THE weekend is set to go with a bang as communities gather to celebrate bonfire night.

Fireworks will be lighting up skies and families will be huddling around bonfires for annual celebrations.

Dorchester’s community bonfire and fireworks event is tonight and Weymouth’s celebrations are on Monday. There are other organised events in Dorset over the weekend, too.

Police and fire services, which are gearing up for a busy weekend and putting on extra patrols, are urging people to stay safe.

It’s a changeable picture weather wise over the weekend, according to the Met Office. A spokesman said there will be some scattered showers but it will be generally dry, cool and windy.

The Dorchester event will be held tonight at Victoria Park.

Glenn Chadwick, from Second Time Around electrical goods firm, Dorchester’s Tesco store and Magna Housing Association have helped stockpile an impressive selection of fireworks and sparklers for the night.

The bonfire will be lit at 7pm before a fireworks display and there will plenty to keep families entertained.

The event is supported by the town’s Safer Neighbourhood team and the Crime Prevention Panel.

Mr Chadwick, supporting the event for the third year running, said: “It’s a very good community event, last year we had three or four hundred people.”

Town councillor and member of the Crime Prevention Panel David Taylor said: “Once again it’s good to see that local businesses are supporting community events in the town.”

To donate more fireworks contact Mr Chadwick on 07766 546200.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is waiting until the big day, November 5, for its celebrations.

Fun starts at 2pm with a funfair in the Pavilion forecourt and stalls along the seafront followed by the children’s Guy Fawkes competition at 5.45pm in the Pavilion foyer.

The beach bonfire will be lit at 7pm and there will be a fireworks display in Weymouth Bay at 7.20pm.

From 6pm visitors will get an opportunity to view floodlit freestyle windsurfing in Weymouth Bay as part of the King of the Wind festival.

Dorset Police warn that people acting anti-socially with fireworks risk putting themselves in danger as well as being arrested.

Chief Inspector Paul Kessell said “Our Safer Neighbourhood Teams will be carrying our extra patrols. Crime and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.”

What’s On And Where To Go

Saturday, November 3:

  • Bridport fireworks display, leisure centre, from 7pm 
  • Firework Extravaganza at the Tank Museum, Bovington, from 5pm 
  • Beaminster Big Bang, St Mary’s School, from 6pm 
  • Firework Night at Lyme Regis, The Cobb, from 6pm 
  • Fireworks and entertainment, Sherborne Castle, from 5pm

Monday, November 5:

  • Dorchester Rugby Club, Coburg Road, from 6pm.