Find Your Perfect Holiday Accommodation Around An Event!
What’s On
Dartmouth hosts some truly amazing events throughout the year – take a look and arrange a visit or better still a short break or holiday. We love welcoming visitors to our great line up of exciting events.
Festivals & Events Guide
Dart Music Festival: This takes place in May and is the best music festival in the South West. This weekend-long event transforms the town with its wonderful variety of genres of mostly free music for all and performed in bars, pubs, restaurants, churches and our main bandstand in Royal Avenue Gardens. The atmosphere really is quite amazing.
Dartmouth Farmers Markets: The Dartmouth Farmers Markets are one of the town’s most popular artisan market events, with this particular market being featured in The Times as one of the best “alfresco places to shop in the UK”. Markets are held monthly in the Old Market Square, beginning from March, and are fabulous for exploring great local produce and helping to support our local businesses.
Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta: The first recorded Dartmouth Regatta was held in 1822 and formally established in 1834. It runs now each year in late August with rowing events, sailing regattas, tennis tournaments, running events and much more. The town is transformed with market stalls and a funfair providing great family fun and entertainment.
Dartmouth Food Festival: The best of the South West, the Dartmouth Food Festival is now a landmark event in the culinary calendar. It features food demonstrations and workshops using the best produce from South Devon and supported by an array of award-winning celebrity chefs, writers and food critics, this event is one not to be missed.
*Please check individual event websites for more details and for any changes or cancellations.
Throughout the Year
Dartmouth – Market Square
Dartmouth Farmers Market
Every 2nd Saturday of the Month
About This Event
Don’t you just love browsing food markets? All that lovely fresh, local produce, sampling your way around the stalls and returning home with a bag brimming with goodies. Well here’s an opportunity to do just that in the gorgeous river side town of Dartmouth, and help support local businesses.
Each 2nd Saturday of the month we will be hosting a Farmers Market: a food and produce market with a selected number of hand picked local artisans. The market will take place in the Old Market Square, Dartmouth and will be open from 9.00-2.00pm.
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Totnes
Totnes Market
Every Friday & Saturday All Year Round
About This Event
The Market Square has been home to the bustling weekly markets for hundreds of years, and today you can still stumble across this gem of a shopping experience every Friday and Saturday. Meet the friendly traders, soak up the colourful sights and discover a huge array of interesting items from local honey to delicious cake; clothes, plants, antiques and lots of other wonderful gifts and treats.
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Totnes
Totnes Sunday Food Market
Every Sunday All Year Round – 10am-3pm
About This Event
Every third Sunday of the month from 10am to 3pm.
Come and explore the historic town of Totnes and visit the Totnes food market every third Sunday of the month with a wide range of wonderfully fresh and organic produce, direct from the producer and sourced as locally as possible.
All size stalls are available please contact [email protected]
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March & April
totnes – dartmouth
Head of Dart’s SUP Challenge
Saturday 20th April – Open to all
About This Event
The Head of the Dart SUP Challenge is an annual event in April and sees more than 250 paddlers taking part, making it the largest SUP event in the UK. Each year, paddlers come together to complete the 14km course along the River Dart taking in the beautiful Devon countryside running between the historic town of Dartmouth and Totnes, alternating directions every year. It is traditionally seen as the season opener, with paddlers travelling from all of the country, and further afield!
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May & June
Brixham
Brixham Pirate Festival
Saturday 4th May – Monday 6th May
About This Event
One of Britain’s biggest and best (in our humble opinion), Pirate Festivals!
The Brixham Pirate Festival began in 2007 when members of the community decided to create an event to liven up one of the quietist bank holidays of the year.
Since those humble beginnings, the festival has grown into one of the biggest pirate gatherings in the world, and attracts people from all four corners to partake in a weekend of Piratical merriment!
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Salcombe
Salcombe Crab Fest
Sunday 5th May
About This Event
Crabfest is not just an excellent opportunity for seafood lovers to get together and crack open some fine tasting crabs. More than that, Crabfest has become a vibrant showcase for the local fishing, food, drink and tourism industries at the heart of our unique area.
Come and enjoy hands-on cookery demonstrations by award-winning chefs, crab picking masterclasses, crab pot making, live music, kids activities and much more!
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Dartmouth
Dart Music Festival
Friday 17th – Sunday 19th May
About This Event
The Dart Music Festival brings some great music into Dartmouth and provides a boost to the economy of the town after the long winter months. With this in mind the decision was made to keep the music at the heart of this beautiful riverside town and, lacking a theatre or arts centre at the time, an imaginative and diverse choice of venues was established.
The first festival brought together an eclectic and hugely talented group of artists which not only delighted the visitors to the town but captured the hearts of the residents making it a huge success. It was this unexpected inclusiveness that has shaped the ethos of the festival making it one of the most eagerly anticipated weekends of the year and a matter of great pride and enjoyment for the local population…
Enjoy 3 Special Days with over 100 Performances in more than 20 Venues around town.
