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.

REGULAR EVENTS

Every Monday 2-4 and Thursday 10-1: Kurling, Winterborne Whitechurch Village hall, details 01258 881416

Every Monday and Friday: Lunchtime Bingo, Royal British Legion, Church Lane, Blandford, 12 noon

Every third Monday: Blandford U3A Scrabble, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, 2 to 4.30pm (and every third Monday of the month): new members welcome

Every third Tuesday: The Macular Degeneration Society, Royal British Legion, Church Lane,11.30am to 1pm

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

Sing Together, 2.30 to 3.30pm, Blandford Connect Centre, Heddington Drive, Blandford

Every Tuesday and Friday, Methodist Lunch Club, bookings 07799 516 735

Every Wednesday:

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

Methodist Church coffee morning, 10am to noon

Rokit community choir, Methodist Church, Blandford, 7.30pm

Every Thursday:

“Messy Mice” Free Baby and Toddler group, 9.30 to 11am Okeford Fitzpaine CE Primary school Hall (term time only)

Square Dancing, Spetisbury Village Hall, 2 to 4pm, details 01202 731012

Every second Thursday: Folk Night, The Saxon Inn, Child Okeford, 8pm

Every Friday: Durweston village coffee mornings, village hall, 10am to 12 noon

Every first and third Friday: Bridge ( U3A) in the Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion, 2 - 5pm details 01258 450544

Every third Saturday: Veterans Hub, Poppy Stables, Legion House, Church Lane, Blandford, 10am to 2pm

Every Sunday: Blandford Methodist Church service 10.45am, book a place by phone on 07799 516 735

DECEMBER

Wednesday December 1:

Is It Wheely Wednesday? mystery morning cycle ride from somewhere near Stur - dress as Santa for a treat . . but no tricks.  Details 01258 860157

Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, Brewery Hall, Visitor Centre, Bournemouth Road, Blandford St Mary, 7pm

Magnum Carnival Club Bingo, Pimperne village hall, doors open 6.45pm, eyes down 7.30pm

Thursday December 2:  BSO On Your Doorstep - Music of Reflection, Sturminster Newton Exchange, 7.30pm, details 01258 475137 or www.artsreach.co.uk

Friday December 3: Blandford Yuletide Festival, 5 to 8.30pm; free town centre parking (time limits apply)

Friday to Sunday December 3 to 5: Garden of Delights, presents to buy hand made by artists, Springhead, Fontmell Magna, SP7 ONU, 10am to 4.30pm, enquiries 01258 456285

Saturday December 4:

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

Christmas Coffee Morning, Child Okeford Village Hall, 10am to 1pm, stalls with gifts for Christmas, raffle & more in aid of new roof: to book a stall call 01258 861055

Coffee and Lunch Christmas Fair and raffle, for the Salisbury-Sudan Medical Link, Tarrant Keyneston village hall, 11am to 1pm

Pop-Up Market and Café, The Old Grainstore Emporium and The Pantry, Shaftesbury Lane, Blandford, 12 to 6pm

Sunday December 5:

Garage sale, supporting the Blandford Food bank and Blandford Town Museum, The Model House, Bournemouth Road, Blandford St Mary, 10am to 4pm, details 07971 525970

Pimperne Christmas Fair and Christmas Shop, Pimperne village hall, 10.30am to 3.30pm, free entry, refreshments, raffle

Charity Christmas Fair, Winterborne Zelston village hall, midday to 3pm, supporting St Mary’s church and village hall fund

Blandford Repair Café, The Old Grainstore Emporium, Shaftesbury Lane, Blandford, 11.30am to 1.30pm

Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir present A Christmas Baroque, Blandford Parish Church, 3.30pm

Monday December 6:

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

Panda Pre-school Christmas Bingo, The Royal British Legion, Blandford, eyes down 7.30pm

Wednesday December 8:

Christmas Bingo, Pimperne village hall, doors open 6pm, eyes down 7.30pm

Dorset Moviola presents ‘Dream Horse’, Fontmell Magna village hall, 7 for 7.30pm

Friday December 10: 

