Looking for something to do this bank holiday weekend? Then you're in luck as there is no end of things going on all over Dorset!

Here's our round-up of some of the special events taking place, along with some of the attractions you may not have thought to visit in the area before.

What about the forecast? Rain is predicted for Saturday (would it be a bank holiday weekend without rain?) but Sunday and Monday will be dry with sunny spells. 

AFC Bournemouth open-top bus parade

AFC Bournemouth will celebrate their historic promotion with an open top bus parade along the seafront on Bank Holiday Monday. Eddie's squad will start the celebrations at Boscombe Pier at 11am before making their way along the promenade to finish just east of Bournemouth Pier

Get the kids involved in some hands-on science fun

The annual Lyme Regis Fossil Festival is back celebrating its tenth anniversary. It’s a great opportunity for children of all ages to meet scientists and learn about fossils. The event will feature walks, talks, theatre, music, comedy and exhibits. Join in on this year’s ‘Mapping the Earth’ event which is part of UK-wide celebrations that are marking the 200th Anniversary of the publication of the first geological map by William Smith. Entry to the marquee is free and there is a small charge for those who would like to attend talks.

Bournemouth Echo: Corfe Castle

Take a step back into history at Corfe Castle

The Saxons and Viking are taking over Corfe Castle this weekend. Watch re-enactments and battles of the bitter war for the future of England in the ninth century. Visit the Saxon village, talk to the craftspeople and explore the Saxon and Viking Long Boat display. Takes place from 10am and 5pm between Saturday and Monday. 

Get caught up at Sherborne Castle’s craft and garden fair

Sherborne Castle is hosting a craft and garden fair. The event will showcase the best traditional and contemporary crafts ranging from woodturning to fine jewellery to handmade pottery to ironworking to traditional hurdle-making. There is something to please every garden lover as the show will feature a huge selection of plants, rare herbs and traditional handmade garden furniture and ornaments from specialist suppliers. Entry is free for under-16’s.

Bournemouth Echo: Rare cars set to thrill petrolheads at Motor Showcase

Visit the Westover Motor Showcase 

Petrol heads, The Westover Motor Showcase is back at the BIC. Returning on May 2 and May 3, the showcase will display over 150 brand new cars including the Lexus LFA worth over £300,000. The event is free if you pre-register online at bhlivetickets.co.uk

Fly high at the Weymouth Beach Kite Festival

Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Weymouth for a weekend of fun and excitement at the Beach Kite Festival. This free event will be packed full of colourful aerial acrobatics kite displays. 70 people are expected to bungee jump from the Jubilee clock tower on the promenade for charity. This free event is the perfect recipe for a day at the seaside.

Bournemouth Echo: IN THE SWING OF THINGS: Visitors take turns hurling the traditional biscuit

Celebrate the Dorset Knob

The Dorset Knob Festival teams up with The Frome Valley Food Festival for a fun-packed lively event The knob themed festival includes Knob Painting, a Knob and Spoon Race, a Knob Pyramid and other traditional entertainment. The Frome Valley Food Festival will bring a fine range of foods including breads, cheeses, ciders, meats game & poultry, pies, preserves, and puddings in addition to chocolate, coffee and wine. Admission is £2.50, under 12’s go free.

Bournemouth Echo:

Make a Splash at the New Forest Water Park

The UK’s first outdoor aqua park is launching this Saturday. The inflatable ‘Total Wipeout’ style assault course is a floating playground for children and adults alike. The water park also has Cable Wakeboarding System.

See classic cars on the Prom

Celebrating its 14th consecutive year of events, the Classic Cars on the Cars club will be hosting a line-up of classic cars dating back from 1915, to the 1980’s. The club, who usually hosts their displays on the West Overcliff Promenade behind the BIC, will be bringing their impressive mix of cars to the vista at Highcliffe Castle for free.

Get outdoors at Dorchester Borough Gardens

Not only is there some lovely wide open spaces at the Dorchester Borough Gardens for picnics, there is a fully enclosed play area offering facilities for all age groups. It’s a cheap and cheerful day out for lose those on a tight budget.

