The Great Dorset Chilli Festival is billed as a chilli fiesta, and it is set for Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August 2027 at the Stock Gaylard Estate, near Sturminster Newton in the Blackmore Vale. The site is a rural deer park with gentle slopes.
Stalls sell chilli plants, seeds, sauces and ceramics, alongside artisan food producers, spicy street food, local ice cream and local beers. There is live music and chilli eating competitions across the weekend. The chilli sauce competition is held on the Sunday only, when visitors can taste and judge sauces made by the festival’s own traders.
It works as a relaxed day out for families, with children aged 10 and under admitted free. Friendly dogs are welcome if they are kept on a lead and are well behaved. Dogs must not be left in cars.
Visitor information
Dates: Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August 2027.
Cost: Online ticket sales open in May 2027, and tickets can also be bought on the gate. The 2027 prices have not been published. In 2026 an adult ticket on the gate was £13, a child aged 11 to 15 was £3, and a family ticket for two adults and up to three children was £29. Children aged 10 and under were free, and online tickets in 2026 were valid for one day only.
Opening: In 2026 gates opened at 10am on both days, with last entry at 4.30pm and trading ending at 5pm.
Getting there: Car parking is free, and the parking fields are bumpy in places. Coaches are not permitted, as there is no suitable parking or drop-off. Disabled parking is available without advance booking. There is no public camping on site. Bring cash, because mobile signal at the festival is weak and congested.
Where to stay
Sturminster Newton is the nearest market town, on the River Stour in north Dorset. Read about Sturminster Newton or browse places to stay near Sturminster Newton.
