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

ARRANGEMENTS may change in the light of any further announcements relating to the pandemic. Please check with the organisers if in doubt.

Please also let us know by email to editor @forumfocus.co.uk or phone to 01258 459346 of any events going ahead, either virtually or in person.

AUGUST

Every Monday, Thursday and Saturday: Blandford Fashion Museum and tea room open 10am to 4pm

Every Tuesday:

Little Hands Mother and Toddler Group, Okeford Fitzpaine village hall, 9 to 11am, book in advance through Little Hands Facebook Group or call 01258 861511

Blandford Citizens Advice, 10am to 3pm at the Parish Centre in The Tabernacle. At other times call 01747 835016, the free Dorset Advice Line on 0800 144 88 48 or email advice-nd@centralca.org.uk

Every Wednesday: Blandford Community Fridge, Blandford Youth & Community Centre, Milldown Road, open 9 to 11am

Every Thursday: New Age Kurling, Winterborne Whitechurch village hall, 10am to 1pm, £3, details 01258 881416

Every Sunday: Blandford Methodist Church service 10.45am, book a place by phone to 01258 577030

To Saturday August 7: Affordable Art Exhibition and Sale, Friends of Blandford Community Hospital shop, all proceeds to the Friends’ charity

Monday August 2: Blandford Floral Society meets  Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 2 pm, Pamela Lewis - Summer's Bounty.

Thursday August 5 (and every first Thursday): Rotary Club of Blandford Bring & Buy, Blandford Market

Friday August 6:

Free summer holiday entertainment with Jamie Jigsaw, 10am to 1pm, Woodhouse Gardens, Blandford Forum DT11 7DN

Printing from Nature workshop with Sarah Butterworth, 10am, Child Okeford village hall, Child Okeford, suitable for ages 8+, to book see www.artsreach.co.uk

Friday to Tuesday August 6 to 10: The Dorset Arts & Crafts Showcase 2021, Purbeck School, Worgret Road, Wareham BH20 4PF, 10am to 5pm (closes 4pm Tuesday

Saturday August 7:

Coffee morning and plant sale in the Blandford Town Museum Garden, 10am to noon

Market and coffee morning, Shillingstone Church Centre,10.30am to 12 noon, details 01258 860370

Fippenny Garden Club 32nd Summer Show, Okeford Fitzpaine village hall, opens to public 2pm, public voting to 3pm, awards presentation 3.30pm, plant sales and refreshments

Treehouse Theatre present ‘The Elves & the Shoemaker’, Railway Arches, Langton Meadows, 3pm, bookings and details 01258 450388 or www.blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk

Saturday August 7 and every Saturday in August: Litter pick with War on Waste/Cleanup Blandford, from Blandford Market Place, 10am to noon, details blandfordwaronwaste@gmail.com

Sunday August 8: Town Centre Guided Heritage Walk led by a guide from Blandford & District Civic Society, meet 11am at the flood wall in the Marsh & Ham (Morrisons) car park, details 01258 459346

Tuesday August 10 (and following Tuesdays in August): Workshop with art teacher Mel Bennett, Blandford Art Hub, Nightingale Court Garden, booking essential on site or at www.freeexpression.com

Thursday August 12:

The Jurassic’s got Talent – storytelling in Angus Wood, 11am, numbers restricted so arrive early, £3 per child

The Rude Mechanicals present ‘Little Lily Harley’, Stourpaine village hall field, entry from 5.45pm for performance beginning 7.30pm, for tickets and information see www.therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk

Friday August 13: Bash Street Theatre present ‘The Cameraman – he’s got you framed!’, outdoor at Ibberton and Belchalwell village hall, 6 for 7.30pm, tickets 01258 817269 or www.artsreach.co.uk

Friday and Saturday August 13 and 14:  Book Sale, St Mary's Church, Lower Blandford St. Mary DT11 9ND, Friday 3 to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm, coffee and cakes served

Saturday August 14:

