This is the place for all regular events and dates for your diary!
For listings of everything from fairs, lunch clubs, Artsreach performances and coffee mornings, to concerts, workshops, clubs and open days just click on the sections below.
If you have any upcoming events that you would like added please email editor@forumfocus.co.uk
July
To Sunday July 21: Durweston Bridge (A350/A357 junction) full day and night closure for repair work
Monday July 1:
Blandford Floral Group meets United Reformed Church Hall, Whitecliff Mill Street, 2pm for Chelsea 2017 and Cream Teas
Panda Pre-
Wednesday July 3:
Blandford Bereavement Group meets Blandford Parish Centre, 11am to 12.30pm, details 01258 453425
Friends of Blandford Community Hospital, 62nd AGM, at the hospital, Milldown Road, 6.30pm, details 01258 450095
Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, Brewery Hall, Hall & Woodhouse, 7pm
Thursday July 4 (and every Thursday): Square Dancing, Spetisbury village hall, 4 to 6pm
Friday July 5:
Dorset Wildlife Trust Morning Walk on Fontmell Down led by North Dorset DWT Warden, Steve Oliver. Meet 10am at the National Trust car park –please car share if possible. Numbers limited -
Bridge (1st and 3rd Friday of every month – also July 19) in the Blandford Centre Heddington Drive DT11 7TP, 1.15 to 4.15pm (note change of venue from Woodhouse Gardens), details 01258 450544
Friday to Sunday July 5 to 7:
Henry Nicholls Antiques Valuation Day, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 10am to 4pm
UK Boogie Woogie Festival, Sturminster Newton, or call 01258 471194 or 07484 274196, or see www.ukboogiewoogiefestival.co.uk
Shaftesbury Fringe, see www.shaftesburyfringe.co.uk
Saturday July 6:
Archbishop Wake Summer Fair, 11am to 2pm, BBQ, crazy golf, rides & inflatables, dog show and exciting COLOUR GAMES!
Blandford Repair Café, Royal British Legion, Church Lane, 12.30 to 3pm, bring your broken items for recycling or repair by volunteers, see Blandford Repair Café on Facebook
Messy Games Free family fun afternoon at Winterborne Stickland sports club, Dt11 0nt, 2 to 5pm, bouncy castle, craft activities, water games, obstacle course, cupcakes and ice lollies.
Charity event Quinfest, Milborne St Andrew Sports Field, in aid of Brain Tumour Support, family fun day with live music, stalls, auction, camping available, details/bookings quinfest@outlook.com
Fashion Show with Travelling Trends supporting Pimperne Primary School, Pimperne village hall, 7.30 for 8pm, tickets £7 include a welcome drink, call 07969478786
Sunday July 7:
The Art Room -
Tarrant Valley 10k, from Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton, 10.30am, details 07799 360261
Wednesday July 10:
NHS Retirement Fellowship meeting, 10.15 am Committee Room Blandford Community Hospital. “Cakes and Chat,” morning for ex NHS staff. Details 01929 472441
Sturminster Newton Floral Group meets The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, 7.30pm for demonstration – “From Ice to Fire” -
Thursday July 11:
Forum Cancer Support Group, Town Hall (upstairs in the Corn Exchange), Blandford, 2 to 4pm (every 2nd Thursday of the month), details 07561 114644
Nelson's Cheese & Ale House, Charity Pub Quiz & Raffle in aid of Guide Dogs UK, With special guests of guide dog in-
Friday July 12:
Craft Market, The Shambles, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 9am to 1pm (and 26th)
Blandford Evening Women’s Institute meets 7pm, The Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, speaker Liz Presti – A ‘Pop’ of Colour (using colour in your wardrobe)
Saturday July 13 and Monday July 15: Charlton Marshall New Village Hall Community Viewing (Saturday 10am to 4pm, Monday 4 to 8pm). All welcome
Sunday July 14:
Town Centre Heritage Walk with Blandford & District Civic Society Town Guide, 11am from Marsh & Ham (Morrisons) car park, details 01258 459346
Trailway Pop Up Cafe, Stourpaine, outside Holy Trinity church, 12 to 4pm
Open Garden and Tea Party, Littlebrook Farmhouse, Belchalwell Street, DT11 0EG, 2.30 to 5pm, garden entry £3 pp, proceeds to Julia's House Dorset Childrens Hospice, details 01258 863683 or e-
Ninebarrow folk duo with support from Will McNicol, 6pm (outdoor performance -
Monday July 15: Strictly Come Tea-
Tuesday July 16: Child Okeford Flower Arranging Club, 'The space between', a practical workshop, Child Okeford Village Hall, 2.15pm, details: 01258 863775
Thursday July 18: Blandford Art Society Workshop by Caroline Ireland -
Thursday to Sunday July 18 to 21: Larmer Tree Festival, Tollard Royal, www.larmertreefestival.co.uk
Friday July 19: Dan Clarke, Corn Exchange, Blandford Forum 7pm, International spiritual medium with another amazing evening of mediumship by popular demand please do not miss out on this opportunity to see one of the U.k’s top leading mediums...
