Sunday 4th June 2023
Starts 11:00 until 16:00
High East Street, Dorchester

Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair 2023

A Dorset Celebration!

Sunday 4th June 11.00am - 4.00pm

High West Street and High East Street, Dorchester

Step back in time this summer when Dorchester remembers its Victorian past and celebrates the life and times of the famous writer Thomas Hardy, who was born and lived nearby.

The Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair on Sunday, 4th June 2023 from 11am to 4pm will be a fun and inspiring day out. High East and High West Streets will be closed to traffic for a more authentic experience.

Visitors are welcome to dress up for the occasion and join the “Ragged Victorians” to see Penny Farthing displays, Punch and Judy shows, steam engines, and all things Victoriana, as well as enjoy live music, performances, and dancing in the street.

Dorchester’s exuberant town crier will announce the day’s events as they happen, including the annual wreath-laying procession accompanied by the delightful sound of the town’s bells.

The event celebrates Thomas Hardy’s birthday weekend, when every year, the Thomas Hardy Society and Town Councillors led by the Mayor, form a parade down High West Street to lay a wreath at Thomas Hardy’s statue, returning to lay another one at the William Barnes statue by St Peter’s church.

Other family-friendly activities include storytelling and traditional craft displays in the Victorian Hall at Dorset Museum, Wessex Morris Dancers and a pop-up ceilidh by the town pump. The Nothe Fort Garrison will be at Keep Military Museum and there will be talks and tours of the stunning Victorian architecture.

DRESSING UP IS OPTIONAL … BUT ADDS TO THE FUN!

For more information please visit: The Thomas Hardy Victorian Fair - Discover Dorchester