Tarrant Gunville Horse Show, Gymkhana and Comic Dog Show, Eastbury Park, from 9am (dog show 3pm), details c.j.jenkinson@gmail.com or 01258 830280

The Rude Mechanicals present ‘Little Lily Harley’, Queen Elizabeth Playing Field, Child Okeford, entry from 5.45pm for performance beginning 7.30pm, for tickets and information see www.therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk

Sunday August 15:

Guided Walk examining the geology of the architecture of Blandford starts 11am from Durdens Corner (Scrivens) in the Market Place. No need to book. Details 01258 459346

The Greenhouse, dance performance, 11.30 am, 1.30 and 3.30pm, Springhead, Fontmell Magna, details www.springheadtrust.org.uk, tickets to be booked in advance from www.artsreach.co.uk

Monday August 16 (and every third Monday of the month):

The Blandford U3A Scrabble group, Woodhouse gardens, 2 to 4.30pm. New members welcome

Tuesday August 17:

Creative Clay for all, Blandford Town Museum, 10am to 3pm, details 01258 450388 or www.blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk

Stop-frame animation workshop with Pageant Productions, Blandford Corn Exchange, 10am to 3pm, tickets bookable in advance £10 - only 8 places available from www.artsreach.co.uk

Wednesday and Thursday August 18 and 19: Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show

Friday August 20: Simple Cypher and Pirates of the Carabina, circus double bill in the grounds of The Blandford School, 6.00pm, tickets from www.artsreach.co.uk

Saturday August 21: Mayor’s Family Fun Day on the Crown Meadows, 10am to 5pm, children’s funfair rides, craft stalls and displays, details https://blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk/category/whats-on

Sunday August 22: Town Perimeter Guided Heritage Walk led by a guide from Blandford & District Civic Society, meet 11am outside Scrivens, Durdens Corner, Market Place, details 01258 459346

Monday August 23: School Uniform Event, Blandford United Reformed Church,, 10.30 to 2pm, details Blandford Community Kitchen or Blandford Cares Facebook pages or 07768 403512

Tuesday August 24: Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Parachute Jump, details https://blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk/category/whats-on

Friday August 27:

15 Days in Clay workshop, Blandford Town Museum, 10am to 3pm and Last Friday in the Blandford Town Museum Garden, drinks and nibbles from 6 to 9pm, details 01258 450388 or www.blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk

Friday and Saturday August 27 and 28: Free Blandford Town Centre parking (time limits apply)

Friday to Monday August 27 to 30: Child Okeford Art Trail, 15 artists and potters in the village open their studios

Saturday to Monday August 28 to 30: Exhibition at the Reading Rooms and St James' Church Milton Abbas, 'The times they wuz a'changin', Milton Abbas Then and Now', details Milton Abbas Local History Group website at https://miltonabbashistorygroup.com/exhibition-28-30-august-2021/

Sunday August 29: Skate Fest, 10am to 4pm in Blandford Skate Park, Stour Park DT11 9LE, details https://blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk/category/whats-on

August 31: Closing date for Blandford Rotary Short Story competition, details 07768 183526 or www.facebook.com/BlandfordRotary

SEPTEMBER

Wednesday September 1: Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, email clerk@blandfordstmary-pc.gov.uk to ask for a Zoom invitation

Friday September 3: Wessex Acoustic Folk present Georgia Lewis Trio + Dom Prag, Blandford Royal British Legion, 7.30pm, call 01202 732239 to book and see www.wimborne.acoustic.co.uk

Saturday September 4:

Child Okeford Village Fete, stallholders please email veecom@btinternet.com and to volunteer or provide entertainment email gsparrow@doctors.org.uk or call 07070550047

Shroton Summer Show

Sunday September 5: Blandford Hidden Gardens, gardens open between 10am and 5pm, tickets on sale from August 16 from the TIC and Town Museum

Monday September 6: Blandford Floral Society meets Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 2 pm, Cathryn Brown - Fifty Things That Make You Happy.

