Wednesday, Nov 5
A bonfire party is being held at Lower Muckleford Farm, near Grimstone (DT2 9SW) at 7pm. Fireworks and refreshments including filled rolls and drinks £10. Contact Rosemary on 07788 436797 or Rosemarywdt2@ gmail.com for catering purposes.
Roger Hirons,The Plant Doctor, talk on roses at Dorchester and District Gardening Club, 7.30pm in the United Church Hall. Free entry for members, visitors £4 on the door. Bring and buy stall and draw. All welcome. Contact secretary Jane on 01305 268523 or email dorchestergardening@gmail.com
A moving art installation opens at Nothe Fort, Weymouth – The Falklands Tribute by Standing With Giants. It features 255 life-sized silhouettes representing the service personnel and civilians who lost their lives during the 1982 Falklands War. Vsitors can walk among the figures, reflect, and meet veterans sharing their stories. This acclaimed exhibition, which runs until November 30, has appeared at Blenheim Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the British Normandy Memorial – this is its first visit to Dorset.
Thursday, November 6
Bride Valley Films will be showing Maria – the glamorous, moving story of the iconic opera singer Maria Callas at Litton Cheney Village Hall (DT2 9AU). 1977: Once the world’s greatest soprano, Callas now hides in an apartment, having lost her voice. Doors open 7pm. £6 on door to include a glass of wine.
West Dorset Ramblers 7.5 or 8.5-mile walk Bridport Airport & the Brit Valley. Start 10am Pymore. Ian 07826 150114. NB: The editor was intrigued by ‘Bridport Airport’. Ian Ibbotson says:“The Airport, at Pymore Farm, is home to powered model planes and can also accommodate very small aircraft.”
Sherborne Historical Society welcomes Lucy Ash on A Toxic Embrace: Russia’s Church and State through the centuries at 8pm, at Digby Hall, Hound Street. For 1,000 years the church has sought to ensure its survival and wealth – whatever its moral cost. Visitors £5.
Twinning Quiz at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton 7.30pm. To book (£4pp, up to six per table) call 07967 411014 or email sturminster.twinning@gmail.com
Friday, November 7
Thomas Hardy and his second wife Florence were dining at Athelhampton House when war was declared. To set the scene for the war poetry conference, local actors will re-create that dinner, with the audience moving to other rooms to watch events unfold. athelhampton.com
Viking Village in Bridport is throwing it back to the 90s for Nineties Night with DJ Steve Duke from 8-11pm, free entry.
Saturday, November 8
Repair Cafe Weymouth at Southill Community Centre, 137, Radipole Lane, Weymouth, DT4 9SS, 10am to 12.30pm. Bring items for repair by specialist volunteers for an optional donation. Electrical, clocks, jewellery, sewing and leather repairs, mechanical, sewing machines etc. Every 2nd Saturday. repaircafeweymouth.org
Wyke Regis Horticultural Society will be selling onion sets and garlic bulbs at the Trading Post in Rylands Lane, as well as new seeds and green manure. Christmas raffle for roof repairs. Open on Saturdays throughout November and December. Membership £10 per year. Email enquiries@wrhs.org.uk or call 01305 602137.
Guilty Pleasure return to Viking Village Bridport for the final date of their Golden Years Tour 8.30pm-11pm (free entry).
Enjoy a flutter with your girl friends at Wincanton Racecourse Ladies Day. Tickets from £3 at thejockeyclub.co.uk/wincanton
Remembrance – a words and music concert exploring writers of the Great War. 7pm in St Mary’s Church, Edward Rd, Dorchester DT1 2HJ. Tickets £15 at hardysocietyshop.co.uk or on the door (cash only).
A Christmas fayre will be held at Weymouth Bay Methodist church in Melcombe Avenue (DT4 7TH) 10am-2pm in aid of Weymouth Shelter Bus. Free entry, stalls, bacon butties, cakes.
Bingo at Maiden Newton Village Hall, 2pm, eyes down 2.30pm.
