What’s On – Local events guide

Join us for a fun animal themed children’s treasure hunt and plant sale (for the adults!) on Saturday 16th May. Open 10am until 2pm. There will be clues to solve and stamps to collect in our fun treasure hunt (£5 per child) and a plant sale where we will be selling a range of plants. All raising money for RSPCA Taylor’s Rehoming Centre, enabling us to continue caring for animals across Dorset.

The Dorchester Vegan MegaMarket returns outdoors to the historic Maumbury Rings Roman Amphitheatre this Spring! With free entry to our 2 Day May MegaMarket, with 50+ stalls of 100% vegan products situated at the north end of the rings, everyone can enjoy this superb outdoor event. And with a massive grass amphitheatre you can bring your own blankets or chairs for relaxing and dining.

Join us at St Peter’s Church Dorchester on Saturday 16th May between 12.30pm and 1.00pm for our monthly lunchtime concert. Natalie Burton (clarinet) and Rob Taylor (piano) perform the Copland ‘Clarinet Sonata’ and Finzi’s ‘Five Bagatelles for Clarinet and Piano’. Admission is free. More information via web link below.

Event description: A concert of short choral pieces for choir with chamber orchestra including Handel’s ‘Let God Arise’, Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42, The famous soprano aria ‘Scherza Infida’ from Handel’s Ariodante. They will be joined by the outstanding young Soprano Sumei Bao-Smith. Entrance is FREE. There will be a retiring collection for Weldmar Hospicecare.
Everyone is most welcome.

7:00 pm. In the 18th & 19th centuries high taxes led to increased illicit imports to Britain. Stories of the battles between smugglers & excisemen have been handed down in archival records, family stories, local legends & songs. Join us for an evening of music, folklore and local history with Bonny Sartin. Tickets are £8 for Dorset Archives Trust members or £10 for non-members. Please book via web link below.

Brownsea Island is a haven for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Our guided walks, led by an expert Dorset Wildlife Trust ranger, take you through the island’s beautiful wetlands. Brownsea Lagoon is one of the best birdwatching sites in England. The lagoon’s shallow, nutrient-rich waters draw in thousands of birds annually, creating an ever-changing avian spectacle.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist for Pentecost on Sunday 24th May at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Tallis’s ‘O Lord give thy Holy Spirit’, Mozart’s ‘Missa brevis in F K.192’ and Grayston Ives’s ‘Listen sweet dove’. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.

Come and join us for a coffee and chat at the Kings Arms, High East Street, Dorchester where the first two drinks will be paid for by The Oddfellows. Refreshments available to order from the bar.

Hosted by military historian Lt Col James Porter along with a drinks reception, this fascinating talk is about the County Class heavy cruiser HMS DORSETSHIRE and will follow her career from the laying of her keel on 21 September 1927 to her loss on 05 April 1942. However, the main focus will be on DORSETSHIRE’s role in the hunt for and the eventual sinking of the German battleship BISMARCK.

Community run event in Piddletrenthide. Music festival with food and drink. Kids go free money raised goes to Piddle Valley First School and Air Ambulance.

You are warmly invited to our monthly, cathedral-style service of Choral Evensong on Saturday 30th may at 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes Gibbons’s ‘Come, Holy Ghost’, the ‘Preces & Responses’ by Martin Neary, Blair’s ‘Evening Service in B minor’ and Elgar’s ‘The spirit of the Lord’. Admission is free and there is a glass of wine to follow. All are very welcome. More information via web link below.

A nocturnal safari looking at birds settling down for the evening there will also be bat detecting and we will be looking out for the mysterious nightjar. There will be plenty of moths on the wing too. There are 2 sailing times with the second boat leaving at 19.50 and returning at 22.50.

7:30 pm. Come and joint The Oddfellows at the theatre to see ‘the best Abba show’, ‘Most authentic Abba Show’ (2024). Weymouth Pavilion, tickets from £30.00. Subsidy of £10.0 for members. Come and join us for supper in the Pavilion restaurant prior to the show.

