Our 2026 Festival Programme
Thursday 30th April
7pm – Preview and artist Q&A for Drawn to Imperfection – Festival Art Exhibition by Dave Nevard
Friday 1st May
Scarecrow Trail – Historical figures (to 10th May)
Drawn to Imperfection – Festival Art Exhibition by Dave Nevard (to 10th May)
Hallidays Community Art Installation with Emma Coleman-Jones and David Harber (to 10th May)
6.30pm – The Festival Bash SOLD OUT!
Saturday 2nd May
9.30am – Family Dog Show
11am to 5pm – Local Artists exhibition (weekends & BH Mon)
11am – Community Art Installation Opening
12noon – Grand Opening and Tower Abseil
1pm –Cygnets Art School (age 5-13) – Spring
2pm – Amici della Voce CANCELLED
3pm – Cygnets Art School (age 5-13) – Anime SOLD OUT!
4pm – Dr Xa Sturgis CBE – Magic, Art and Illusion
7.30pm – Brian Bilston – How to lay an egg with a horse inside
8pm – Open Mic
9pm – Full Moon watching & ancient tree walk SOLD OUT!
Sunday 3rd May
4.30am – Dawn Chorus Walk (followed by breakfast) SOLD OUT!
10.30am – Sunday All Age Praise Party
12.30 to 4.30pm – Tentertainment! with WhatNot Theatre & Bertie Slippers
1pm – Silver Clay Jewellery Workshop SOLD OUT!
2.30pm – Violin & Piano Recital Jeremy Boughton & Sharon Warnes
5pm – Duck Race
6pm – Crime Writer Simon Mason in conversation with Robin Jones
7.30pm – The Kings Singers SOLD OUT!
Bank Holiday Monday 4th May
10am – Willow Weaving Workshop
11am – Festival Charity Fun Run
12noon to 4pm –Science mad!
1pm – Science show – Amazing Air!
2pm – Vicar Custard Walk
2.30pm – Science Show – Space and Time
3.30pm – La Boheme in the Manor House Garden
7.30pm – Folk Night – Steve Knightley & Rusty Shackle
Tuesday 5th May
7.30pm – Jazz Supper with Cate Cody
Wednesday 6th May
10am to 6pm – Singing Playgrounds workshop for schools (prebooked)
6pm – Singing Playgrounds Concert
7.30pm – Jazz up the 80s with the Jay Rayner Sextet
Thursday 7th May
9am to 12noon – Reflections on Drawn to Imperfection
6pm –Rokas Valuntonis – Pianist
7.30pm – Comedy Night SOLD OUT!
Friday 8th May
10am – Yoga and wellbeing for schools with Emma Horwill (prebooked)
12noon – Music for Autism
7.30pm – Liza Pulman Sings Streisand
7.30pm – Pour my Bluff SOLD OUT!
Saturday 9th May
10am to 5pm – Food & Gift Fair
10am to 5pm – FREE! Live Music on the Cloister Stage
10am-2.30pm –Latte Art Masterclasses & Professional Throwdown
10am – Quintessential
10am –Art Workshop – Pet Portraits with Personality
10.30am –Imma Bakery Sourdough Demo SOLD OUT!
2pm –Dorchester Houses and History Walk SOLD OUT!
2pm – Curry Masterclass – Secrets of the Best Dorchester Curry SOLD OUT!
2pm, 3.15pm, 4.30pm –Mad Hatters Tea Party 4.30pm SOLD OUT!
7.30pm Symphonic Abba – The Thames Valley Festival Orchestra
8pm Birdsong Walk – Evensong
Sunday 10th May
10am – Scandi Baking Workshop SOLD OUT!
10am – Gardener’s Corner for Families
10.30am – Festival Service with Revd Dr Malcolm Guite
10.30am – Basque cookery demo with Nick Galer SOLD OUT!
11.30 – Head Gardener’s Planting Masterclass
12noon to 5pm – Food & Gift Fair
12noon to 5pm – FREE! Live Music on the Cloister Stage
2pm – Lego Masterbuilders Club
2pm- Revd Dr Malcolm Guite – Poet
7.30pm – Illuminated Big Band Night – BBC Elstree Concert Band & Oxford Collutorium Singers – Shall We Dance?
Sunday 31st May
10am – John Rutter Come & Sing SOLD OUT!
