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West Dorset
What's on in and around West Dorset December 2008 Information supplied courtesy of West Dorset District Council & West Dorset Tourist Centres
This listing contains a selection of events taking place across West Dorset this month. Pop into your local Tourist Information Centre for full event information and programmes for all local theatres and art centres.
Local events diary 01-05 A Teddy Bear Christmas Dorset Teddy Bear Museum, Eastgate, Dorchester. Experience Christmas as it used to be, as a large family of human-size bears celebrate in their festively decorated period home, complete with a visit from Bearfather Christmas. 01305 266040 www.teddybearmuseum.co.uk 01-14 Winter Opening Forde Abbey, nr. Chard. Free entry to the gardens Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun. Plant centre, tea room, shop. www.fordeabbey.co.uk 02 Light Up a Life 2008 Joseph Weld Hospice, Herringstone Road, Dorchester. Dorset. An open air Lighting Up and Carol Service around the tree. 6.15 - 6.30pm service. No parking at Joseph Weld Hospice. Please park considerately in residential roads and allow time to walk to the service. 01305 215315 02 Bridport Electric Comedy: Reginald D Hunter Bridport Electric Palace, South St, Bridport, 7pm. As seen on Have I Got News For You, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and QI, hilarious comedy from Hunter with Pete Firman and Craig Campbell. Tickets £10. 01308 426336 www.electricpalace.org.uk 02 Green Drinks Tom Brown's Public House, 47 High East Street, Dorchester, from 7pm. Informal gathering for anyone interested in green issues. Meet other like minded people. Free. www.transitiontowndorchester.org 03 Fingerz 'N' Fretz The Blue Raddle, Church Street, Dorchester, 8pm. Traditional Folk Music. 03 Casterbridge Christmas Cracker Dorchester, Dorset. Festival stalls in Dorchester with late night shopping. Starts 5.30pm with Pop Club. Procession from bottom of South Street 6.50pm with Santa, followed by The Lantern Parade and the Samba Band. Lights switched on by Jennifer Biddal - Jessica Harris in Hollyoaks. Free parking from 4.30pm. www.dorchestercracker.com 03 Quiz Night Brownsword Hall, Pummery Square, Poundbury, 7.30pm. Hosted by " Brain of Britain " semi-finalist Chris Bevan. Fantastic prizes. Come by yourself or bring a team ( max 6 ). £2 in advance or £2.50 on the night. Includes coffee and biscuits. Bring your own drink and nibbles. 01305 257485 info@brownsword.org.uk 04 Stand-up Comedy Powell Theatre, Sherborne. 8.30pm 01935 810579 www.powelltheatre.co.uk 05 Winter Ball Kingston Maurward, Dorchester. 01305 215050 www.kmc.ac.uk/gardens/events 05 Bridport & West Dorset Music Club Concert: Zum Trio Sir John Colfox School, Bridport, 7.45pm. As part of the 60th Anniversary Zum trio of violin, cello and accordion will be playing Piazzolla, gypsy and tango music. 01308 424673 05 Christmas Concert with the Two Castles Youth Band and Abbas & Templecombe School Choir Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 7.30pm Presented by Sherborne Lions Club. Tickets £5 adults, £3 OAPs/Children. Under 12s free 01935 850529 05 "The Newton Peverill Jade Axehead" Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, 7.30pm (wine and mince pies served from 6.30pm). A talk by Dr Alison Sheridan from the National Museums of Scotland. Free entry – donations gratefully received. 01305 262735 05-06 Visit to Westonbirt Aboretum and Bath Christmas Market Organised by The National Trust Blackmore Vale and Yeovil Local Association. Tel. Brian Harper 01747 838810 for details. 05-07 Sherborne Festive Shopping Weekend Sherborne. Starts with lighting up ceremony at 6pm 07594 805013 www.sherbornechamber.org.uk 06 Workshop: Flowers for You! Highway Farm, Bridport, 10am – 4pm. Festive flowers - bring along flowers & foliage. 01308 424321 www.highwayfarm.co.uk 06 Afternoon Bingo Magistrates Room, Ground Floor, Corn Exchange, Dorchester, 2.45pm. Organised by Dorchester District Scout Council in aid of local Scout Funds. All welcome. Cash prizes. 