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Dartmouth
Dartmouth Galleries Night
Date TBC
About This Event
The Dartmouth institution that is Galleries Night is back and this year will take place on May 26th from 6-9pm. Galleries open on the night are Ainscough Contemporary Art, Baxters, Coombe Gallery, Gallery 5, Simon Drew Gallery, The Mewstone Gallery and The Remarkable Goldsmiths. Dart Gallery will launch their show on Saturday 27th.
Visit the galleries to see previews of their new exhibitions on the Friday evening. Every gallery will have been transformed in the days leading up to this date to show all new work from a mix of artists and makers. Some will be well established, and others will be up and coming new talent. You will see paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass and jewellery and you can meet some of the artists. It’s a great evening with a fantastic atmosphere and you can enjoy the beauty of Dartmouth while you stroll the streets between the galleries.
All of the exhibitions will continue for 2 to 3 weeks so you can see the Spring displays – in a quieter atmosphere than the opening night on other days too. Each exhibition will also be online on the gallery’s individual websites.
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Paignton
English Riviera Airshow
Provisional: 1st & 2nd June
About This Event
English Riviera Airshow is set to return this year for another full weekend of action packed displays and great activities. The two day show takes place on Paignton Green with the Bay providing a stunning natural amphitheatre for viewing the air displays and the perfect location for a large coastal airshow event.
The RAF Red Arrows, Typhoon Display Team, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the RAF Grob Tutor will be flying across both days of the Airshow.
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Westpoint, Exeter
Devon County Show
Thursday 16th – Saturday 18th May
About This Event
The annual Devon County Show from the Agricultural Association is full with spectacular animals, vintage tractor parades, masterclasses, workshops, local provider showcases, things for the kids, show competitons, and more!
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Dartmouth
Dartmouth Swim
Saturday 8th June
About This Event
As part of the Dartmouth Triathlon weekend we are offering you a chance to do a 1500m or 750m swim in the stunning clear water of Blackpool Sands in Devon.
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July & August
St petrox church, dartmouth
The Lost Sound Dartmoor Folk Choir And Friends Of The Dart Benefit Concert
TBC
About This Event
The Lost Sound Dartmoor Folk Choir is raising funds for Friends Of The River Dart at a candlelit concert at the historic and atmospheric St Petrox Church, Dartmouth.
This stunning location at the mouth of the Dart River is a fitting venue for a benefit concert for ‘The Friends of the Dart’ – a new grass roots organisation working to improve water quality and protect the Dart through effective collaboration and partnership. They aim to inform and inspire our community in our relationship with the river.
The Lost Sound have a beautiful and entertaining Summer 2023 programme of songs – all about ‘Country Life’ and our relationship and dependence on our land, seas and rivers. Come join us for a special night by the Dart and come at 5pm if you’d like a paddle or a swim before the concert.
Widely recognised as one of the best and most entertaining unaccompanied choirs in Devon under the direction of Sandra Smith, The Lost Sound has wowed audiences across the southwest.
“A wonderful concert and a fabulous sound. A varied repertoire with excellent arrangements sung from memory. Brilliant to see a choir really happy, engaging the audience and singing with so much joy.”
If you love the Dart, do join us and come to the concert.
For ticket info and links visit www.thelostsound.co.uk/events
Here’s the promo for TLS’s newest single https://youtu.be/Sw6IytoaI1I
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Dartmoor
Dartmoor Classic Cycle Sportive
Dates TBC
About This Event
Join 4000 like minded riders on one of the UK’s favourite sportives running for over 15 years. Established in 2007, the Dartmoor Classic aims to bring a pro tour cycling experience to amateur cyclists of all abilities.
There are 3 distances to choose from:
Piccolo 39 miles
Medio 68 miles
Grande 109 Miles
Cycle Dartmoor’s open roads across beautiful countryside with spectacular views. Our routes are planned to take on famous climbs such as Haytor which has been included in the Tour of Britain.
When riding the Dartmoor Classic you’ll be taken care of all the way from free parking at the start, happy marshals en-route, plenty of food included at the feed stations, rider mechanical support and if your legs just can’t make it, we’ll get you back to the finish in our rider support bus.
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Blackpool Sands Beach
Tunes on the Sands
Friday 12th – Saturday 13th July
About This Event
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Various Locations
Classics Regatta
Wednesday 17th – Thursday 25th July
About This Event
In July 2002, ten yachts attended the inaugural regatta organised by the British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC). Held in Cowes, the event marked the start of an annual regatta, which went on to be named British Classic Week.
