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 first Tuesday: Blandford Breast Cancer Support Group, Pimperne village hall, 2.30pm, details 01258 860706 or 453853

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 first Wednesday (excluding August and January): Blandford St Mary Parish Council meeting, 7pm, Brewery Visitor Centre, Blandford St May, see www.blandfordstmary-pc.org.uk

Every Thursday:

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

Age Concern Blandford, Parish Centre, 10am to 12 noon, details 07305166418 or email: ageconcernblandfordforum@mail.uk

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

Table tennis, Spetisbury village hall, 6.30pm, £2 per person

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

Every Saturday: Artori Academy, Blandford Corn Exchange, 11-12:30pm (7-10yrs) and 13-14:30pm (11-16yrs)

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2022

Saturday January 1: Classic and Vintage Vehicle rally from Station Road, Sturminster Newton, meeting from 9.30 for 11am start

Wednesday January 5 (see also January 19): Introduction to volunteering at the Blandford Museum, Beres Yard, Market Place, 10.30 to 11.30am

Thursday January 6: Online murder mystery with Sharp Teeth Theatre, Sherlock at Home – Murder at the Games, 2.30 and 8pm, book via Artsreach at www.artsreach.co.uk

Friday January 7: Wessex Acoustic Folk present Marion Fleetwood + Dom Prag, Blandford RBL, 8pm, tickets 01202 732239 or www.wimborne-acoustic.co.uk

Saturday January 8: Cranborne Chase AONB volunteering day, see www.cranbornechase.org.uk

Tuesday January 11; Bryanston Choral Society first rehearsal of Faure Requiem, Bryanston School, 7.30 to 9pm, see www.bryanstonchoralsociety.co.uk

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

Blandford Town Council planning committee meeting, Corn Exchange, 7pm or watch via Teams (see www.blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk)

Wednesday January 19: Introduction to volunteering at the Blandford Museum, Beres Yard, Market Place, 3.30 to 4.30pm, details 01258 458911

Thursday January 20:

Election to fill vacancy on Blandford Town Council for Old Town Ward, polling station The Parish Rooms, The Tabernacle, 7am to 10pm

Harbours and Coastal Communities in Mycenaean Greece, Blandford Museum talk by Max McDonald, Southampton University, The Parish Centre, The Tabernacle, 7.30pm

Thursday to Saturday January 20 to 22: Pantomime at the Village club, Iwerne Minster

Friday January 21:

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

Wessex Acoustic Folk present Antonine and Owena + Rod Jenkins, Blandford RBL, 8pm, tickets 01202 732239 or www.wimborne-acoustic.co.uk

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

Monday January 24: Blandford Town Council full council meeting, Corn Exchange, 7pm or watch via Teams (see www.blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk)

Friday January 28:  Blandford & District u3a: 2 pm at Durweston Village Hall: Christopher Legrand on "Salzburg: architecture and music". Details 01258 628079

Sunday January 30: Multi Story Theatre present ‘Hefted’, Corn Exchange, Blandford 7.30pm, details and tickets from www.artsreach.co.uk

From February 1: Blandford Museum, Bere’s Yard, open 10am to 4pm, Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays

Tuesday February 1: Blandford Breast Cancer Support Group, Pimperne village hall, 2.30pm, speaker from Rotary, details 01258 860706 or 453853

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

Friday February 11: Wessex Acoustic Folk present Mitchell and Vincent + Anne-Lousie Richards, Blandford RBL, 8pm, tickets 01202 732239 or www.wimborne-acoustic.co.uk

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

Saturday February 12: Cranborne Chas AONB volunteering day, see www.cranbornechase.org.uk

Saturday to Monday February 18 to 28: Cranborne Chase AONB StarFest, see www.cranbornechase.org.uk

Saturday February 26: Tom Elliot Comedy and Magic, Blandford Corn Exchange, 7.30pm, see www.b-c-p.co.uk

Tuesday March 1: Blandford Breast Cancer Support Group, Pimperne village hall, 2.30 pm, speaker from the Food Bank, details 01258 860706 or 453853

Monday March 7: Raise the Commonwealth Flag, Blandford Market Place 11am

Friday March 11: Wessex Acoustic Folk present The Ciderhouse Rebellion + Becoming Branches, Blandford RBL, 8pm, tickets 01202 732239 or www.wimborne-acoustic.co.uk

Friday March 25: Wessex Acoustic Folk present Tradarrr, Blandford Corn Exchange, 8pm, tickets 01202 732239 or www.wimborne-acoustic.co.uk

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

Saturday May 7: Paul Kerensa: The First Broadcast, Blandford Corn Exchange, 7.30pm, see www.b-c-p.co.uk

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

Sunday June 19: Child Okeford Open Gardens

Saturday and Sunday June 25 and 26: Iwerne Minster Open Gardens

Sunday June 26: Blandford Hidden Gardens

Thursday August 25 to Monday August 29: The Great Dorset Steam Fair