Get into the Spirit of Portland with a week of art, culture and activity.

Whether it’s a teddy bears’ picnic, taking a step back into Portland’s history or trying a new sport, the week-long Spirit of Portland Festival will have something for all the family.

Kicking off on Saturday at Chesil Cove with a celebration of the sea, the event will showcase the best of Portland and there will be activities every day, culminating in a music, food and firework finale at Portland Marina on Sunday, August 3.

At 11am on Saturday the action starts with craft and charity stalls, food and music down at Chesil Cove.

Throughout the week there will be a mixture of paid for and free events as well as daily events including stone carving and sculpture sessions in return for donations at Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust at the Drill Hall on Easton Lane.

There are also deals to be had on food from various establishments around the island.

There will be wildlife activities to help visitors and residents alike explore the unique flora and fauna of Portland and history events, including a World War One themed tea and quiz on Friday, August 1, as well as the chance to build Legosaurus at a Lego workshop at Portland Museum.

On Wednesday, July 30 there will be an open air cinema showing of Grease at Pennsylvania Castle. The finale will be fireworks, food and musical entertainment at Portland Marina on Sunday, August 3.

On behalf of the Portland Community Partnership, Rachel Barton said: “We are very pleased with the number of businesses and organisations that have joined in this year to make the whole programme bigger and better. The numerous activities across the island can really show what Portland has to offer.” She added “The co-ordination of the Spirit is done entirely by volunteers and the Portland Community Partnership is grateful to those businesses that have sponsored the festival this year.”

n Get your hands on a programme of events by visiting spiritofportland festival.co.uk or pick up a leaflet from shops across the island.

Saturday, July 26 Celebration of the Sea at Chesil Cove, 11am-4pm. Cream tea at St Andrew’s Church, Southwell 2pm-4pm. Portland family history at Study Centre, St George’s Centre, Reforne, 2pm-4pm. Three course dinner and auction at Jailhouse Café, HMP The Verne, 7pm. Jam on the Rock at Chiswell Skate Park, noon. Marine giants exhibition at Chesil Beach Centre, Beach Road, 10am-5pm. Open studio and exhibition of art and architecture projects, Drill Hall, 6pm

Sunday July 27 Living archive interviews with quarrymen and stonemasons at Drill Hall, Easton Lane 7.30pm-9pm. Open studio and exhibition of art and architecture projects at Drill Hall, Easton Lane 11am-4pm daily. Family fun kite flying, right, Portland Bill, 10am-4pm (FREE – children’s kites available.) Afternoon cream tea at Whitestones, Easton, 3pm-5pm. Big Wild at Chesil Beach Centre 10am-5pm. Portland dinner at the Heights Hotel, evenings July 27 – Aug 1

Monday July 28 Guide to everything Chesil at Chesil Beach Centre 11am-12.30pm. Amazing cooking Kidz Klub at St John’s Hall 10am-12.30pm. Small island big story at Hotel Aqua, Castletown, 3pm. 1950s party at C2000 Hall, Easton, noon. 

Tuesday July 29 Seashore detectives at Chesil Beach Centre 2pm-2.30pm. Chesil sailability at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, 5pm-8pm. Amazing cooking at Kidz Klub, St. John’s Hall 10am-2.30pm. St Andrew’s Church open at Avalanche Road, Southwell, 2pm-4pm.

Wednesday July 30 Open studio – artist David Nicholls, Demonstration Mosaics, at Whitestones, Easton, 10am-4pm. Open air cinema showing of Grease at Pennslyvania Castle – gates open 6.30pm, film starts 8pm. Dino Day at Portland Museum 11am-4pm. Court Leet display and local information talk @ The Heights 2.30pm. Coffee tasting and talk at Cycleccino, Reforne 6pm-8pm

Thursday July 31 Taste of Dorset at Harbour Lights 7pm to late – Four course dinner £30 each. Film Show on old Portland at Jailhouse Café, The Verne, 2pm-4pm. Peculiar Plankton at Chesil Beach Centre, 2.30pm-4.30pm. Living Archive interviews with quarrymen and stonemasons at Drill Hall, Easton Lane 7.30pm-9pm – donations. St Andrew’s Church at Avalanche Road, Southwell, 2pm-4pm. Art, craft and cake sale at Abracadeborah Day Nursery, Three Yards Close, 10.30am-2.30pm

Friday August 1 Open studio at the Sculpture Hut, Portland Bill noon-5pm. Country market at Community 2000 Hall 9am-11.30am. WWI theme tea and quiz with tombola at Muntsy’s Con Club Jubilee Hall 2pm-3.30pm. Lego Workshop ‘Legosaurus’ at Portland Museum 10am-3pm. Teddy bears picnic at Victoria Gardens 11am-1pm. St Andrews Church open at Avalanche Road, Southwell, 2pm-4pm. Poetry evening at Portland Museum, starting at 7pm. Portland discovery day at the Heights Hotel 10am-11am. Court Leet display and local information talk at the Heights, 2.30pm. Royal Portland Arms cricket club, continental and craft ales festival at Drill Hall, Easton Lane 6pm-midnight. Dance to the sounds of Cacaphonix at St John’s Hall, 7.30pm-10.30pm

Saturday August 2 Memo sculptures at Bowers Quarry, off Wide Street. 11am-4pm. Royal Portland Arms Cricket Club, continental and craft ales festival at Drill Hall, Easton Lane, 11am-midnight. Street party at Wakeham 2pm. Breakfasting with moths at Chesil Beach Centre 10.30am. Try windsurfing – £10 at OTC sailing academy, various times. Commemoration start of WWI event at Eight Kings, Southwell. Mesolithic Site – open at Culverwell, Portland Bill Road 2pm-4.30pm. Group cycle ride, starting at Cycleccino, Reforne, 10am

Sunday August 3. Spirit finale including Porsche owners rally at Portland Marina and Harbour Lights, noon-9pm. Try gig rowing in Portland Harbour at Portland Marina, various times throughout the day. Free entry to Portland Museum at 10.30am. Chesil Beach Clean at Chesil Beach Centre, 11am-12.30pm. Royal Portland Arms Cricket Club, continental and craft ales festival at Drill Hall, Easton Lane, noon-10.30pm. Country dancing at the Islanders Club, Verne Common 1.30pm-4pm. Mesolithic site – open at Culverwell, Portland Bill, 2pm-4.30pm. Stone carving sessions and sculpture tour at Tout Quarry stone carving workshop 10am-4pm.