Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival

This is an annual festival held in Dorset in September of each year. Sturminster Newton or STUR as it is known to the locals used to have a cheese production unit and the cheddar that it produced was very popular. However the cheese production ceased a few years ago and now the only remant of that is the annual festival. There are 3 large marquees holding many different stalls, mostly of course, they are run by cheese producers, but there are a few other things such as a seafood stall, some veggie options and a wonderful apple stall selling apples by the box-full. The stall holders cut up samples of their cheese so you can try before you buy which means that is sometimes a job to get to the stalls. However the samples are delicious and a great incentive to buy. There are craft stalls around as well and some charity stalls from local charities such as Blandford Hospital Friends. There are food tents around the edge of the field and there is a live music tent surrounded by bales of hay for seating. There is a great atmosphere round the music area with lots of people sitting eating and drinking, with the dogs lolling about having a great time. It is a lovely English traditional festival with a twist of Thomas Hardy.