7.30pm (Doors open at 7pm). St. Nicholas is hosting another one of its popular quiz nights & Raffle. Tickets £8 p.p. To book a place or your Team of up to 6, please contact Susana. If you can’t make a team, but would like to take part, we may be able to place you with another team of less than 6. Free teas & coffee. B.Y.O. drinks & snacks. Proceeds divided between Macmillan & St. Nicholas Church Urgent Repair Fund

A day of talks on current research into Dorset in the early to mid-seventeenth century, with a display of relevant archival documents. Featuring talks by Tim Goodwin, Tom Gayton, Eamonn Welch, Dr Trixie Gadd & Dr Kathryn Gray. Tickets are £12. Please book via Ticketsource – follow web link below.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist on Sunday 7th June at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Thomas Tallis’s ‘If ye love me’, Rheinberger’s ‘Missa brevis’ and Howells’s ‘O pray for the peace of Jerusalem’. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.

A free, fun Georgian/Regency day, with a re-enactment of King George III’s ‘dip’ in the sea. Music, dance, song, comedy, children’s games/facepainting/crafts/entertainment on Weymouth Esplanade. Local charities and community groups associated with history and the sea will be showcased. All organised by the community. Supporting our Museum and our town’s history and heritage.

Come and join us for an afternoon of table top games. Come and play or learn to play: Rummicub, Scrabble, mah jong, canasta and much much more. Refreshments available. This is a free event.

A nocturnal safari looking at birds settling down for the evening there will also be bat detecting and we will be looking out for the mysterious nightjar. There will be plenty of moths on the wing too. There are 2 sailing times with the second boat leaving at 19.50 and returning at 22.50.

Coffee and get together and bring at buy at Crossways village hall. Raising money for charity.

3pm (doors open at 2.30pm). Vox Serenata are performing a Vocal Concert with music from the Renaissance to the present day in aid of Myeloma UK & St. Nicholas Church Repair Fund. Tickets £10 p.p (children £4, Under 5’s Free). Includes tea, coffee & delicious home made cakes. Tickets available at the door – Cash Preferable or in advance via Susana. There’s a Raffle too.

A nocturnal safari looking at birds settling down for the evening there will also be bat detecting and we will be looking out for the mysterious nightjar. There will be plenty of moths on the wing too. There are 2 sailing times with the second boat leaving at 19.50 and returning at 22.50.

Join us at St Peter’s Church Dorchester on Saturday 20th June between 12.30pm and 1.00pm for our monthly lunchtime concert. Jonathan Prentice (baritone) and Rob Taylor (piano) perform an eclectic programme of songs and arias. Admission is free. More information via web link below.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist on Sunday 21st June at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Bruckner’s ‘Locus iste’, Gabrieli’s ‘Missa brevis’ and Fauré’s ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’. All are very welcome to this free service. All are very welcome to this free service. More information via web link below.

12:30 pm. Come and join us for a midweek carvery lunch. Cost £16.50 with a £5.00 subsidy for members of The Oddfellows. Please confirm by 17th June if you would like to join us.

A nocturnal safari looking at birds settling down for the evening there will also be bat detecting and we will be looking out for the mysterious nightjar. There will be plenty of moths on the wing too. There are 2 sailing times with the second boat leaving at 19.50 and returning at 22.50.

Brownsea Island is a haven for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Our guided walks, led by an expert Dorset Wildlife Trust ranger, take you through the island’s beautiful wetlands. Brownsea Lagoon is one of the best birdwatching sites in England. The lagoon’s shallow, nutrient-rich waters draw in thousands of birds annually, creating an ever-changing avian spectacle.

You are warmly invited to drop in on Dorchester Choral Society’s open rehearsal featuring a wonderful collection of short, tuneful choral pieces with an American theme in recognition of the 250th anniversary of American Independence. This is a free, relaxed and casual event, designed to be accessible to all – stay as long as you wish.

You are warmly invited to our monthly, cathedral-style service of Choral Evensong for the feast of St Peter on Saturday 27th June at 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes Duruflé’s ‘Tu es Petrus’, Ayleward’s ‘Preces & Responses’, Kelly’s ‘Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in C’ and Sumsion’s ‘They that go down to the sea in ships’. Admission is free with a glass of wine to follow.

We will be performing a collection of short, tuneful, choral pieces with an American theme in recognition of the 250th anniversary of American Independence. There will be works by living composers, a spiritual, a song from the movies: something for all tastes. The concert is free and not ticketed. Proceeds from drinks sales and a collection go equally to church and choir funds.

18 Gardens open in Briantspuddle & Affpuddle and Throop. Morning coffee, lunch & afternoon tea at the historic village hall (funds from the event will go to towards maintenance of the thatch); plant and book stalls, an art exhibition, floral display with wildlife photography, a history exhibitions etc. Admission £7.50 under 16’s free. Minibus shuttle between Affpuddle and Throop. Free Parking.