01305 262158 06 The Dorset Chamber Orchestra Concert St Mary's Church, Dorchester, 7.30pm. Karelia Suite - Sibelius, Concierto de Aranjuez - Rodrigo, Symphony No 2 - Brahms. Tickets £10 in advance from Harmony Music (01305) 260360 06 Talk on "Christmas Customs" by Sue Herman The Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, 2.30pm. The National Trust Blackmore Vale and Yeovil Local Association. £3 for members, £3.50 for guests. 01747 838810 06 Family Activity - Print your own Christmas Card Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, 10am - 12pm. Using different techniques and easy-to-obtain materials, surprise your friends and family with personalised Christmas cards this year. 01305 262735 www.dorsetcountymuseum.org 06 Christmas Joy with the New Hardy Players United Church, Dorchester, 7.30pm. A seasonal celebration in words and music. Tickets £5. 01305 260348 06 Christmas Coffee Morning & Bingo Bradford Peverell Village Hall, Dorchester, 10.30am. Home Made produce, confectionery, crafts, gifts. Father Christmas calling in for coffee and a chat. Entry £1. Proceeds to Three Village Charities 01305 257541 06 Festive Bingo Bradford Peverell Village Hall, Dorchester, 7pm for 7.30pm start. Proceeds to the Village Playing Fields. Bingo Cards cost 30p for 10 games. All welcome including children. Marian Canvin 01305 257541 06 An Evening of Verse n Worse! Presented by the Starving Poets' Society The Community Centre, Lubbecke Way, Dorchester, opens 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Aided and abetted by music and muses for the benefit of the Hub. Tickets £10 available from First Dorset Credit Union, Fordington Green Post office and British Heart Foundation. 06 Christmas Table Top Sale Broadmayne Village Hall, Broadmayne, Nr Dorchester, 11.00am - 1.00pm . In aid of Home Start. £5 per table. Please book in advance. Refreshmants available. 01305 851822 or 01305 852230 06 Christmas Craft Fair Brownsword Hall, Pummery Square, Poundbury, 9am – 12.30pm. Local artists and crafts, cake stall. 06 South Somerset Ramblers Walk: Eype Down Hill Walk Bridport A35 bypass picnic site. Meet at 10am for a 6 mile hilly walk. Please contact organiser to confirm details. Richard 01935 473951 www.somersetramblers.co.uk 06 Workshop : Stained Glass Christmas Decorations Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne. 10.30am - 4pm. Workshop with Nina Gronw-Lewis. Cost £30 (non-members £35). Booking essential 01935 815899 www.sherborneartslink.org.uk 06 Antiques & Flea Market Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne. 9am - 4pm 06 Handbags for Hospicecare Joseph Weld Hospice, Herringstone Road, Dorchester, 10.30am – 12.30pm. A selection of handbags for sale. Refreshments available. 01305 215315 06 The Thomas Hardy Society - Going the Rounds Thorncombe Wood Car Park, 6pm. A walk with music and singing led by Furse Swann, Mike Bailey and 'The Madding Crowd' ending at St Michael's Church, Stinsford where The Frome Valley Morris Members will perform. Tickets £5, members £4 available from Dorchester Tourist Information Centre 01305 267992 06 3 Churches Coffee Morning Comrades Hall, Broadwindsor, 10.30 - 12.30 . Cake stalls, tombola, produce, bric-a-brac etc. Pheonix greetings cards and gift wrap. Mrs P Curtis 01308 868293 06-07 The Dorset Art and Craft Show Strangways Hall, Abbotsbury. Exhibition and demonstrations by craftworkers and artists. www.dorsetartandcraftshow.co.uk 06-14 Christmas Tree Festival Cheap Street Church, Sherborne. Now an established event in Sherborne's calendar - approx. 40 trees decorated by various groups and organisations in the town the deilghtful setting of Cheap Street Church. Various recitals and carol services take place during the week. 07 Dorset Ramblers Sunday Ramble Meet at The Kings Arms, Thornford, 10.15am. www.dorsetramblers.co.uk 07 South Somerset Ramblers Walk – South Cadbury Meet in South Cadbury Public car park. 12 mile walk via Corton Denham, Charton Horethorne and Compton Pauncefoot. Bring a picnic. 01963 350634 07 Santa Specials - Seaton Tramway Seaton Tramway. Travel by tram from Seaton to Colyton to meet Santa at his grotto! Pre-booking essential. 