| Where: | Shaftesbury, Dorset - Parade from Trinity Centre to the High Street via Gold Hill, Snowdrop sale at Guildhall |
| When: | Weekend in February |
| Time: | Snowdrop sale 10-4. Parade 6 pm |
The annual flower festival at Shaftesbury is part of a unique project to create the UK’s first “snowdrop town”, following on from its beginnings in 2012 with the public planting of snowdrop walks to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The festival still includes snowdrop walks and planting, and a range of other themed activities including the Snowdrop Lantern Parade, the main focus of the weekend. Held in the evening, at twilight you can expect to see children carrying craftily constructed snowdrop lanterns, accompanied by dancers, musicians and dignitaries. Legend has it that Galanthus the Dragon grew from a special bulb plated during the reign of Alfred the Great, and is enticed from his fastness under the local hill by chanting a unique verse, which happens as part of the parade. Following the parade, the talented and well-practised Steps in Time group perform dances to welcome spring, after the procession makes its way from Gold Hill back to the High Street. Snowdrops bloom around town from late January into March providing a hopeful glimpse towards the coming spring, and there are wonderful displays of the bulbs on the approach to the town and around the centre, particularly in the gardens of the Trinity Centre. Lantern making workshops take place in the daytime to prepare for the Parade and there are art exhibitions and talks, and many local businesses have themed displays. A helpful map is available at the Tourist Information Centre with snowdrop trails, and the Springhead Gardens at nearby Fontmell Magna are often open for the festival.
Helpful Hints
In 2026 the Festival should run from Saturday 14th to Sunday 22nd February with the Parade on Saturday 21st- for full details follow the links below and the local Tourist Information Office are also very helpful.
Sometimes extreme weather may affect the parade so keep an eye on the event Facebook page (February can be an uncertain month weather-wise!).
Click here for the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564610165869
Click here for the event website :https://shaftesburysnowdrops.org
Please can you tell me when the 2025 snowdrop festival is as I did volunteer to help and Ned to know now as I Ned to submit my garden opening for t
He NGS next year.
Hi Tina,
Your message has come through to calendar customs and we don’t organise the Snowdrop Festival- you’ll need to contact the organisers direct – they’re currently updating their website so you’ll have to message them via their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ShaftesburySnowdrops/
Best of luck!
Averil