All are welcome to join us at the Dorset Archives Trust Summer Gala, which is being held this year at Mapperton House, with permission of the Earl and Countess of Sandwich. This event is an important annual fundraiser for Dorset Archives Trust (DAT). Tickets are £25 for DAT members or £30 for non-members. Tickets include strawberries & cream with a glass of fizz. Please book via ticketsource – click web link below.

Come and join us for an afternoon of tabletop games at PIP cafe Poundbury.  Come and play or learn to play Scrabble, Rummicub, Canasta, mah jong, crib and much much more!

Come and join The Oddfellows for an afternoon of table top games. Come and play or learn to play: Scrabble, Upwords, Bananagrams, Rummicub, mah jong, Cribbage and much much more at PIP cafe on Poundbury. This is a free event. Refreshments including homemade cake.

Coffee and get together and bring at buy at Crossways village hall. Raising money for charity.

The Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows is going on a cruise from Poole Quay to Swanage, cruising for about an hour along the Jurassic coast. There is a live commentary and a bar on board. Cost £22.00 for adults and £16.00 for children. members of The Oddfellows enjoy a £10.00 subsidy.

Our annual Summertime Fayre is a much-loved event which brings together a wide range of stalls, entertainment, and activities, all while helping us raise vital unrestricted funds to support local older people, the event is more than just a lively day of entertainment — its plays a crucial role in raising awareness and vital funds for the charity.

Come and join us for a coffee and chat at The Kings Arms, Dorchester where a warm welcome awaits you.  The first two drinks are paid for by The Oddfellows.  Refreshments available to order from the bar.

Come and join The Oddfellows for an afternoon of table top games. Come and play or learn to play: Scrabble, Upwords, Bananagrams, Rummicub, mah jong, Cribbage and much much more at PIP cafe on Poundbury. This is a free event. Refreshments including homemade cake.

Coffee and get together and bring at buy at Crossways village hall. Raising money for charity.

Discover your next great read while keeping history alive at our Charity Book Fair. The event celebrates a shared love of books, storytelling, and history — while also offering something for every reader, with a variety of genres available throughout the day. Browse stalls filled with books and enjoy a programme of engaging talks and panel discussions covering history, literature, and storytelling.

A family Fun Dog Show supporting The Lexi May Trust. 6 fun dog show classes, refreshments, doggy trade stalls, Raffles and much more.

12:30 pm. The Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows is going on a guided tour of Shepton Mallet Prison. Please if you need transport there will be plenty of opportunity for a lift. Cost £25.00 with a discount of £10 for members.

Come and join The Oddfellows for an afternoon of table top games. Come and play or learn to play: Scrabble, Upwords, Bananagrams, Rummicub, mah jong, Cribbage and much much more at PIP cafe on Poundbury. This is a free event. Refreshments including homemade cake.

Come and enjoy a fun afternoon with an expert from Duke’s who will tell us amusing anecdotes from the world of auctioneering and look at and value items of interest that we have bought along.

Come and join us for a coffee and a chat at The Kings Arms where a warm welcome awaits you. The first two drinks are paid for by The Oddfellows. Refreshments are available to buy at the bar.

Brownsea Island is a haven for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Our guided walks, led by an expert Dorset Wildlife Trust ranger, take you through the island’s beautiful wetlands. Brownsea Lagoon is one of the best birdwatching sites in England. The lagoon’s shallow, nutrient-rich waters draw in thousands of birds annually, creating an ever-changing avian spectacle.

Come and join The Oddfellows for an afternoon of table top games. Come and play or learn to play: Scrabble, Upwords, Bananagrams, Rummicub, mah jong, Cribbage and much much more at PIP cafe on Poundbury. This is a free event. Refreshments including homemade cake.

Brownsea Island is a haven for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Our guided walks, led by an expert Dorset Wildlife Trust ranger, take you through the island’s beautiful wetlands. Brownsea Lagoon is one of the best birdwatching sites in England. The lagoon’s shallow, nutrient-rich waters draw in thousands of birds annually, creating an ever-changing avian spectacle.

Come and join The Oddfellows for an afternoon of table top games. Come and play or learn to play: Scrabble, Upwords, Bananagrams, Rummicub, mah jong, Cribbage and much much more at PIP cafe on Poundbury. This is a free event. Refreshments including homemade cake.