There's so much to do this weekend in the local area. Here's our pick of the best events.

*THE Cerne Giant Festival begins tomorrow (21) in the Cerne Valley and runs until May 1.

Events organised so far include Wild Food, Wild medicine!, Brewing Nettle Beer, Feel Vibrant With Food Workshop, Life in the UK Test pub quiz, guided walk in Minterne Gardens, the Romans in West Dorset talk, Ceilidh with Tatterdemalion, needle felting nature workshop, mindfulness with natural objects and celebrating Dorset in word and song. As usual the Wessex Morris men will be greeting the sunrise on the Trendle from 5am (with Cerne Abbas Brewery and their ale), and will perform in the village centre afterwards. Go to facebook.com/CerneGiantFestival to find full details and timings.

*WEYMOUTH Drama Club is staging 39 Steps at Weymouth Pavilion tonight and tomorrow at 7.30pm.

Nine actors; Julie Barber, Lynn Cockerill, Sue Conway, Jacqui Martin, Paul Gorsuch, Peter Hutton, Aleks Pearson, Rob Tripp, and Aiden Watson play all of the author’s estimated 250 characters in the story.

The production includes live dramatic escapes from hurtling trains, a vertiginous jump from the Forth Rail Bridge, an acrobatic aeroplane chase, kidnap in a speeding car and amazing feats of memory in a London music hall.

The production pays homage to the many films of Alfred Hitchcock with several overt or obscure references to the titles of his films.

Contact Weymouth Pavilion box office for tickets.

*TONIGHT (20) sees the Skimmity Hitchers perform at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester.

In what has become something of a yearly tradition, cider-swillin' reprobates Skimmity Hitchers return to headline a triple bill night of live music. Support comes from punk youngsters Sinful Maggie. Contact Dorchester Arts box office for tickets.

*DO your bit and take part in the Great Dorset Beach Clean. It will be hosted by Litter Free Coast and Sea at Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth, tomorrow between 2.30pm and 3.30pm (meet at the slipway) or at Abbotsbury between 10am and 5pm on Sunday (meet at the beach car park).

Other options are Chesil Beach on Sunday between 11am and 1pm (meet at the Chesil Beach Centre) or West Bexington on Sunday between 11am and 1pm (meet at the beach car park). To see all of the beach cleans taking place go to the website litterfreecoastandsea.co.uk/litter-free-coast-and-sea-week/

*GET creative and enjoy Dinosaur Day between 10am and 4pm at Middle Farm Way, Poundbury tomorrow (21).

Try life drawing a 3D printed diplodocus skull, willow weaving a dinosaur and stone carving. Create a dinosaur with Creative Clay for All. Go to dorsetcentreforthecreativearts.co.uk or call 0800 808 9440 to book.

*ENJOY a devilishly cheeky hour of songs, poems and comedy for children of all ages at Dorchester Corn Exchange on Sunday at 2.30pm.

Jay Foreman is a musical comedian whose songs have been heard on BBC Radio 4, Radio 4 Extra, The One Show, London Live TV and Dave Gorman's UK/Ireland tour. Jay provides a devilishly cheeky hour of songs, poems and comedy for children of all ages in this family friendly show which regularly sells out its entire runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Jay first began performing songs on his acoustic guitar in 2005 and has since featured as BBC New Talent Pick of the Edinburgh Fringe 2007, won Best Newcomer at the Tuborg Musical Comedy awards in 2009 and came third at the Musical Comedy Awards 2010. Contact Dorchester Arts for tickets.

*A SPRING Craft Fair is being held at Bennetts Water Garden in Chickerell on Sunday from 10am to 3pm.

Stalls will include a range of handmade items including textiles, homemade gifts, homewares and much more. Free entry and free parking.

*CAR enthusiasts may wish to head to Weymouth Pavilion on Sunday between 11am and 4pm.

Yeovil Car Club will be displaying more than 40 cars on the Pavilion forecourt.