THE weather forecast isn't looking good (the remnants of Hurricane Bertha could hit Dorset on Sunday) but let's not dwell on that for now!

There's plenty of fun stuff going on from the appearance of the supermoon on Sunday night to the return of the popular annual Ellingham and Ringwood Agricultural Show.

Plus, as usual throughout the summer, you can get your weekend off to a bang with fireworks at Bournemouth Pier at 10am on Friday night. 

 

1. Check out ‘Stomp’ at the Bournemouth Pavilion

Combining percussion, dance, theatre and comedy, the 8 members of ‘Stomp’ use everyday items, such as dustbin lids and water bottles, to create their own unique and original sound. With new routines, new choreography and new music, this multi-award winning show has a universal language of rhythm and dance. ‘Stomp’ are performing at Bournemouth Pavilion on Saturday August 9 at 2.30pm & 7.30pm. Tickets start at £19.80 and are available online at www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk or you can call BH Live Tickets on 0844 576 3000. See what we said about the show here. 

2. Visit the Upton Country Park Craft Show

Browse in the relaxed atmosphere and beautiful surroundings of Upton House while exploring lots of handmade crafts and gifts made by numerous local crafters in this unique craft fair. Taking place in Upton House in Upton County Park, Poole, the money raised from the craft fair goes towards projects within the House and Park. The fair is open from 10am to 4.30pm on August 9 and 10 and is £1 per adult but free entry for accompanied children.

3. Join in with the Marie Curie Cancer Care Walk

This twilight walk on the Beaulieu Estate in Brockenhurst will take you through the woodland and heath land surrounding the Beaulieu Estate. Starting at The National Motor Museum, the walk gives you the opportunity to see the stunning surroundings as the sun sets. This 10k (6.2 miles) walk takes place on August 9 starting at 5:30pm and finishing at 10pm. Registration is £10, children walk for free, and includes a free Walk Ten T-Shirt. By taking part in Walk Ten 2014 at Beaulieu you will help to continue the vital work Marie Curie does in the area. If you have any other queries about the event, please contact Marie Curie Cancer Care on 0870 034 0040.

4. Watch an open air performance of Robin Hood

Adapted from the earliest Robin Hood ballads and written in fast-moving and easy to follow verse, these are tales of camaraderie, swashbuckling action and riotous comedy featuring all the well-loved characters from Robin Hood including Little John and Friar Tuck. As well as the performance, you'll be left cheering at the archery competition involving the entire audience. The show will be performed at the open air theatre in Corfe Castle on August 9, starting at 7:30pm. Booking is essential, to book tickets call 0844 249 1895, adult tickets are £16, child are £8, and family tickets are £40.

5. Experience wildlife up close at the Bird Ringing Demonstration on Poole Harbour

This Bird Ringing Demonstration is a rare chance to see wild birds up close with Dorset Wildlife Trust. See the birds being ringed by the experts of the Stour Ringing Group on the shores of Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour on August 10. The demonstration begins at 7:30pm, finishing at 09:30pm, with a suggested donation of £3. Meet at Lytchett Heath, Sandy Lane, Upton (just west of Moorland Way junction) and then follow the path for about 250m from the metal gate to the large raised manhole cover. For more information ring 01202 692033 or email nhoar@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

6. Come and visit the Medieval Village in Corfe Castle

Step back in time to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and come and immerse yourself in this fun family-friendly experience. The Medieval Village at Corfe Castle is an action packed, family fun day out, with interactive activities for budding Knights and Damsels, including a medieval armoury, sword fighting and medieval cooking. This free event runs daily till August 31 from 10am to 5pm, for more details call 01929 481294.

7. Go and enjoy the farm-filled Ellingham and Ringwood Agricultural Show

This year’s show features a wide variety of horses from Hunters to Hackers to Arabs and New Forest Ponies, with many of these classes featuring in national competitions. Show jumping classes are held throughout the day and other horse displays are a popular sight at the show. The show also features donkey and dog shows, as well as the Horticultural Marquee and the Domestic Product Classes, where local people show off their homemade produce. This year’s show is on August 9 in Somerley, Ringwood, and begins at 9am. Adult tickets cost £10, children attendance is free, and parking is also free.

