Purbeck Valley Folk Festival 2027

About Purbeck Folk Festival

The Purbeck name dates back to an inaugural event in 2009. For 2027, Purbeck Folk Festival runs 19-22 August at Purbeck Valley Farm, Wareham, with folk, roots and world music across a compact farm arena. The current format runs three full days of music plus Thursday evening, with a daily capacity of 3,000.

The event also uses the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival name, following a move to Purbeck Valley Farm in the mid-2010s. Its scale is part of the point. Camping fields sit less than 100 yards from the stages.

Lineup and Programme

The bill sits across folk, roots and world music rather than a single-strand folk lane. The programme also takes in workshops, sing-arounds and sessions, with Purbeck Rising for emerging acts and spoken-word work on the Word Stage.

• Big Barn
• Long Barn
• Fire Stage
• Folk Front Room
• Folk Orc Tent
• Duck Tent
• Word Stage
• Bar Barn

Ceilidhs, open mic slots and informal jam sessions sit alongside the stage programme. Children’s activity areas cover crafts, storytelling, a climbing wall, archery and slacklining.

Who Is It For?

The crowd is family-friendly and multi-generational, with children’s activities built into the weekend rather than bolted on at the edge. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult, and children aged 12 and under must stay with a ticket-holding parent at all times.

Alcohol sales run on an ID25 proof-of-age system. Children’s activities are included once inside the festival.

The Venue and Site

Purbeck Valley Farm is a working farm site in the Purbeck Hills, just off the A351 near Harman’s Cross, between Swanage and Corfe Castle. The arena is compact and built around barns, so movement between stages is short.

Weekend tickets include camping, with tent-only, accessible, family and day camping areas. Toilets are on the campsite and in the festival area, showers are available in the tent camping fields at no extra charge, and campfires or BBQs are not permitted.

Accessible toilets, a disabled shower, accessible camping and accessible parking are part of the site set-up. Food traders, bars, first aid near the main arena entrance and recycling points are also on site.

Travel Information

Purbeck Valley Farm sits on Valley Road near Harman’s Cross, between Swanage and Corfe Castle in Dorset.

• Nearest station: Harman’s Cross railway station, around 0.7 miles southeast of the site.
• Alternative rail access: Wareham railway station, around 5.7 miles from the farm.
• Road access: the site is just off the A351, using the Harman’s Cross turn-off onto Valley Road.
• Parking: general parking is on site, with cars around the outside of tent-only bays. Camping is not allowed in the car park area.
• Accessible parking: accessible parking is available and can be booked in advance.
• Campervans and caravans: passes are required and must be pre-booked; these pitches may be in a separate field.