01297 20375 www.tram.co.uk 07 The Tin Forest Powerstock Village Hall. Artsreach performance 'The Tin Forest', for all 3+, an uplifting, humorous and touching show 01308 485205 www.artsreach.co.uk 07 Christmas Fayre with Santas Grotto Herrison Hall, Charlton Down, Dorchester. 10am - 4pm. Refreshments, Cakes, Lunches, Luxury Raffle & Tombola. Contact Jane Rooks to book a table. Donation to be made to Julia's House. 01305 250872 Jane.rooks@btopenworld.com 07 Advent Songs of Praise at Chideock Catholic Church, 3.30pm. With the choir from St. Mary’s, Axminster, followed by afternoon tea in the museum. All welcome 08 A Taste of Christmas Woodroffe School, Lyme Regis. Christmas shopping experience by the PTA. Stalls, entertainment, Father Christmas, mince pies & mulled wine. Stalls available to book. 01297 443814 08 West Dorset Flower Club presents Christmas Concepts The Electric Palace, South St, Bridport. A spectacular floral demonstration by Jonathan Moseley (National Demonstrator) starting at 2.30pm. Tickets £8. 01308 488497 08 -12 Baptist Church Christmas Tree Festival Baptist Church, Lyme Regis. A display of decorated trees by local organisations. 09 Sherborne Jazz - jam session Plume of Feathers, Half Moon Street, Sherborne. An informal and friendly meting place for musicians. Bring your instrument and sit in with the house trio or just come to listen and enjoy. 01935 816569 www.sherbornejazz.org.uk 09 Medieval Instruments Part 2 Main Hall, Bridport United Church, East Street, Bridport, 2.30pm. Bridport History Society talk by Jonathan Weeks. Entrance members 50p visitors £2 including refreshments. 01308 456876 09 Memories of the Bridport Branch Line Bridport Arts Centre, South Street Bridport, doors open 7pm. To launch the latest film by Branch Line Videos join us on a nostalgic journey back in time on the railway from Bridport to Maiden Newton. Admission Free Introduction by Paul Atterbury. 01308 424204 10 Bridport Christmas Festival – Bridport, 5pm – 8pm. Stalls, music and Santa in his Grotto. Shops open late. 10 Sherborne Artslink - "The Duchess" Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne. 7.30pm. Tickets £5 available from Sherborne TIC 01935 815341 www.sherborneartslink . 10 Late Night Christmas Shopping - Dorchester 10 A Victorian Christmas, St Peter's Church, West Knighton, 7.30pm. Devised by Furse Swann using the words and music of Hardy and Barnes. Tickets £10, to include mulled wine and mince pies, from Dorchester TIC. 01305 267992 or 01305 852640 10 Christmas Concert by the Light Cavalry Band The Tank Museum, Bovington, Nr. Wareham. 7pm. The Tank Museum and The Light Cavalry Band present a Christmas concert featuring all your favourite seasonal songs and carols. Tickets £5. Under 16s £3.50. Ticket Line 01929 462359 www.tankmuseum.org 10 - 17 Christmas Tree Festival Bridport United Church ( Methodist & United Reformed ) East Street. 65 Decorated and Illuminated trees. Open weekdays from 10am. Sunday from 2pm. Admission Free. 11 Christmas Concert under Concorde Fleet Air Arm Museum, RNAS Yeovilton. 01935 842638 www.fleetairarm.com 11 Handel's Messiah - Conductor Jason Thornton Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, 7.30pm. Performed by the Bath Philharmonia and Chorus Angelorum. Tickets £14 / £18 concessions £13 / £17 01305 262735 www.dorsetcountymuseum.org 11 Late Night in Lyme Lyme Regis. Late night Christmas Shopping under Christmas Lights. Most of Lyme's independent retailers open till 8.00pm 12 Ceilidh Chetnole Village Hall, next to the Chetnole Inn, 8pm. Organised as a White Stag Folk event. Tickets £6. 01258 817963 12 Christmas Beetle Drive with a Pudding Blackdown Village Hall. 7.30pm for 7.45 start. Adults £5, Child £3. Family £15. All welcome 01460 30661(day) 30517 (eve) 12 Hot Flush - Winter Evening Jazz, Swing & Blues North Cadbury Village Hall. 7.30pm. Tickets £8 from North Cadbury Village Shop or on the door 01963 251620 / 250600 12-13 Christmas Singalong Concerts with the Yetties Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne. 8pm. Tickets £7.50 adults, £6 children/OAPs. Available from Rules in Cheap Street, Sherborne or from the website 01935 814611 www.theyetties.co.uk 13 December Market at Broadmayne St. Martin's Community Hall, Broadmayne, 10am – 12pm. Produce, cakes, plants, craft, Christmas