8. Dorset One World Festival

The One World Festival celebrates the diversity of cultures in Dorset through world food, music and cultural activities. The festival aims to encourage networking and socialising with ethnic minority groups across the community. The festival features lots of activities for the whole family including arts and crafts, henna and sari workshops and lots of world food to taste while listening to music and watching dance performances. This free event takes place in the Borough Gardens in Dorchester on August 9, beginning at 11am and finishing at 5pm.

9. Go see the monster creepy crawlies invading Bournemouth

Get up close and personal with this highly interactive, magnified world of ‘mini-beasts’ guaranteed to fascinate both young and old with a fresh look at the wonderful world of creepy crawlies. The Monster Creepy Crawlies show at the Bournemouth International Centre is an exciting and educational exhibition where visitors come face to face with huge, model bugs. The exhibition explores the structures, life-cycles and conservation of some of our most-loved and most-loathed insects, arachnids and molluscs. This week’s exhibition is on August 9, running from 11am till 1pm. Booking is essential with tickets costing £6. To book tickets call 01202 451865.

10. Come visit the Kids Family Fun Festival

This free event runs daily with different acts each day performing in this family-fun event. Shows start from 10.30am in the Lower Gardens in Bournemouth. On Fridays watch 'Jambo' perform his impressive juggling act, followed by face painting fun on Saturdays from 11.00am to 4.00pm, and end the enjoyable weekend with a Punch and Judy show, every Sunday. When there aren't performances, there will be sports and games equipment available for children and parents, including hookball, skittles and skipping as well as group activities such as parachute and disco games, for some family-fun.

11. Go see some Classic Cars on the Prom

Classic Cars on the Prom is a weekly display of vintage cars with an ever-changing weekly line-up of vehicles dating from 1915 up to the early 1980s. The event is open to all eligible vehicles who may wish to participate. There is no entry fee and no booking is required as there is a first come, first served basis. The event is also free to spectators who can expect to see between 70 and 130 vehicles each week. The display is a must for all car fanatics and takes place on West Overcliff Promenade, Bournemouth, between 4.00pm and 6.30pm on August 10.

12. Rock out at the Wimborne Guitar Festival

Running from 7pm, August 8 to 10:30pm, August 10 at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne, this festival aims to provide an enjoyable music-filled weekend for the South of England. This is the first Wimborne Guitar festival to take place and is running on the enthusiasm of guitarists, music teachers, independent builders and suppliers coming together to share their knowledge and innovations, who want to see people enjoy playing, repairing and tinkering with their guitars. The festival includes live performances, guitar workshops, guitar building workshops and presentations by festival suppliers.

13. Roll on down to the Roller Coast Roller Rink

Situated in the Solent Hall at the Bournemouth International centre, this Roller Rink event has great views of Dorset’s coastline, as well as being fun and healthy all-weather activity, perfect for kids and adults alike. Standard sessions are 2 hours, with the price including skate hire. On Saturdays Roller Coast hosts DJ Party Nights, strictly over 18s only, but this is a perfect way to spice up your weekend. Session times vary, with the Roller Coast Roller Rink running till September 2. Tickets range from £4.50 to £5.50, to book tickets online visit the BIC website.

14. See the supermoon

Get your cameras at the ready as the supermoon is set to cause a spectacular sight on Sunday night. The full Moon is set to be the biggest this year and could even be an “extra supermoon”, experts say. The effect is caused when the Moon reaches its closest point to the earth, known as a perigee Moon. It could make it appear up to 13 per cent bigger in the night sky. We can't wait.

15. Join the party at Pokesdown and Boscombe Carnival 

Pokesdown and Boscombe Carnival takes place this weekend and will see the first summer carnival in Boscombe for many years. The event, which will run from 10am to 5pm, will include a market at Pokesdown Green, fancy dress competition, a dog show in the precinct, street entertainment and music from charity Vita Nova. As with the Christmas Carnival, which will go ahead this December, all proceeds from the event will go to pets charity PDSA.