AH-HAH me hearties, here’s the the chance to dress up and come to Weymouth’s Nothe Fort for a great day of pirate shenanigans.

Young pirates may even get a chance to fight the Nothe Fort Artillery and there will be a treasure hunt for (chocolate) Pieces of Eight, a visit to Capt’n Green Godfrey’s haunted cave, cannons firing, face painting, a pirate bouncy castle, children’s’ crafts, fancy dress competition and much more.

The special guest is lady pirate Polly Pilgrim who will be guiding swashbucklers through Green Godfrey’s underground lair. There will be prizes for the best dressed pirates and lots of opportunity to join in.

The pirate fun day is on March 31, Easter Sunday, from 10.30am to 4pm and admission is £6 per person, children under the age of five free.

  • Traditional panto time may have come and gone, but there’s still room for more family laughs next week when Enchanted Entertainment present their all new professional Easter pantomime The Wizard of Oz.

This fabulous family show, which comes to Weymouth Pavilion on March 27 and the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil on March 29 and 30, stars Strictly Come Dancing finalist Dani Harmer, alias Tracy Beaker, as Dorothy, the hilarious Bobby Davro as Scarecrow and children’s favourite Sarah-Jane Honeywell from CBeebies and Tikkabilla as Glinda.

Follow Kansas farm-girl Dorothy and her pet dog Toto on this magical adventure suitable for all ages. Watch in amazement as they are picked up by a tornado and carried off to the magical Land of Oz. With help from their new friends the Munchkins, they to travel to the Emerald City where the great Wizard of Oz lives.

The show at Weymouth Pavilion is at 6pm (call 01305 783225 for tickets and details) and the Octagon performances are at 3pm and 7pm on March 29 and 1pm and 4.30pm on March 30 – call 01935 422884.

  • Finally, Sherborne-based toy shop The Toy Barn is hosting an Easter egg hunt with a Mad Hatter’s tea party fancy dress theme on Good Friday, March 29, from 11am to 4pm.

Tickets, which cost £3 per child in advance (£4 on the door), include an egg hunt, chocolate Easter egg and unlimited play on the climbing frames, swings, trampolines and wendy houses in the display and play orchard.

Children should come dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter’s tea party and there will be a prize for the best outfit.

Adult entry is free and there will be tea, coffee and cakes on sale.

You can buy your advance tickets online at toy-barn.co.uk or by pop into the shop at Blackmarsh Farm, Sherborne, DT9 4JX.