Saturday July 20:
Cats Protection Coffee Morning & Stalls, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 10am to 12.30pm
Charlton Marshall Church Fete at the Riverside Garden, DT11 9NE, 2 to 4pm
Blandford & District Civic Society AGM and talk, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 3pm
Sunday July 21:
Learn about the stones making up Blandford on a Geology Walk with Blandford & District Civic Society Town Guide, 11am from Marsh & Ham (Morrisons) car park, details 01258 459346
Tea on the Lawn, Corn Exchange, Blandford,1.30 to 4.30pm, hosted by the Disability Action Group in memory of Karen Reddaway, proceeds to DAG and British Heart Foundation
Garden Party at Millbrook House Residential Care Home in Child Okeford, 2 to 4pm
Monday July 22: Moorcroft and 20th century ceramics valuation event, Duke’s of Dorchester, Brewery Square, Dorchester DT1 1GA, 10am to 1pm, details 01305 265080
Tuesday July 23 to Saturday July 27: Dorset Opera Festival, Bryanston School: Nabucco July 23 and 27 7pm, matinee 25 2pm, Lucia de Lammamoor July 24 and 25 7pm, matinee July 27 2pm, Opera Gala July 26 7pm, details www.dorsetopera.com
Wednesday July 24: The Blandford Parkinsons Cafe meets at Keyneston Mill, Tarrant Keyneston ,DT11 9HZ (and every fourth Wednesday) from 2.30 to 3.30pm, details 03442253670 or email swood@parkinsons.org.uk
Thursday July 25: ‘Finds Day’ with Dorset Council Finds officer, Blandford Museum, 10.30am to 1pm
Thursday to Sunday 25 to 28 July: Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle
Friday July 26:
Squashbox Theatre present ‘Curious Creatures’ with puppets, comedy, slapstick and live music, for children age 5+ and their families, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 2.30pm: post show puppet making workshop 3.30pm, details 01258 480698 or www.artsreach.co.uk
Holy Moly & The Crackers, Sturminster Newton Exchange, 7.30pm, details 01258 475137 or www.artsreach.co.uk
Saturday July 27:
The Psychic, Holistic and Crafts Fair, Crown Hotel, Blandford, in support of Dorset Cancer Care Foundation, 11am-
Milton Abbas Street Fayre, 11am to 5pm, see www.miltonabbasstreetfair.co.uk
Charity Quiz, Farquharson Arms, Pimperne, 8pm
Dorset Wildlife Trust Evening bat walk with local bat expert, Chris Dieck. Meet 8.30pm at Stour Meadows car park, Blandford Forum (near Tesco & behind brewery). Numbers limited (£3 per person) -
Sunday July 28:
Blandford Skate Park Event, 10am to 4pm -
Garden Party, 5 Greenfield Road, Charlton Marshall, 2pm to 5pm, cream teas/tea and cake, in support of village hall