Borough Gardens in Dorchester came alive on Saturday 9th May as hundreds gathered for the eighth annual Street in the Park – a vibrant celebration of music, dance, creativity and young talent across Dorset.
Founded by Coastland College (formerly Weymouth College) as a live learning opportunity for Music Technology students, Street in the Park has grown into one of Dorset’s most exciting youth arts events.
Developed in partnership with Activate Performing Arts, the free community event continues to provide young people with valuable real-world experience in live event production, performance and creative collaboration.
Students and young creatives worked alongside professional DJs, rap artists, dancers and production teams throughout the event, gaining hands-on experience in event management, technical production and performance while building confidence, skills and future career pathways within the creative industries.
This year’s programme showcased an exciting mix of local and regional talent, including performances from Dorset Youth Dance, Activate’s inclusive dance company The Remix, Stagecoach Weymouth and Dorchester, and performers from Coastland College. Elder dance company Movers & Shakers also took to the stage, highlighting the event’s strong focus on inclusivity and community connection.
Previous competition winner Lola Phillips returned with a live rap performance accompanied by dancers, while crowd favourite Floof the Fox entertained audiences during the DJ competition judging. Bristol-based artist Olas Arts led interactive graffiti activities throughout the day, and local rap artist Isaiah Dreads performed tracks from his latest album to an enthusiastic audience.
The event concluded with an energetic performance from Birmingham-based breakdance company O’Driscoll Collective, presenting Something OUTTA Nothing, supported by The Rural Touring Dance Initiative and Artsreach.
A major highlight of the day was the Up & Coming DJ Competition, which saw 11 DJs from across the country, including London, Bristol and Banbury, compete live with their original mixes.
Among the winners was Coastland College student Efusion, aged 18, from Blandford, alongside DJ Spear, 17, from Bristol, and DJ4Blue, 30, from London. The three winners will now compete for the Street in the Park 2026 championship title at Gilles Peterson’s acclaimed We Out Here Festival in Wimborne St Giles, Dorset.
DJ Spear also received the £100 cash prize, while Bluecoredj from Swanage won £50 and a performance slot at Anonymous Festival on 31 August 2026.
“Street in the Park is all about creating opportunities for young people, bringing communities together and making creativity accessible to everyone. Working alongside Coastland College allows young people to gain meaningful experience in a professional live event environment while celebrating local talent and inclusivity.”
Coastland College student among DJ winners
A major highlight of the day was the Up & Coming DJ Competition, which saw 11 DJs from across the country, including London, Bristol and Banbury, compete live with their original mixes.
Among the winners was Coastland College student Efusion, aged 18, from Blandford, alongside DJ Spear, 17, from Bristol, and DJ4Blue, 30, from London. The three winners will now compete for the Street in the Park 2026 championship title at Gilles Peterson’s acclaimed We Out Here Festival in Wimborne St Giles, Dorset.
DJ Spear also received the £100 cash prize, while Bluecoredj from Swanage won £50 and a performance slot at Anonymous Festival on 31 August 2026.
“We want to say another really big thank you, not only for your unwavering support but also for all the work you all put into Street in the Park; it’s such a wholesome, inclusive event and every year we leave with a warm glow.”
This year’s judging panel included Isaiah Dreads, Andy Cleeton (Mixmag Up & Coming DJ Winner and former Hacienda Resident DJ), Emma Scott from Anonymous Festival and Marcia Smith from Vinyl Van.
Street in the Park is made possible through the support of partners including Dorset Council, Dorchester Town Council and Vinyl Van.