What started as a long weekend of informal racing developed and grew so that by 2012, over 80 Yachts, racing in five divisions, were joined by a growing fleet of cruisers. Many familiar faces return every year for a week of close racing, or fun cruising, and a vibrant social programme.
The six-race series, organised by the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS), takes place in the challenging tidal waters of the Solent. The schedule includes class racing around the cans, as well as two longer fleet courses, including the 30nm NAB Tower Race, and a Ladies Race. Racing starts and finishes on the RYS line, which presents a fantastic opportunity for photographers and spectators ashore to watch the action on the water.
More on Website Link Below!
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Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge Fair Week
Saturday 20th – Saturday 27th July
About This Event
Kingsbridge Fair Week is a week of events in July, including live music, fireworks, a carnival and many more events for all ages. With a parade at the end of the week.
Purchase a Programme to obtain a timetable of events.
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Dartmouth
Town Crier Competition
Dates TBC
About This Event
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Great Court Farm, Berry Pomeroy
Totnes & District Show
Sunday 28th July
About This Event
We look forward to welcoming you for another fun filled family day out.
We will be updating this page as our many and varied attractions and activities are confirmed.
Join us on the last Sunday in July for an action packed experience with something for everyone, you’ll be spoilt for choice!
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Dartmouth Castle
Shakespeare Week
Thursday 18th – Wednesday 24th July
About This Event
Dartmouth Shakespeare Week this year features a spectacular performance – The 21st Anniversary Production in the open air at Dartmouth Castle.
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Plymouth
Firework Championships
Friday 16th – Saturday 17th August
About This Event
For some time there had been some discussion among professional display companies in the industry about creating an annual competition where they could demonstrate their skills.
After considering a number of venues around the UK, Plymouth became the favoured location as it was felt to provide a natural amphitheatre where large scale pyrotechnics could be used safely and watched from a variety of points around the harbour and Sound. Following discussions with the City Council in the mid-1990s, a partnership agreement was formed to launch the event in 1997.
Since then the Championships have grown hugely and are now recognised as the premier annual display in the UK, attracting tens of thousands to the City each August.
Each year six professional display companies are selected by draw to take part – three on each evening of the event -and every sixth year there is a Champions event when winners from the previous five years (plus the previous Champion-of-Champions winner) return to battle it out for the overall title Champion-of-Champions.
Despite varying weather conditions over the years – and even a World War II bomb being found on the site – the event has successfully taken place every year since it started.
As the Hoe is the focal point for watching the Championships, entertainment is provided here throughout both evenings with a fun fair, with thrill rides and live music. Catering facilities are provided on the Hoe and along Madeira Road from early evening on both nights.
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Brixham
Torbay Steam Fair
Dates TBC
About This Event
Torbay Steam Fair in South Devon provides three days of attractions for the whole family and has grown to become one of the biggest in the area. While principally a Steam Fair, the gathering has expanded its attractions to its vintage brothers and sisters and now incorporates vintage cars, commercial vehicles, motorbikes, military vehicles, tractors, stationary engines, and fairground rides. The show also provides market stalls, children’s entertainment, refreshments, and a bar.
The Steam Fair is run by the Torbay Steam Rally Group. The group was established in the mid-1980s to ensure that the Steam Fair would continue to run after The Devon Traction Engine Club decided they could not continue. The organisers pride themselves on being able to bring a new Steam Engine to the fair every year!
Weekend visitors who are looking for accommodation may find Churston Manor, in Churston or The Quayside Hotel, in Brixham suitable places to stay. For those a little more adventurous, camping sites are located within short drives of the showground site. Check out Galmpton Touring Park, Upton Manor Farm Campsite, and Wall Park.
For more information, please visit the event website below.
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Dartmouth
Dartmouth Royal Regatta
Wednesday 28th – Saturday 31st August
About This Event
Dartmouth is a stunning town in South Devon and a magnificent backdrop to the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta that takes place every August. The Port is steeped in history, as is the event: it is one of the oldest in the country and the earliest recorded Regatta was in 1822 with 2019 seeing the 175th Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta take place.
The Regatta committee work tirelessly, all as volunteers, to bring a Regatta that Dartmouth, and her visitors, will be proud of every year. The event is free to attend and the committee rely entirely on their amazing sponsors and generous public donations, with no funding received from any source. Please do support us by giving generously to our collectors and by buying a Regatta Souvenir Programme. It costs over £150,000 to stage the event every year and we need your help to do this!
The week long celebrations, incorporating the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, always takes place during the week that includes the last Friday in August. It has a plethora of water based and shoreside sporting events, as well as family entertainment and fun in bucket loads. There is a real ‘festival’ feel to Dartmouth during this week, with something for everyone to do and enjoy; it is little wonder we are the second largest Regatta in the UK…
Read more by visiting the website link below!
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Found an Event that you just cannot miss?
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