items, Fair-trade goods, local sausages, children's books library etc and enjoy a cup of tea and a chat. 01305 852866 13 Sherborne Jazz Plume of Feathers, Half Moon Street, Sherborne. Philip Clouts on piano, John Miles saxaphone, Al Swainger double bass and Dave Sheen drums 01935 816569 www.sherbornejazz.org.uk 13 Get a Head at the Museum Club Dorset County Museum, Dorchester. Make a mask, head or gargoyle! Hunt around the Museum for the many hidden heads. Meet in the Museum's School Room 10.30am. 01305 262735 www.dorsetcountymuseum.org 13 Lyme Regis Town Band Christmas Concert Woodmead Hall, Lyme Regis. Annual concert commencing 7.30pm 13 Mr Pickwick’s Christmas Eype Centre for the Arts at St. Peter’s, Eype, Nr. Bridport, 4.30pm. Make it a traditional Christmas to remember with Robert MacCall in this production. Tickets £7 (under 16s £5) from Bridport TIC. 01308 424901 13 Sherborne Country Market Christmas Fayre Senior Citizens Hall, Digby Road Sherborne. 9.30am - 2.30pm. Festive baking of all sorts plus cheeses, chutneys and preserves, crafts and cards. Also coffee and mince pies, hot soup and home made rolls. 13 St. Johns' Almshouse Christmas Bazaar St. Johns' Alsmhouse, Half Moon Street, Sherborne, 2pm - 4pm. Book, cake and jewellery stalls, Guide Dogs for the Blind, raffle, tombola and more! 01935 813245 13 Christmas Crafts and Produce at Magdalen Magdalen Farm, Nr. Winsham, 2pm – 4pm. Craft stalls, produce stalls, children’s activities, gnigerbread decorating, face painting, willow decoration making, mulled wine & mince pies, carols around the tree, animals on the farm. Fre eentry. 01460 30144 www.themagdalenproject.org.uk 14 Dorset Ramblers Sunday Ramble Meet at Maiden Castle Car Park 10.15am. Lunch Stop at The Brewers Arms, Martinstown. www.dorsetramblers.co.uk 14 Santa Specials - Seaton Tramway Seaton Tramway. Travel by tram from Seaton to Colyton to meet Santa at his grotto! Pre-booking essential. 01297 20375 www.tram.co.uk 14 South Somerset Ramblers Walk: Maiden Newton Maiden Newton Walkers Car Park. Meet at 10.30am for an 8 mile walk to Sydling St Nicholas. Please contact organiser to confirm details. Derek 01935 426842 www.somersetramblers.co.uk 14 Concert by the Allington Strings St. John’s Church, West Bay, 3pm. Conductor Wendy Staal, Soloists Rebecca Ware, Janet Lane and Barbara Dale. Tickets £6, children and students free, available from The Book Shop, Bridport Music or at the door 14-23 Santa Specials - Yeovil Railway Centre Yeovil Junction. Gates open 10.30am - 4pm, train rides start at 11am. Santa specials on Sun 14th, Sat 20th, Sun 21st and Tues 23rd December. Booking essential 01935 478373 www.yeovilrailway.freeservers.com 15 A Medieval Christmas Sherborne Abbey. 7.30pm. Join Sherborne Chamber Choir and a band of medieval wind, pipes and drums from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre for festive music old and new. Tickets £5 to £16 (students under 18 free of charge) available from The Dorset Music Shop. 01935 816332 www.sherborneabbey.com 16 Carol Singing Poundbury Gardens, Poundbury, 6.30pm - 8pm. Everyone welcome to join in. Santa Claus will be visiting. Magical Christmas Display. Restaurant open. Complimentary mince pies and mulled wine. Gardens Charity will be Weldmar Hospice Care. 17 Late Night Christmas Shopping Dorchester, Dorset. 18 Dorchester Film Society – Juno The Corn Exchange, Dorchester, 7.30pm. Members Only. 01305 262005 18 Stand-up Comedy Powell Theatre, Sherborne, 8.30pm 01935 810579 www.powelltheatre.co.uk 18 Carols in the Garden Borough Gardens, Dorchester, 6:30pm. 18 Steam Dreams Christmas Carol Special come to Sherborne Steam train from Waterloo to Sherborne followed by a special Carol Service - open to all - in the Abbey at 3pm. Complimentary mince pies and mulled wine for passengers, and the train will be suitably decked out for Christmas! www.steamdreams.com 18 South Somerset Ramblers Walk : Nether Compton Meet at the Griffins Head, Nether Compton (GR321048), 10.15am. 5 miles walk using local paths. Tel. 01935 420545 www.somersetramblers.co.uk 19 Sherborne Betjeman Society Evening St Mary's Church, Bradford Peverell, Dorchester, starts 7pm. An evening of inspirational music and readings. Proceeds to the church with donation to the Dorset M. E. Association. Cost £5 to include delicious refreshments. Tickets:- 01305 263834 or 01305 267339 20 Bethlehem in Bridport - 10.30am to midday. The Holy Family will arrive with a Donkey, travelling up West Street, closely followed by the Shepherds. The Wise Men are to travel along East Street all assembling in Buckydoo, where the St Swithuns band will lead everyone in the singing of Carols at 11.00am as the familiar story unfolds. Churches Together in Bridport. 