1 LOOSEN your Lederhosen for the fourth annual Bournevaria – Oktoberfest at the BIC Solent Hall. From the people who bring you the Big Bournemouth Beer Festival, this year’s event from October 4 –5 promises to be “bigger and better than 2018” with German inspired beer and food with live music.Poole will also be hosting an Oktoberfest offering Bavarian beers and snacks, bands, fairground rides, games at Poole Park on Friday October 4 to Saturday, October 5.

2 ZOMBIE Fest, organised by Poole BID and Zombie Escapes HQ, will be taking over Poole High Street on Saturday, October 26. This is a free, family-friendly day of spook-tacular activities taking place within Falkland Square, in the Dolphin Shopping Centre. All visitors are encouraged to wear zombie fancy dress and visit the special effects team and the face painting stand.The free-to-enter Zombie Parade will begin at Falkland Square at approximately 4pm and will travel along the high street and end at the Town Quay at 4.45pm. Prizes will be awarded for the ‘Worst Dressed’ zombies.

3 THERE’S just ten days to go until Bournemouth’s annual celebration of arts and culture, Arts by the Sea, which will be staged this year with help from local students and visitors. Around 100,000 people are expected to attend the event, now in its ninth year which runs from Friday, September 27 – Sunday, September 29. This year’s theme is Mind Matters and will bring a colourful mix of carnivalesque celebrations, large-scale installations and a variety of art and dance to the town.

4 RSPB ARNE returns with Nature Tots a monthly group aimed at children aged between two and half and five years old. The sessions are designed to be as hands-on and sensory. Activities include “minibeast hunting, worm charming, butterfly hunting and storytelling”. The group runs on the first Tuesday of every month from 10.30am – 11.30am and includes a cuppa and juice in the café afterwards. The cost is £5 per child (non-member) and £4 per child (member) (Price includes a free tea or filter coffee for adults, and a juice for children, at the RSPB Arne Café). For full information, visit: rspb.org.uk/arne

5 ENJOY a season of culture, art and history with the East Dorset Heritage Trust’s autumn programme. The autumn schedule boasts a huge array of walks, talks, workshops and activities, giving everyone the chance to try their hand at something new.

Most of the events take place at Allendale House in Wimborne but some involve excursions to different Dorset locations. Lessons in French, Spanish and Italian are also running, with classes ranging from beginner level to advanced. For more information, specific dates and booking information, visit the website edht.org.uk

6 GET ready to swing at The Swanage Blues Festival which runs from October 3 to 6 at venues across the town bringing together an eclectic collection of blues musicians, fans and friends for a weekend of jams, open mics and headline performances.

7 AUTUMN Steam Gala: A three day feast of steam from October 11 to 13 takes place at Swanage Railway, Swanage & Corfe Stations with at least one guest locomotive supporting offering a varied and intensive train service.

8 BOURNEMOUTH Marathon Festival. Thousands of runners will head for Bournemouth next month for the seventh annual Bournemouth Marathon Festival.The event is firmly established in the running calendar and will take place this year over the weekend of October 5 and 6.

9 NEW Forest Walking Festival: Smuggler’s trails, wild play activities and wildlife are some of the treats awaiting walkers in this autumn’s extended New Forest Walking Festival. Dozens of guided walks led by local experts will be available and booking is now open online.

Routes that take you behind the scenes to reveal the area’s history and heritage are available from Saturday, October 12 to Sunday, November 3, which includes half term week.