Editing Wimborne Minster (section)

== Events ==
At weekends and national holidays, the [[town crier]] can be seen in the main square and around the Minster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hometruths/20031222_town_crier.shtml|title=BBC - Radio 4 - Home Truths - Town Crier|last=BBC|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> The legacy and position of the town crier date back to the [[English Civil War]]. The town has a large civil war reenactment society, which performs every year.

The town has a well-established and large market, the [[Wimborne Market]]. The market is held on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It was previously located in the town centre but moved out several years ago to a site on the edge of town to accommodate its size.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ruraldorset.com/days/details.asp?FKID=8&ID=11|title=Wimborne Market|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref>

Every year Wimborne hosts the longest fireworks display in Dorset, as part of its [[Guy Fawkes]] celebrations; a county record that it has held since 2004. The bonfire and pyrotechnics display is held each year in the grounds of [[St Michael's Church of England Middle School]] and is well supported by many thousands of people from the town, [[Colehill]] village and the surrounding area. All proceeds are donated each year to local schools, and since 2004 over [[pound sterling|£]]61,000 has been raised for local school projects and equipment.<ref>[http://www.wimbornefireworks.co.uk Wimborne Bonfire and Fireworks Evening]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107122128/http://www.wimbornefireworks.co.uk/ |date=7 November 2011 }}</ref>

Every two years in mid-August, the Park Initiative, an interchurch charity working on Leigh Park estate, holds a community event called "Alive in the Park" in the centre of the estate using a large marquee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leighparkinitiative.org.uk|title=Leigh Park Initiative|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref>

===Wimborne Minster Folk Festival===
[[File:Alton Morris at Wimborne Folk Festival 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Alton Morris at Wimborne Folk Festival 2011]]
Every summer in June the town holds the [[Wimborne Minster Folk Festival]].<ref>
[http://www.wimbornefolk.co.uk Wimborne Minster Folk Festival]</ref> Founded in 1980, the annual event of traditional [[folk dance]] and [[Folk music of England|music]] has become the focal point for one of the largest gathering of dance teams and musicians in the [[South of England]]. The festival involves [[Morris dance|morris dancing]], [[Appalachian music|Appalachian]] dancing, concerts, workshops and children's activities, with parts of the town being closed to traffic.

The Festival planned for 2020 did not go ahead due to the health precautions imposed in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Instead, with the cooperation of local businesses and Wimborne Minster Town Council,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18389675.volunteer-group-founded-help-wimborne-residents/|title=Volunteer group founded to help Wimborne residents}}</ref> the Folk Festival committee made use of Café @ The Allendale, a local community hub, to provide food and meals for those in difficulties, e.g. as a result of having to [[self-isolate]] or not being able to work during the [[COVID-19 lockdowns|lockdowns]]. The 2021 Festival also had to be cancelled but an online event took place over the usual second weekend in June.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18501144.renaissance-retirement-donates-1000-cafe-allendale-wimborne/|title=Cafe can keep delivering 500 free meals a week to those in need thanks to donation}}</ref>