Looking for something to do this weekend? here's our guide to just some of the events going on.
It's Swanage Folk Festival this weekend. There will be music from Bram Taylor, Tinderbox, Pete Christie, Mother Uckers, Ninebarrow, Sunjay and Stick in the Wheel. One of the highlights will be a main procession through town from Prince Albert Gardens between 3.15 and 4.30pm on Saturday. Road closures will be in place. There will also be morris dancing and activities for children in Sandpit Field on Saturday and Sunday. A road closure will be in force between 3pm and 5pm on Saturday, Church Hill will be reversed to allow traffic access to the town centre. Pedestrians will be unaffected.
PierFest 2016 takes place on Bournemouth Pier between 9.30am and 6pm on Saturday. Dorset Youth Marching Band will be kicking things off with an official grand opening at 9.45am by the reigning Miss Dorset and former Miss World, Ann Sidney. There's a main stage with performances from 10am featuring music from The Funky Little Choir at 2pm, plus balloon modelling and stilt walking from Jules The Entertainer from 3pm. The event has been organised by Hospital Radio Bedside in conjunction with RockReef.
A reenactment of 17th century Civil War encampment comes to Corfe Castle on Saturday and Sunday. The Civil War: Besieged & Betrayed event will see drills and weaponry displays, led by Lord Hopton's Regiment of Foote. Takes place between 10am and 5pm.
Love cheese? Then don't miss the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 5pm. There will be food demonstrations, children's activities and music throughout the day. There will also be a host of food producers on hand including Ford Farm Cheese, Liberty Cakes, Meatfree Martha, Leicestershire Cheese, Dorset Pie Company and Chalke Valley Cheese and Worthy Cheddar to name just a few. Parking is free. The postcode is DT10 1DQ.
Royal Bournemouth Hospital is holding a fun day on Saturday between 10am and 4pm. There will be talks, a teddy bear clinic for kids, fancy dress, emergency vehicles, air ambulance and more.
A Classic Transport Rally takes place at Harmans Cross until Sunday. Between 10am and 5pm each day, there will more than 300 vintage vehicles, motorcycles, tractors, classic cars and commercial vehicles on display. Plus you'll find stationary engines, stalls, and refreshments. Visitors are advised to use the park-and-ride at Norden (BH20 5DW) Swanage Railway Rovers (including free admission to Transport Rally) cost £15 for adults and £10 for children.
The b-side festival returns to Portland from Saturday. For nine days there will be contemporary art on display in secret, hidden and unused locations across the island. The festival will also feature tours, artist workshops and talks, pop up cinemas and countless other performances. International artist Jordan McKenzie is premiering his Shame Chorus on the opening day at 6pm at West Weares, at the end of Chesil Cove near Quiddles.
Read more: Uplifting music project will help launch b-side festival on Portland
Forty acts will perform across seven venues at the fourth Lyme Folk Weekend. Eliza Carthy will making her festival debut and will be headlining the Sunday night finale show at the Marine Theatre along with her father, folk legend Martin Carthy. There will also be dancing, poetry and all weekend around the town. Other acts lined-up include Steampunk Morris, Ninebarrow Uke-Men League.
Read more: Folk festival ready to set fire to the seafront stage
Colehill Family Fun Day takes place at Colehill Sports and Social Club between 11am and 5pm on Sunday. It will feature kids activities, fun games, face painting, bouncy castles, food stalls, dance shows and workshops, the Dorset Troopers, Gugge 2000 and a falconry display. The event will raise money for the Amelia Grace Rainbow Fund.
The New Forest Marathon takes place at the New Forest Showground in Brockenhurst on Sunday. As well as the full marathon, there's also a half marathon, 10k, 5k and junior races. Online entry is now closed but you can register between 4pm and 9pm on Friday or between 10am and 8pm on Saturday on a first come first served basis.
The Festejar Spanish Festival runs in Bournemouth town centre until Sunday. In the Square, there will be a Spanish market selling everything from tapas to tortillas and plenty of authentic live entertainment from Flamenco to La Bamba. There will be a free salsa class followed by dancing and live Cuban music on Friday night, a flamenco workshop in the square on Saturday and live Spanish guitar on Sunday.
Poole's Upton House will open its doors to the public on Saturday and Sunday in support of the Heritage Open Days that are taking place nationwide over the weekend. The Friends of Upton Country Park providing free tours of the House, including the basement and ground floor.
Read more: 12 places to visit in Dorset to celebrate Heritage Open Days
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