Sunday September 12: Town Centre Guided Heritage Walk led by a guide from Blandford & District Civic Society, meet 11am at the flood wall in the Marsh & Ham (Morrisons) car park, details 01258 459346

Monday to Thursday September 13 to 16: Bryanston and Durweston and Bryanston Arts Festival, crafts, music and refreshments, 10am to 4pm each day, evening music Monday 8pm onwards. No need to book but subject to COVID Regulations at the time.

Saturday September 18:

Litter pick with War on Waste/Cleanup Blandford, meet blue bridge, Marsh and Ham, 10 to 12 noon, details blandfordwaronwaste@gmail.com

Community Expo, Blandford Corn Exchange, 10am to 1pm, details https://blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk/category/whats-on

Full day art workshop, Blandford Art Hub, Nightingale Court Garden, details and to book, see www.freeexpression.com

Sunday September 26: Town Perimeter Guided Heritage Walk led by a guide from Blandford & District Civic Society, meet 11am outside Scrivens, Durdens Corner, Market Place, details 01258 459346

OCTOBER

Friday October 1:  Wessex Acoustic Folk present Colum Sands + Mel Langton, Blandford Royal British Legion, 7.30pm , call 01202 732239 to book and see www.wimborne.acoustic.co.uk

Monday October 4: Blandford Floral Society meets Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 2 pm, Jo Richards - What Autumn Brings

Wednesday October 6: Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, email clerk@blandfordstmary-pc.gov.uk to ask for a Zoom invitation

Friday October 15: Wessex Acoustic Folk present Paul Downes + Rod Jenkins, Blandford Royal British Legion, 7.30pm , call 01202 732239 to book and see www.wimborne.acoustic.co.uk

Saturday October 16: Litter pick with War on Waste/Cleanup Blandford, meet blue bridge, Marsh and Ham, 10 to 12 noon, details blandfordwaronwaste@gmail.com

Friday October 29: Wessex Acoustic Folk present Geoff Lakeman + Simply Symons, Blandford Royal British Legion, 7.30pm , call 01202 732239 to book and see www.wimborne.acoustic.co.uk

Sunday October 31: Grand Pumpkin Weigh-in and raffle draw for Parkinsons and Macmillan, True Lovers Knot, Tarrant Keyneston

NOVEMBER

Monday November 1: Blandford Floral Society meets Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 2 pm,  AGM

Wednesday November 3: Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, email clerk@blandfordstmary-pc.gov.uk to ask for a Zoom invitation

Friday November 12:  Wessex Acoustic Folk present Chris Leslie + Anne-Louise Richards, Blandford Royal British Legion, 7.30pm , call 01202 732239 to book and see www.wimborne.acoustic.co.uk

Friday November 26: Wessex Acoustic Folk present Anthony John Clarke & Dave Pegg + Antoine & Owena, Blandford Royal British Legion, 7.30pm , call 01202 732239 to book and see www.wimborne.acoustic.co.uk

DECEMBER

Wednesday December 1: Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, email clerk@blandfordstmary-pc.gov.uk to ask for a Zoom invitation

Friday December 3: Blandford Yuletide Festival, free town centre parking (time limits apply)

Saturday December 4: Small Business Saturday and free town centre parking (time limits apply)

Monday December 6: Blandford Floral Society meets Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston, 2 pm, Sally Taylor - Christmas Capers

Friday December 10:  Wessex Acoustic Folk present Jez Lowe & Bad Pennies Xmas Show, Blandford Royal British Legion, 7.30pm , call 01202 732239 to book and see www.wimborne.acoustic.co.uk

Saturday December 25: Christmas Day

Blandford St Mary Parish Council Meetings

 

Wednesday July 7: Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, email clerk@blandfordstmary-pc.gov.uk to ask for a Zoom invitationWednesday September 1
Wednesday October 6
Wednesday November 3
Wednesday December 1