Wessex Acoustic Folk present Jez Lowe & Bad Pennies with Benny Graham – Christmas Show at the Royal British Legion, 8pm, call 01202 732239 to book and see www.wimborne-acoustic.co.uk

Live screening of The royal Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’, Coade Hall, Bryanston, see www.bryanston.co.uk/events

Amadou Diagne and Cory Seznec present ‘Touki - Rights of Passage’, Winterborne Stickland village hall, 7.30pm, details 01258 880920 or www.artsreach.co.uk

Friday and Saturday December 10 and 11: Madcap Productions present ‘Aladdin’, Ansty village hall

Saturday December 11:

Lions Craft Fair, Blandford Corn Exchange, 10am to

Tarrant Crafters Christmas Fayre, Tarrant Monkton & Launceston village hall, 11am to 4pm

Christmas Flower Festival, St Mary’s Church, Winterborne Stickland, from 2pm, free entry. Refreshments available

Durweston Village Hall Children’s Christmas Party, 3 to  5.30pm, Christmas Party Pub Night from 7pm, pre-tickets £5, siblings £3, from 0781 776 4513

Bumper Christmas bingo, doors open 6 for 7pm start, Winterborne Whitechurch village hall

Wednesday December 15:

Civic Carol Service, Blandford Parish Church, 7pm

Magnum Carnival Club Christmas Bingo, Pimperne village hall, doors open 6.45pm, eyes down 7.30pm

Live screening of The Royal Opera’s ‘Tosca’, Coade Hall, Bryanston School, see www.bryanston.co.uk/events

Saturday December 18: Christmas fair at Bryanston Club CIC, 12 to 5pm, local crafts stalls, Christmas decorations, refreshments, all proceeds to Durweston school; Mrs Santa's grotto(tickets only, 12 to 2pm); carols in the beer garden (3 to 5pm); local singer Ashley Day (8.30 to 11pm), to book - bryanstonclub1@gmail.com

Sunday December 19: Bobs Monthly Quiz at Bryanston Club. Book your team in bryanstonclub1@gmail.com

Sunday to Friday December 19 to 24: Classic Christmas Films, Coade Hall, Bryanston, see www.bryanston.co.uk/events

Monday December 20: Strictly Come Tea Dancing with the Soggy Biscuit Dance Band, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 2.30 to 4.30pm,  £7.50 per person (£5 for non-dancers), details  07939 030875

Saturday December 25: Christmas Day

Friday December 31: New Year’s Eve at Bryanston Club CIC - Live band, doors open 7:30pm. Families welcome!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2022

Monday January 17: Strictly Come Tea Dancing with the Soggy Biscuit Dance Band, Corn Exchange, Blandford, 2.30 to 4.30pm,  £7.50 per person (£5 for non-dancers), details  07939 030875

Friday January 21: Bingo, Child Okeford Village Hall, doors open 7pm, eyes down 7.30pm, in aid of new roof, details 01258 861055

Saturday January 22: Teddy Laughs @ The Comedy Exchange, see www.b-c-p.co.uk

Thursday to Saturday February 3 to 5: The Tarrant Valley Players present ‘George & the Dragon’, Anne Biddlecombe Hall, Tarrant Keyneston

Fridays and Saturdays February 11, 12, 18 and 19: SODS (Spetisbury Occasional Dramatic Society) present ‘Robinson Crusoe’, Spetisbury village hall

Monday March 17: Raise the Commonwealth Flag, Blandford Market Place 11am

Friday to Sunday March 25 to 27: Blandford Literary Festival – online and in person

Saturday March 26: Easter Community Expo, Blandford Corn Exchange

Friday to Sunday April 15 to 18: Easter: Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday

Monday April 25: Blandford Town Annual Assembly

Friday to Sunday April 29 to May 1: Teddy Rocks, Charisworth Farm

Tuesday May 3: Blandford Town Annual Assembly

Friday May 13: Blandford Town Mayor Making

Thursday to Sunday June 2 to 5: Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Saturday June 18: National Civic Day

Blandford St Mary Parish Council Meetings

Wednesday December 1