Bournemouth Echo: Seventeen criers took part in the event to be crowned Champion Town Crier of Southern England. Revellers also turned out in Wimborne to celebrate the event

Watch town criers battle it out 

Town criers from nearby towns will all compete in a series of categories to battle for the coveted title of Champion Town Crier of Southern England. Wimborne Town Centre will host the Southern England Town Criers Competition on Bank Holiday Monday.

Solve the Weymouth treasure hunt trail

By solving clues, explore Weymouth by taking part in a Treasure Trail designed especially for kids. It starts at the site of the Pavilion, along the seafront and to the Greenhill Gardens, but not without a short detour to see where Thomas Hardy wrote his first novel.

Learn all about Tutankhamen

The Tutankhamen Exhibition a fun way to learn about Ancient Egypt. The exhibition, situated on the High Street in Dorchester, displays recreations of Tutankhamen’s treasures from his reign in the Amarna period.

Get airborne at the Bournemouth Aviation Museum

Sit in the pilot’s seat at Bournemouth’s Aviation Museum. It features many interactive exhibits, with many real cockpits available to for visitors to sit inside. Planes feature is the legendary English Electric Lightning to the Westland Wessex Helicopter.

Bournemouth Echo: BOOST: Bovington Tank Museum

Learn about tanks through history 

Home to the largest and finest collection of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, Bovington’s Tank Museum is a unique display of wartime history from World War 1 to the latest main battle tank of the British Army: Challenger.

Bournemouth Echo: Southern Counties Heavy Horse event at Harbridge Farm near Ringwood. One of the teams of four prepare
 
RC190415nfHeavyhorse -   PICTURE BY RICHARD CREASE (23614777)

Get up close to the animals at Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Rescue Centre

It’s not just about horses at the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Rescue Centre, there are also pygmy goats, kune-kune pigs, inuit snow dogs and more. The centre is full of animal fun and includes free wagon rides, tractor and trailer rides, miniature poney and card rides and a regular educational show.

Enjoy a family day out at the Lyme Regis Museum

Go fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast. Join in on one of the famous Fossil walk along the historic stretch of Dorset coastline with a Lyme Regis geologist from the Lyme Regis Museum.

Have a glass (or two) of cider

The Shelley Theatre in Bournemouth will be hosting an evening of cider tasting with traditionally made award winning craft ciders with live music from local Dorset bands.

Enjoy a the ‘Teabags, tails and trails’ woodland walk

Dorset Search Dogs in hosting a British themed fancy dress owner and dog walk this Saturday. The event is aimed at families and dog lovers but anyone is welcome, even if you don’t have a dog. There will be a fair with stalls and a surprise act to be revealed on the day. The entry is free, donations accepted.

Bournemouth Echo:

Grab a bargain at Boscombe’s Vintage Market

Voted the best vintage clothes market in England, The quarterly Boscombe Vintage Market will return to the Royal Arcade on Saturday from 10am.

Enjoy a Family Fun Day at Aruba

Aruba has teamed up with Bournemouth University students to bring you ‘Caribbean Islands and Pirates’ themed family fun day. Activities will be run throughout the day, including face painting and it will raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Watch a duck race 

Watch the ducks race in Lyme Regis to raise money for the Christmas Lights. It was start at Windsor Terrace at 12pm and will finish at Jordan Flats.

Discover Swanage at the Museum and Heritage Centre

Take a trip to Swanage to discover the dinosaurs and the Jurassic coastline to the seaside resort and World War II. The Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre offers period shop displays to help visitors re-live the local stone trade and Experience World War II. Entry is free.

Enjoy some playtime at Whitecliff 

Whitecliff Play Area boasts the largest piece of play equipment in Poole; it’s the 6 metre tall Multi Activity Tower. The park is the perfect place to let the kids blow off some steam. The park is situated next to a large green, which is great for field sports such as football and rounder’s.