December
Location: Italian Villa, Compton Acres, Poole
Price: Free
More Info

A festive fair, full of unique and beautiful handmade gifts at the beautiful Italian Villa, Compton Acres in Poole. A host of talented local suppliers will be exhibiting across the floors of this distinctive building, selling a variety of wonderful Christmas gifts.

Handmade Wimborne Christmas

2025 Dates: 13 December
Location: Allendale House, Wimborne
More Info

Handmade Wimborne returns to Allendale House for a Festive Craft Showcase, with two floors of local high-end artists, crafters, small makers, artisans, and designers.

Shaftesbury Christmas Market

2025 Dates: 14 December
Location: Park Walk, Shaftesbury
More Info

Shaftesbury is one of the prettiest villages in Dorset, and makes an idyllic winter setting for a Christmas market! The annual market features dozens of local vendors, plus Santa, live music, and a raffle.

Winter Market at The Oaks, Highcliffe 

2025 Dates: TBC
Location: The Oaks, 189 Lymington Road, Highcliffe, Christchurch
More Info

Head to The Oaks gastro-pub in Highcliffe (just down the road from Highcliffe Castle) for a festive market with live music and an Alpine-themed tent. Explore a variety of local stalls and enjoy carol singers, a visit from Father Christmas and plenty of mulled wine! 

Dorchester Christmas Cracker

2025 Dates: 14 December
Location: High Street, Dorchester and inside the Corn Exchange
Time: 11am-4pm
Price: Free
More Info

An all-day Christmas celebration in the Dorset county town, with a Christmas Market on Dorchester High Street and a craft fair in the Corn Exchange.

Quicklist of Dates

• Christmas Market at Bournemouth’s Christmas Tree Wonderland: 13 November – 31 December
• Poole Christmas Light Festival: 22 November – 1 January 2026
• Longthorns Farm: 1 & 2 November
• Athelhampton Christmas Fair: 8-9 November
• Highlands End Christmas Makers’ Market: 15 November
• A Dorset Christmas Fair at The Tank Museum, Bovington: 15-16 November
• Kingston Maurward Christmas Craft and Food Fair: TBC
• Shire Hall Christmas Market. Dorchester: 15 – 16 November
• Littledown Christmas Market, Bournemouth: 23 November
• Upton House Christmas Craft Fair, nr Poole: TBC
• Christmas Mind Body Spirit Fayre, Sherborne: 22 November
• Poundbury Independent Christmas Market: 29 November
• Poole Grammar School Christmas Fayre: 29 November
• Mapperton House Christmas Market: 29-30 November
• Magic of Christmas Food and Drink Market, Gillingham: 30 November
• Symondsbury Estate Christmas Market: 5-6 December
• Swanage Christmas Market: 6 December
• Cerne Abbas Christmas Street Fayre: 6 December
• Steampunk Yuletide at Nothe Fort: 6-7 December
• Dorset Team Christmas Fair, Wimborne: 6-7 December
• Sherborne Festive Shopping Day: 7 December
• Festive Fair Compton Acres: 7 December
• Handmade Wimborne Christmas: 13 December
• Shaftesbury Christmas Market: 14 December
• Winter Market at The Oaks, Highcliffe: TBC
• Dorchester Christmas Cracker: 14 December

Read More

The Ultimate Guide to Christmas in Dorset!

Dorset Christmas Lights Switch-On Events for 2025

Dorset Festival Dates for your Diary

9 Christmas markets and Events in Bournemouth

Ice Rinks in Bournemouth & Dorset

Locally Made Foodie Gifts in Dorset

If I’ve missed any fab Dorset Christmas markets from this list, please leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to add it. Have a great Christmas everyone!