There's plenty to distract you this weekend whether it's arts and culture or some serious beer swigging you're interested in.

*GET your palate ready for some serious beer sampling this weekend.

Beerex, the annual Dorchester beer festival, takes place in the Corn Exchange today and tomorrow.

There are still tickets available for the daytime sessions between 11am and 3.30pm today and tomorrow.

Tickets cost £10 and include three half pints and are on sale from beerex.co.uk, Goldies in Dorchester or the Boot in Weymouth.

*DARE to find out what's behind the Forbidden Door.

Devil's Violin - The Forbidden Door comes to rural Dorset courtesy of Artsreach.

With their visceral combination of live music and dynamic storytelling, The Devil’s Violin weave an enchantment of melody and mystery. Expect love, loss, drama, danger, horror, humour, twists and trials.

It's at Broadoak Village Hall tonight, St Nicholas Church in Sandford Orcas tomorrow and Martinstown Village Hall on Sunday. See artsreach.co.uk for ticket details.

*SOAK up some culture when Zulu Tradition take to the stage in Cranborne tonight.

They will rekindle the spark of Zulu culture and heritage through traditional drama, song and dance.

Expect an exciting, enthralling and hugely entertaining journey. See artsreach.co.uk for tickets.

*DAMIEN Lewis (the author, not the actor!) will be giving a talk at Bradford Peverell Village Hall tonight.

The former war correspondent will be discussing his latest book The Nazi Hunters.

Tickets cost £7 or £5 for under 18s available through Paul Sherratt on 01305 269266.

All proceeds will go to support the Bradford Peverell Twinning Association.

*VIBRANT quintet the Swing Commanders are on a mission to promote sophisticated harmonies, hot solos and pretty dresses.

They'll be taking their cause to the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, tonight from 8pm, where they will perform the best mid twentieth century songs from Glenn Miller to the singing cowboys of old, giving them a high energy makeover.

The band play theatres and festivals throughout Europe, and in 2015 headlined the Legends of Western Swing festival in Wichita Falls, Texas.

*TAKE in a tragic opera on Sunday afternoon.

The Royal Opera's La Traviata will be performed at the Rex Cinema in Wareham from 1.30pm.

Tickets are £15 each. Go to therex.co.uk

*HOLD your noses as Stewart Francis and his Pun Gent show come to Weymouth tonight and Lyme Regis tomorrow.

The star of Mock The Week, Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow and Live At The Apollo, embarks on a brand new stand up tour with a fantastic and hilarious new show.

Contact the Weymouth Pavilion or the Marine Theatre Lyme Regis for tickets.

*AWARD-WINNING folk duo Ninebarrow will take to the stage of Langton Matravers Village Hall tomorrow night from 7.30pm.

Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere combine breath taking vocal harmonies and melodies, delivering original songs that are inspired and rooted in the landscape and history of the British Isles.

See artsreach.co.uk for tickets.