On Easter Sunday morning, a peaceful village was disrupted by an unauthorized rave that drew a crowd of 2,000 attendees. This all-night event, which kicked off around 11:45 p.m. near East Lulworth in Dorset’s picturesque Purbeck region, left local families struggling to find rest amid the chaos.
The unsanctioned gathering, held over the Bank Holiday weekend, sent sound waves echoing up to five miles, making it nearly impossible for residents to enjoy a quiet night’s sleep. In response to the disturbance, Dorset Police have acted swiftly, sealing off roads leading to the area and strongly advising participants to disperse and head home.
As the rave unfolded, approximately 100 vehicles were haphazardly left behind, many of them abandoned along the roadside by those attending the event. The sudden influx of revelers was an unwelcome surprise for East Lulworth, a quaint village of just 240 inhabitants, known for its charming 17th-century thatched cottages and proximity to the renowned Durdle Door beauty spot.
Dorset Police have closed roads to the area and are urging the ‘trespassers’ to go home immediately.
About 100 cars have been left parked, many abandoned on verges, by revellers attending the rave.
East Lulworth, a village of 240 residents with 17th century thatched cottages, is just a few miles from famous beauty spot Durdle Door.
A Dorset Police spokesperson said: ‘It is our priority that we ensure this unauthorised music event is brought to a safe conclusion and there is minimal disruption to our residents and visitors.
‘We would like to send a direct message to those at the event – you are trespassing, please leave and go home immediately.’
Residents took to social media to slam the trespassers with calls for tough action from the police.
Joanne Jenner said: ‘As one of the residents of this beautiful, quiet village*not been the best night.’
The unsanctioned event has been going on near East Lulworth in the scenic Purbeck area of Dorset since 11.45pm last night
Residents had difficulty sleeping due to the sound coming from the ‘unauthorised’ Bank Holiday weekend event, which can be heard five miles away
Rich Parker said: ‘Stop every car as it leaves, check for drugs, swipe driver for drink & drugs, check the car is legal, the cost of the above would be paid for in the fines.’
More than 1,000 people previously descended on the tiny village for an illegal rave back on the Easter weekend of 2022.
Other unauthorised events have taken place in recent years at the Arne heath and near 11th century Corfe Castle.
Lucy Morgan said: ‘This happens every year somewhere locally…there must be some recourse, some way of preventing it.’
One resident in Stoborough, five miles from East Lulworth, said they can hear the rave and fear that revellers will leave behind an ‘awful mess’.
They said: ‘This happens every year and every year we’re told that there’s little that can be done.
‘The one on the heath at Arne and one near Corfe in recent years were both dreadful and left awful mess behind too.’
Lulworth Equestrian Centre said they had been affected by road closures as police try to disperse the rave.
A member of staff at the centre said: ‘All the roads around have been blocked by the police.
‘I can hear it but I know nothing else about it.’
A Dorset Police spokesperson said: ‘We are responding to an unauthorised music event near East Lulworth, which was reported at around 11.45pm on Saturday 4 April 2026.
‘There are approximately 100 cars at the location and it is believed that around 2,000 people have attended the event.
‘We would like to reassure residents that we are proactively working with our partner agencies to deal with the risks and impacts on our communities and bring the event to a safe conclusion.
‘We have had officers visibly at the location since the initial report and road closures remain in place to prevent anyone from accessing the area. The closures in place are B3070, B3071 and between B3070 and A352.
‘It is our priority that we ensure this unauthorised music event is brought to a safe conclusion and there is minimal disruption to our residents and visitors.
‘We would like to send a direct message to those at the event – you are trespassing, please leave and go home immediately.’