The Dorchester Committee of the Children’s Society is holding a coffee, cake and stalls event 10am till noon in the United Church Hall in South Street. Free entry, coffee and cake £2.50.
Sunday, November 9
There will be Remembrance Services at 10.50am at St Mary Magdalene, Loders, St Michael & All Angels, Askerswell, St Mary the Virgin, Powerstock, St John the Baptist, Symondsbury and St Saviour’s, Dottery.
Beaminster Young Farmers are celebrating 90 years 1935-2025 at Broadwindsor Hall 2pm-4pm. Tea and cake, raffle in aid of the air ambulance. If you have been a member or you know someone who has been a member in the last 90 years, they would love you to join them. Info from beaminsteryfc@outlook.com
Free parking will be available in Dorset Council operated town centre car parks in Weymouth.
Monday, November 10
West Dorset Flower Club are running a workshop on Christmas gift decorations (materials provided) at the WI Hall, North Street, Bridport, at 2.30pm. Non members £6. 01308 456339.
Head to Pavilion in the Park Café, Poundbury 2pm-5pm for board games. All welcome with free tea or coffee and cakes for purchase.
Dorchester Townswomen Guild meet at the community church, Liscombe Street, Poundbury, DT1 3DF at 2pm for a talk given by Susan Outhwaite from Snooks the Hatters of Bridport. She will bring lots of hats for you to try!
Tuesday, November 11
The Oddfellows are holding a branch meeting at The Sleeping Bear, High West Street, Dorchester at 7pm. All welcome.
Royal British Legion, Dorchester meet and greet 11am-1pm at The Junction Hotel, Great Western Road, DT1 1UF. All welcome.
Viking Village in Bridport hosts an evening of mediumship with Shane Affleck at 7.30pm (tickets £10 from vikingvillage.co.uk).
Wednesday, Nov 12
Live Laugh Love Ladies Club – at Crossroads, 1 Crown Square, Poundbury. 7pm-9pm. Guest Speaker: Portia Mcmenemy, breathwork facilitator, simple exercises for relaxation. Call Sally on 07703 171545, email sallyannchildsslade@gmail.com
There’s live music at The Elm Tree Inn at Langton Herring (DT3 4HU) with Jem Stagg and The Venn from 8pm.
West Dorset Ramblers 10 mile walk Beaminster to Lewesden Hill. Start 10am Yarn Barton. Philip 07874 198660.
Thursday, Nov 13
Sherborne & District Gardeners’ Association meets at the Main Digby Hall, Hound Street at 2.30pm to hear from Dr Francis Burroughes on My Desert Island Plants. Non-members £3. Richard 01935 389375.
Internationally acclaimed guitarist-singer-songwriter Dean Carter at Durbervilles Cafe, 90 Cheap St, Sherborne DT9 3BJ, 7pm. Suggested donation £10.
Live Laugh Love Ladies Club Tropic Skincare: Free event at Crossroads, 1 Crown Square, Poundbury DT1 3JH, 2pm-4pm. Try samples of products. No booking necessary, no obligation to buy and open to all.
Friday, November 14
Artist L. Paul Matthews is holding an open studio weekend at 23 High Street, Puddletown, until Sunday, Nov 16. Nov 14 3pm-6pm & 7.30pm-9.30pm and Nov 15 and 16 10am-5.30pm.
Oddfellows are holding a coffee and get together with bring and buy 10.30am-noon at Crossways Village Hall. All welcome.
Popular Dorset-based DJ and producer Frazer Mitchell returns to Viking Village in Bridport for a night of house anthems 8.30pm-11pm (free entry).
Upwey Christmas Craft Show will be held this evening 7pm-9pm with mulled wine and mince pies and Sat/Sun 10am-5pm at The Old School Village Hall (DT3 5QE). Free entry. Locally created arts and crafts on show and for sale. Textiles, soaps, jewellery and woodwork, pottery and photography and much more. Card payments accepted!