01308 423475 21 Santa Specials - Seaton Tramway Seaton Tramway. Travel by tram from Seaton to Colyton to meet Santa at his grotto! Pre-booking essential. 01297 20375 www.tram.co.uk 21 Grace Secondary School Charity Christmas Ball Kingston Maurward, Dorchester, 7pm - midnight. Tickets £45, 3 course meal, live swing & jazz music, disco. Tickets from Dorchester T I C. All proceeds to Grace Secondary School Fund. Claire 07764 335892 or Richard 07767 895205 www.GraceSecondarySchool.com 21 Dorset Ramblers Sunday Ramble Meet at The Poachers, Piddletrenthide, 10.15am. www.dorsetramblers.co.uk 21-2/1 Christmas Magic at Lulworth Castle Lulworth Castle, East Lulworth, Nr. Wareham. Meet Merlin, hunt the cracker, Christmas quizzes, big activity table, make a star, Wizard's hat & wand and help to make the longest every paper chain. 0845 450 1054 www.lulworth.com 22 Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir - Noel Noel Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, 6.45pm for 7.45pm. Seasonal music including a selection from Britten's Ceremony of Carols, complete with solo harp plus mulled wine, mince pies and festive cheer! Tickets available from Dorchester Tourist Information Centre - £12 including refreshments. 01305 267992 or BSC Box Office 01258 880118 or info from Charles Cordy 01300 341618 (charles.cordy@indirect.co.uk) www.bschoir.org.uk 23 Carols Round the Christmas Tree Broad street, Lyme Regis. Annual carol singing organised by Lyme Rotary with the Lyme Regis Town Band 7.00pm 23 Christingle at Chiceock Catholic Church, North Road, 3.30pm – 4.30pm. 23-24 Santa Specials - Seaton Tramway Seaton Tramway. Travel by tram from Seaton to Colyton to meet Santa at his grotto! Pre-booking essential. 01297 20375 www.tram.co.uk 25 Christmas Morning Fancy Dress Swim Charmouth Beach. Organised by RNLI; 11.00am 26 Boxing Day Fancy Dress Pram Race Marquis of Lorne Inn, Nettlecombe DT6 3SY. Starts 1pm - Teams of three - lst pirze £50 voucher 01308 485236 www.marquisoflorne.com 26 Boxing Day Meet at Wincanton Races Wincanton Racecourse. 0844 5793014 www.wincantonracecourse.co.uk 26 West Bay Wallow East Beach, West Bay, Bridport. Charity Fancy Dress swim at 12 noon organised by Bridport Round Table in aid of local charities. Swimmers can be sponsored for their own charity. The Mayor will judge the fancy dress and start the race. No entry charge. Simon Miles 07971258515 27 Book Fair, Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne. 10am - 4pm 01935 816614 www.pbfa.org 27 Quangle Wangle Choir Christmas Concert - Three French Hens, United Church, South Street, Dorchester. Free concert. Collection for Carers UK. 7.30pm Juliet Harwood 01305 814940 31 Yetties New Year Party, Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne. 8pm. Please bring your own food (but not drink as there is a bar available) Tickets £12 available from Rules in Cheap Street, Sherborne or from website 01935 814611 www.theyetties.co.uk
CHRISTMAS SERVICES Please contact our Tourist Information Centres for details of local church services during the Christmas period Dorchester Scout Post in Dorchester Tourist Information Centre from 5th December
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Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this leaflet is correct at the time of going to print, West Dorset District Council cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions. Inclusion in this leaflet does not imply any recommendation by West Dorset District Council. Produced by West Dorset District Council, Community Enabling Division.
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