Harman’s Cross in Dorset, basked in glorious sunshine as thousands flocked to the village hall for its annual fete, a day organisers hailed as a perfect countryside tradition.
Temperatures soared into the high 20s and there was barely a cloud in the sky as the gates opened at Harman’s Cross village hall near Swanage, on Monday 25th August 2025 for an afternoon of music, entertainment, games, and refreshments.
A beautiful display of dahlias in the flower and produce tent
Flower and produce show a highlight
Fairground sideshows, craft stalls, a very popular Pimms bar, produce stalls, circus skills and dog agility displays kept everyone happy for the afternoon, but for many the highlight was a huge flower and produce show.
Although four summer heatwaves in Dorset meant that much garden fruit and veg had come into its prime long before the fete, standards in the produce marquee were still outstanding.
Keen gardener Harry Dennis carried off an armful of trophies, including the Holme Nurseries Cup for the most outstanding vegetable exhibit, the Complete Gardener Trophy for the most points in vegetable, flowers, pot plants and fruit sections, the Meadowside Cup for the best vegetable collection and the Fruit Cup for the best exhibit in the fruit section.
And Janet Dyke led the way in the floral section, collecting the Poseybowl Cup for the most outstanding exhibit in flower arrangement and the Flower Arrangement Trophy for the most points in the flower arranging section.
Janet Dyke was the undisputed champion of the floral section
Best in show award went to Janet Dyke’s Mellow Yellow (right)
Harry Dennis eventually ran out of hands to carry off his trophies
It’s been a difficult year for gardeners, but the heat has resulted in some giant veggies
“It’s a perfect countryside tradition”
Alison Clough, for the Harman’s Cross fete committee, said:
“This is a typically British fete, it has absolutely everything, but the flower and produce marquee is outstanding, it’s just a perfect countryside tradition.
“Unfortunately this year our gardeners have had a bit of a challenge because of the hot, dry weather which has caused a lot of the flowers and vegetables to reach their prime a while ago. The fete has come too late for them, which is really unusual.
“We were encouraging people to enter even if they didn’t think that their produce was the best it could be, because everyone else found themselves in the same situation.
“But in the event, the quality of exhibits did not disappoint in the slightest and there have been so many positive comments from everyone who went round the show.”
Alison Clough thanked the shows helpers – all 140 of them!
Local radio presenter David Hollister was back behind the microphone again
The Pimms tent was as popular as ever, especially in the heat of the afternoon
“Helpers give us a fantastic response”
Alison added:
“We have been really lucky with the weather for the past few years, someone is shining on us! But it might have been just a little too hot today, we have spent a lot of time running drinks to all our helpers through the day to make sure they don’t get dehydrated.
“It is a big community event and plays a large part in helping to keep Harman’s Cross Village Hall running – as it is now around 15 years old, things are starting to need replacing, and we want to keep the hall in the fabulous state it is in.
“It is such an important facility for the village, and the management committee with the support of Worth Matravers parish council work very hard to keep it at such a high standard.
“We were fully subscribed, all of the pitches sold out earlier this week and it has been a successful day for the community, which is the most important thing.
“But I must say a huge thank you to all of our 140 helpers! We have a great liaison with Rotary, we help them at their summer fete and Christmas market, and they help us out here, but apart from that all our helpers are Harman’s Cross residents and their families, who always give us a fantastic response.”
The National Trust stall had a lot of interest in the adventures of Purbeck’s beaver population
Dogs and their owners showed off their skills on the agility course
Rob’s Curiosity Box, crammed full of bargains, was hugely popular
Expected to make around £20,000
It is believed that more than 2,000 paying adults attended the 2025 fete along with a similar number of children, who don’t have to pay to get in.
Based on results from previous years, the fete should take around £20,000 on the day, and although the costs of hiring necessary items like barriers and portaloos have risen sharply, it is still hoped that more than half the takings will go towards the upkeep of the village hall.
And once again, half of the raffle proceeds will be given to Mosaic, the Dorset charity which supports bereaved children.
Last year, thanks to the generosity of local businesses which support the raffle with dozens of top notch prizes, Mosaic received a cheque for £1,200, which Harman’s Cross is hoping to match in 2025.
The JDJ Band kept everyone entertained through the day
Circus skills star Trixie was a whirl with the hula hoops
The coconut shy rewarded those with a steady hand
Enthralling the crowds
The heat of the day didn’t stop dog agility demonstrations from enthralling the crowds, and the JDJ Band and Trixie from Cordy’s circus workshop entertained a large crowd throughout the day in the main ring.
Delicious food was provided by Kingston Country Courtyard with a hog roast, Harman’s Cross village hall was open to provide food and drink for the crowds, and cake stalls and the Purbeck Ice Cream van saw a roaring trade.
A sales tent had a huge book shop section – ideal for late summer holiday reading – while bric a brac stalls were crammed with preloved treasures, and fairground stalls including a coconut shy and bouncy inflatables kept the children – and some adults – amused through the afternoon.
Slow and steady on the dog agility course
Is this the biggest book stall in Dorset?
All the fun of the fair at Harman’s Cross fete
Further information
- See what happens at the Harmans Cross Village Hall
- More about the fete’s chosen charity Mosaic