St Mary’s Church quiz night supporting the parish in Sturminster Newton. 7pm at The Exchange. £15 inc ploughman’s, bring £2 for the cash prize. Email stmaryquiznight@gmail.com
West Dorset Wilding Project by Sam Rose will be hosted by Netherbury Nature Group at 7pm in the village hall. Friendly, informal, group. £3 entry, cash bar. See netherburynature.org/ nature2/menu.php
Saturday, Nov 15
Frampton will hold its popular Christmas Craft Fair 10.30am-3pm at the village hall. Find your gifts, support local makers. Light Lunches and refreshments. Adults £1, children free.
A funk/rock explosion is heading to Viking Village in Bridport with local band Vanilla Radio 8.30pm-10.30pm (free entry).
Dorset County Orchestra perform at Dorchester Dorford Centre at 7.30pm. Dvořák, Bizet, Dvorak, Smetana. Tickets on the door or ticketsource.co.uk/dorset-county-orchestra
Charminster’s St Mary’s Church will host a Christmas fayre 11am-3pm. Stalls selling cakes, nearly new items, gifts, Christmas items, cards, books, puzzles and games, bric-a-brac, toys, and refreshments, as well as a tombola and a kids’ corner.
Coffee morning at All Saints church, Wyke Regis, 10am-12pm. Cakes, books, Fairtrade stall.
Sunday, November 16
The WDM’s Lizzie Baking Bird is holding a Christmas tasting day from noon-4pm in the Old Ship Inn, Upwey with her band of merry producers. Check out lizziebakingbird.co.uk
Dorset Cottage Garden Society will have a talk on butterfly conservation at Puddletown Village Hall from 2pm. Raffle and refreshments, guests £5.
Sherborne Book Fair is being held 9.30am-4pm at Digby Memorial Church Hall in Digby Road, DT9 3NL. Secondhand books, maps and printed items.
There’s a Turn Lyme Green talk on The Dorset Bee by Helen Bolter-Griffin at Driftwood Cafe, Baptist Church, top of Broad Street, Lyme Regis. Pollinator-friendly plants and flowers to grow for year round bee foraging. She will also highlight solitary bees & the Bridport Bee Hotel project. 6.45pm, free – all welcome.
Film night: Sunshine on Leith 7pm Wyke Regis Memorial Hall. Feel-good British romantic musical. Two soldiers resume their lives after Afghanistan. £6.50 inc drink. Book at parishofwykeregis.org.uk/events, contact Jeff on 07710 096174, or pay on the door.
Supper Club – Jazz Edition, 6pm at The Winyard’s Gap, near Beaminster, DT8 3HY. Intimate evening of live jazz and dining with the incredible Kate Mullins and her trio. Delicious two-course supper and an evening of live jazz. £30, booking essential on 01935 891 244 or winyardsgap.com
A community breakfast club is held every third Sunday at Cherries Abbey Farm, Abbotsbury (DT3 4JJ) from 9.30am. £10 with £1 from every breakfast going to local charities.
Tuesday, November 18
Weymouth Art Group (Wags) art exhibition 10am-4pm at Southill Community Centre. All welcome. Browse or buy. A wide variety of art in all styles will be on display. Free refreshments and car park.
Owermoigne Flower Club demonstration by Alison Finch entitled Winter Draws On. Meet at 2pm at the village hall, , DT2 8XD. Visitors £7. owermoigneflowerc@gmail.com
Beaminster Horticultural Society talk Old and new gardens of Paris by Alan Eason at the Public Hall, DT8 3EF. Doors 7pm. Admission £1 for members and £3 for guests. Bar refreshments, raffle, plants may be available. bemhortsoc@gmail.com
Acoustic/folk at The Old Ship Upwey, 7.30-10.30pm. Gill 07866 757821 for more details.
Broadstone Players will perform the classic Abigail’s Party at the War Memorial Hall at 7.30pm until Saturday, November 22, (Sat matinee 2.15pm). Email honsec@broadstoneplayers.co.uk or pop into Broadstone News for tickets, £10.
West Dorset Ramblers 7-mile walk. The Three Melburys circular walk, 10am. Heather 07798 732252.
Wednesday, Nov 19
Blackmore Vale Family History: Talk on Iron Age Dynasties of Dorset at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, 7.30pm. All welcome, £4 entry.
