What’s On – Local events guide

Puddletown Open Gardens returns this coming weekend, with a colourful mix of over 15 interesting and varied gardens to visit, (one includes a model railway). There are tours of St Mary’s Church Bell Tower (T&C’s & weather permitting), stalls, refreshments, children’s quiz, village history display and live music. Hosted by Friends of Puddletown Church. £5 entry covers both days – under 12’s free. Free parking in Doctors Surgery Car Park.

7:30 pm. We are proud to present Willy Russell’s much loved “Educating Rita” for 6 nights from 15th June 2026. Frank, a disillusioned and alcohol dependent professor, finds his spark reignited when he agrees to tutor Rita, a working-class hairdresser hungry for self-improvement. This witty and moving comedy explores the price of “fitting in” and the true meaning of personal freedom.

Drop in event. Whether you are a local resident, community group, charity or you support someone, we would love to welcome you. Our vision is to create a welcoming green space that promotes wellbeing, collaboration, creativity and opportunities, where everyone is supported to take part. Refreshments will be available throughout the day. Please RSVP by 10 June via the email 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.

7:30pm. Teams of 4 to 6 are invited to participate in a hilarious ‘Dorset’ version of the popular BBC panel show. Rustic supper included £5.00 per person. Bring your own bottle. Prize raffle!

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.

Free Car boot a table sale please book if you require an indoor space. gates open 8.30am for sellers. Refreshments available in the centre cafe. Bacon butties and homemade cakes.

CAP Money Coaching is free and will help you manage your money better. £20 Co-op voucher reward for those who live in DT1/DT2 and complete the course. Full details and sign up via the web link below. Max 8 people per course. Please note: we are not financial advisers; this is not a Bible course in disguise; you are not obliged to reveal any personal financial details. It really works!

Joe, 13, will be running a half marathon BAREFOOT around the field where the TUC hold their festival in Tolpuddle on 4th July at 10am. He is raising funds for a Camps International trip to Tanzania and has been sponsored by barefoot shoe brand Nackt. He would like to make this a community event and would love to be joined by anyone for a lap or two. Refreshments will be served.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist on Sunday 5th July at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Stanford’s ‘Beati quorum via’, Palestrina’s ‘Missa Aeterna Christi munera’ and S. Wesley’s ‘Ave regina caelorum’. All are very welcome to this free service.

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.

2:00 pm. A member of the local citizen’s advice bureau is giving a talk on the financial benefits available to people of pension age.  Refreshments available.  This is a free event.

2:00 pm. Come and join The Oddfellows for a wander around Bennett’s Water garden in Weymouth, home of the national collection of water lilies, a Monet style bridge, tranquil house, woodland walks and museum. Meet at gate at 2pm, there will be time for a tea in the cafe before we leave. Cost £13.95, discount for members of The Oddfellows.

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

A comedy play full of misunderstandings, disguises, dodgy accents, unexpected visitors, and escalating chaos. Recently made redundant, Ken hits on his perfect new career that he’s thought through in every detail as he puts his latest bet on the favourite at Kempton. Just how difficult can it be sitting at your own dining table.

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.

This exhibition commemorates the vicious attack on the Chapel built by some of the men later known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Discover the history of anti-Methodist riots and the context in which the labourers worked and worshipped 16 years before they became famous. All welcome – no charge for entry, all donations gratefully received. Further details on the TOCT web and Facebook Page.

Join us at St Peter’s Church Dorchester on Saturday 18th July between 12.30pm and 1.00pm for a lunchtime concert. Laura Jones (flute) & Rob Taylor (piano) perform Poulenc’s ‘Sonata for Flute and Piano’, Karg-Elert’s ‘Sinfonishe Kanzone’ and Robert Dick’s ‘Fish are Jumping’. Laura is finishing her first year as a scholar at the Royal College of Music, so please support this talented young musician!

3:00 pm. The Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows is holding it’s Chairman’s church service at St Mary’s Church Bradford Peverell.

You are warmly invited to our cathedral-style service of Choral Eucharist on Sunday 19th July at 10.30am in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes: Dubra’s ‘Ave Maria’, Mozart’s ‘Spatzenmesse K.220’ and Mozart’s ‘Laudate Dominum’. All are very welcome to this free service.

You are warmly invited to our monthly, cathedral-style service of Choral Evensong on Saturday 25th July at 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church, Dorchester. The music includes Rheinberger’s ‘Abendlied’, Rose’s ‘Preces & Responses’, Howell’s ‘Gloucester Service’ and Rutter’s anthem for choir, organ and clarinet ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation’. Admission is free and there’s a glass of wine to follow!

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.

12 noon. The Loyal hand in hand Lodge of Oddfellows is organising a trip to Salisbury Cathedral to include a tour of the bell tower at 2pm. Ticket price includes access to the cathedral. There is a cafe within the cathedral. Discount for members of The Oddfellows.

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.

Retired or thinking of retiring? Joining u3a gives you the chance to make friends and learn something new or further an existing interest. We currently have over 90 member run groups/activities in Dorchester during the day for you to take part in ranging from Archaeology and Art to Science, Weaving, Wildlife and Conservation . Please come along to learn more about what we have to offer.

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.