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
It’s a brand new festival, set on the beautiful golden Blackpool Sands in Devon, just 5 miles from Dartmouth With a back drop of scenic forests and hills, this will be a truly unique event where you can enjoy an ice cold beverage with the ocean only a stone’s throw away.
 
Born from the incredible festival Tunes in the Dunes on Perranporth beach in Cornwall, that has seen artists such as Status Quo, John Newman, UB40 ft Ali, Astro & Mickey, Clean Bandit, Dizzee Rascal, the Waterboys, James Morrison, Billy Ocean + many more… This is a one of a kind event for Blackpool Sands in Devon, not to be missed.
 
Major headline acts will be getting announced over the lead up to the event. We are extremely excited to bring this event to you for the ultimate festival experience.

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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
This Sunday in Dartmouth’s Royal Avenue Gardens from 11am is this year’s International Town Crier Competition.
 
Why not come down to the Bandstand and watch 15 Criers and their Consorts take part in the Peter Randall Memorial Cup and the Sir Francis Drake Armada Cup!

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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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