Thursday, Nov 20
Sherborne Historical Society meets at 8pm at Digby Hall, Hound Street to hear a talk from Zeb Micic on how the courts-martial process on the Western Front helped ensure British men would fight. Visitors £5.
Friends of Bridport Millennium Green will host a talk by Mike Morse retired, formerly of Netherbury at the WI Hall at 2.30pm. Well known and very knowledgeable ornithologist. £5. 01308 423078.
There’s a Merry Market at Newstone House, Sturminster Newton (DT10 1FF) 2pm-4pm. Stalls, hot chocolate mince pies, gingerbread men, arts and crafts. Free entry. Proceeds to Sturminster Heritage Trust.
Friday, November 21
West Dorset Ramblers 8-mile walk. Ringstead coast & country. 10am Ringstead NT car park Jill & Simon 07974 756107.
Bridport musical royalty DJ Victor Vector and The Kurnel MC are performing at Viking Village 8pm-11pm (free entry).
The Exchange in Sturminster Newton is holding a Christmas bingo eyes down 7.30pm.
Saturday, Nov 22
Moonlight Swing Band will play at Weymouth Bay Methodist Church DT4 7TH at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 on 01305 812637 or on door £12. Cash only.
Mind Body Spirit Fayre at new Digby Hall Hound Street Sherborne DT9 3AA. 11am-5pm. A whole range of stalls with demoa, tombola, crystals, jewellery, sublimated gifts, flower essences, essential oils and much more. Entry £1 (cash please).
Tracey’s Spectacular Pies for Peals event will be held at 6.30pm at Shipton Gorge village hall, in aid of St Martins’ bells. Pies & desserts (veg and GF available). £20 from Jo Warren 07581 050910 or Elizabeth Ferguson 07799 751130. Raffle and surprise entertainment.
A charity concert will be held for Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer and Marie Curie Nurses in St Mary’s Church Cerne Abbas – doors open 6.30pm. Bar. Tickets from Cerne Village Stores, free with donations during concert.
A Christmas bazaar is being held at Dorchester’s Trinity Club 10am-2pm, with a raffle, cakes, crafts, refreshments, gifts & more, for Dorset Nightstop. Free entry.
Dorset Chamber Orchestra will be playing at St Mary’s Church in Dorchester at 7.30pm. Beethoven, Haydn, Britten with Michael Aitkenhead and Fiona Brockhurst as soloists. £16, U18 £1 at dorsetchamberorchestra.org or Linda Ryall on 01305 269069.
Beaminster Singers Christmas concert at St Mary’s Church, 7.30pm. Handel’s Messiah, part 1, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Jesu, and carols including one written by the choir’s musical director Kris Emmett. Soloists Chloe Stratta, Verity Stroud, Samuel Hill, Freddie Crowley. £15, U18 free from Yarn Barton in Fleet Street, the church office in Hogshill Street and choir members or on the door.
The Rectory at 17A Edward Road, Dorchester DT1 2HL will host a talk at noon: Pursuing peace between people of different faiths. Ruth Jones MP will lead a discussion based on her parliamentary experience as a Labour Party Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. All welcome. Free entry.
Bryanston Christmas Fair will be held today and tomorrow, with more than 90 stands, food, drink, crafts and homeware gifts. Wooden reindeer making workshops, live music, a street food area and entertainment for kids, with Frozen characters Elsa and Anya plus superheroes. Parking and a shuttle bus from Marsham car park, Blandford Town Centre all day. £4 U16 free.
The artists of St George’s Studios in Reforne, Portland (DT5 2AN) are holding an exhibition 10am-4pm, with jewellery, woodcraft, encaustic art, cards and prints and illustrations and gifts on sale. Free, refreshments available.
The Stickhill Hoot will be playing Chetnole village hall at 7.30pm. A traditional folk band based in Dorset, inspired by the traditional folk music of Scotland. Bar available (cash/card) Tickets £12.50 from Blair 01935 872420 or chetnolevillagehall.com
Sunday, November 23
Candles will light up St Catherine’s Hill in Abbotsbury once again – and the celebration will be especially poignant this year, after the founder of the event died recently.
