THERE are tidings of great joy for those of us who shun the theatre at Christmas through a deep loathing of pantomimes.

This year, as every other year, there is a rich variety of festive-themed events taking place in towns and villages across Dorset.

From community choirs to South American musicians, book readings to comedy, there is something out there to entertain even the hardest-hearted Scrooge.

You can get in the festive spirit this weekend when Dorchester’s Encore Singers sing their rousing Christmas cantata Noisy Night, Holy Night in All Saints’ Church at Piddletrenthide.

This fabulous piece of music celebrates the traditional Christmas story with songs and carols and mourns the apparent collapse of its real meaning. But the spirit of Christmas survives in unexpected places, and the narrator of the tale guides us through a 21st century parallel to the story of the very first Christmas.

This joyous, amusing celebration of Christmas takes place on Saturday, November 29 at 7.30pm. There will be a retiring collection for Shelter.

Next week, you can also experience a unique musical celebration of the festive season across cultures. Bringing the vibrant colour, rhythm and spirit of Latin America to rural Dorset, Chilean band Quimantu will be filling four village halls with warming seasonal music.

Formed in 1981 by Chilean musician Mauricio Venegas-Astorga, Quimantu have developed a reputation as one of Europe’s finest Latin American bands, performing music with passion and intelligence.

Quimantu have specially created a seasonal show, Viva La Navidad, celebrating Christmas across British and Latin American traditions. Their unique repertoire brilliantly and effortlessly brings together a diversity of cultures, blazing with skilful technique, energy, poetry and rhythm.

Band member Rachel Pantin says: “We are all very much looking forward to coming back to Dorset to perform in Artsreach’s village halls. We loved our last tour here two years ago and are very excited about performing this new programme and getting people in the festive spirit!”

Artsreach spokeswoman Delphine Jones said: “Quimantu is a joyful celebration of life expressed through virtuoso musicianship, vibrant rhythms, and exuberant and sensuous melodies fuelled by a total passion for musical adventure.

“Quimantu's music speaks for itself, drawn from a bottomless melting pot of poetry, love, sorrow and friendship. The result is a powerful musical message, which is a refreshing mix that has brought audiences to their feet to dance in venues across the UK, Europe and Chile.”

Quimantu are in village halls in Langton Matravers on Friday, December 5 (call 01929 426654), Winterborne Stickland the following night (call 01258 880920), Cranborne on Sunday, December 7 (call 01725 517028) and Toller Porcorum on Sunday, December 14 (call 01305 269512). All performances start at 7.30pm.

Join Sherborne Chamber Choir and a band of medieval wind, pipes and drums from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and celebrate a Medieval Christmas in Sherborne Abbey on Monday, December 15, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 to £16 (students under 18 free) from The Dorset Music Shop, by calling 01935 816332 and via sherborneabbey.com Dorchester and Lyme Regis are hosting public carol singing concerts in their town gardens and Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir will perform Noel Noel at Dorset County Museum in Dorchester on Monday, December 22 at 6.45pm for 7.45pm.

There will be seasonal music including a selection from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, complete with solo harp plus mulled wine, mince pies and festive cheer.

Tickets cost £12 including refreshments from Dorchester TIC on 01305 267992 or the BSC box office on 01258 880118. Alternatively, call Charles Cordy on 01300 341618.

If you have a Christmas event you think we should know about, call 01305 830973 or email ruth.meech@dorsetecho.co.uk