At 1.15pm there’s a workshop in Abbotsbury village hall, where candle bags (£2) and art materials will be available to decorate them. Or buy the bags in advance from Abbotsbury shops and Bridport Tourist office and decorate them at home. At 3pm there will be an a capella group in the chapel. A wheel of light will be formed on the hill. There will be a short dedication for St Catherine and event founder Barbara Laurie.
Advent concert by The Occasional Singers 3pm at St Mary’s Church, Edward Road, Dorchester DT1 2HL. Advent songs and carols from 1597 to the present day, including Victoria, Elgar, MacMillan and many others. Free, retiring collection for Citizens Advice.
An indoor craft fayre will be held at Marston Magna village hall. Sellers 10am-2pm – £10 a table and buyers from 11am – £1 entry. Drinks and bacon rolls. bookings.marstonvillagehall@gmail.com
Tuesday, November 25
Oddfellows coffee and chat at the King’s Arms, High East Street, Dorchester 10am-noon.
U3A talk at The Bridport United Church Hall, East Street, at 2pm by Colin Divall, Do You Really Call That Progress Mr Marples. Talk about the closure of Dorset branch lines, Q&A and refreshments to follow. Guests £3.
Wednesday, Nov 26
West Dorset Ramblers 8 mile walk. The Cerne Valley via Upcerne and Minterne Parva. Philip 07874 198660.
Sturminster Newton & Hinton Cricket Club Christmas bingo at The Exchange – Doors open 6.30pm, eyes down 7.15pm.
Thursday, Nov 27
South Dorset RSPB Group meet at the Quiet Space, Poundbury, DT2 3SE at 7.30pm. Talk by Charles Wheeler of Abbotsbury Swannery. Visitors £5 to include coffee and biscuits. All welcome.
Join authors Jeni Bell and Karen Heaney at 2.30pm at Bridport Town Hall for an entertaining journey through some of the county’s most fascinating hidden corners, inspired by their new book 111 Places in Dorset That You Shouldn’t Miss. From secret beaches and curious landmarks to tucked-away tearooms and extraordinary local stories, a side of Dorset you’ve never seen before. Tickets £7 from the TIC or bridportandwestbay.co.uk
Sladers Yard Gallery in West Bay will be hosting the monthly HOP (Help Our Planet) talk. Bob Ward will be discussing Dorset’s path to net zero. Doors open at 6pm hot supper and bar available – tickets £12/£6. Engaging session, followed by a Q&A. Tickets at bridportandwestbay.co.uk/tickets
Friday, November 28
Blues & Botanicals: An evening of smooth blues, crafted cocktails and elegant indulgence at The Greyhound, Sydling St Nicholas, from 7.30pm. Live blues band, canapes and nibbles all night, complimentary G&T upon arrival and many more drinks to enjoy. Dress to impress. £35, booking on 01300 341303.
Saturday, Nov 29
Mapperton House, nr Beaminster (DT8 3NR) is holding its huge Christmas Market for Weldmar today and tomorrow. Free parking will be available today in Dorset Council town centre car parks in Weymouth.
Chideock WI are holding a Christmas Fayre 12pm-3pm at the village hall DT6 6JW. Tasty lunches and stalls with interesting produce. Free.
Make Stur Sparkle: A full day of festive fun with Santa, a tree festival, lantern parade, market at the Exchange, and an illuminated tractor parade. Harts of Stur hosts a late night opening 4.30pm-7.30pm. Meet Santa, and children will receive a small gift. Make sure you take along your £10 off a £60 spend voucher! (P23). Stur Sparkle: P31
Weymouth’s much-loved Christmas Light Switch-On will be held 9am until late.
Christmas prize bingo at Crossways village hall, Eyes down 7.30pm refreshments, raffle.
A wreath making workshop in aid of Age UK North, South and West Dorset will be held at 5 Crown Square, Poundbury, DT1 3EN 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm, costing £35 – materials provided. To book call 01305 269444.
A free walk 12pm-1pm from Dorchester’s Town Pump. Mark Damon Chutter will focus on Sylvia Townsend Warner. chuttermark@gmail.com to book.
Viking Village in Bridport host All Funked Up, a band ‘taking pop and rock grooves to new places’, 8pm-10.30pm. Free entry.
Electrical give or take day – donate electricals and swap them for PAT tested home electricals you want! Riversmeet Leisure Centre, Hardings Lane, Gillingham, 10am-1pm.
Encore Singers
Autumn Concert at United Church,
South St. Dorchester DT1 1BY, 7:30pm. Free entry,
with retiring collection in aid of The Leprosy Mission. Come along and
enjoy some well-known songs from the stage and screen, plus some seasonal
favourites.
Sunday, November 30
Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church, Sturminster Newton, 12pm-4pm.
Netherbury Repair Cafe 10am-12pm at the hall. Volunteers mend clothing, electrics, woodwork and metal. Bring spare parts. Home-made cakes.
Wessex Military Band is holding a winter concert at 4pm at the Electric Palace, Bridport (DT6 3NY). Tickets £12/£10 from Bridport TIC (Mon-Sat 10am-3pm) or electricpalace.org.uk
Tuesday, December 2
Harbour Poets meet on the first Tuesday of every month, in The Palm House Cafe, Weymouth, 2pm- 4pm. Read and discuss your own poems and/or those written by others. 01305 250645.
Bridport United Church’s Christmas Tree Festival opens with a special service and lights switch-on at 5pm. Festival till Sunday, December 14 (Mon-Fri 10am-1pm, Sat 10am-3pm, Sun 2pm-4pm). Free entry.
Wednesday, Dec 3
Mapperton House, nr Beaminster (DT8 3NR) Christmas wreath making workshops today and tomorrow. mapperton.com/events
It’s Bridport Christmas Cheer day! Shops will be open late, there will be stalls offering a cornucopia of gifts, food etc and there’ll be the lights switch-on too, along with live music. Bridport United Church will be open 10am-1pm and 3pm-7pm for the Christmas Tree Festival.
Thursday, December 4
Sherborne Historical Society is holding a members’ Christmas evening at 8pm at Digby Hall, Hound Street. Charles Hind will speak on Sir Edwyn Lutyens, Society and Politics: the making of a great British architect. Members free, visitors £5
Friday, December 5
Netherbury Nature Group talk by John Wright on The Observant Walker. Village hall 7pm
Portland Town Council will be hosting the Christmas Sparkle at Easton Gardens from 4pm – festive music, activities, craft stalls, tombola and more. To book a stall call 01305 821638.
Saturday, December 6
Indoor market, Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne DT9 3AA. 10am-3pm. Antiques, arts, crafts & more – free entry, café.
Dorset’s favourite tunesmiths the Portland Coves are playing their annual Wyke gig at the Memorial Hall, DT4 9EZ. Expect music from far and wide, all in their inimitable style. Tickets on the door £10 or in advance from Rick Potter on 07479532159 or rick.potterguitar@gmail.com. Refreshments will be available.
One Voice Weymouth presents Sing Out for Christmas at 7pm in Sydling St Nicholas hall. Celebrate the festive season with timeless carols, festive classics, and inspired arrangements. A rich tapestry of festive music supported by a piano quartet. Tickets £10 from the Post Office, Chris Legg (07895 701718), or cash/card on the door (under 16s free). Bar available.
Bingo at Maiden Newton hall, 2pm, eyes down 2.30pm.
Free parking: Dorset Council town car parks in Weymouth.
The inaugural Wild Words literary festival at Symondsbury Estate will celebrate nature and the world around us. Talks all day, including from the WDM’s own funghi Fun Guy John Wright, and other flora and fauna experts.
Talks £9. symondsburyestate.co.uk
A Christmas fair will be held at the Public Hall, Beaminster BT8 3EF 10am-1pm. Entry £2. Raffle, coffee and cake. Stalls inc pottery, crafts, cards, clothes and more.