What's On This September & October

From 2 September

Pre School Gymnastics Classes Gymstars Gymnastics Academy, Wimborne BH21 7RQ

Fun, structured gymnastics classes for children aged 18 months+ at a purposebuilt gymnastics facility in Ferndown Ind Estate. Book at gymmstarsgymnastics.co.uk

7 September

Bridport Fire Station Open Day Fire Station, Bridport DT6 3XA

A chance to meet and great your local crews, have a look around the appliances plus demonstrations, teddy bear zip wire, BBQ and more. 10am.

7–8, 14–15, 21–22 Sep

Medieval Games Corfe Castle, Wareham BH20 5EZ

Step back in time and have a go at some of the games that you come across as you explore the castle ruins. 10am–5pm.

7, 14 September

Picnic in the Park Willow Walk, Wimborne BH21 1ED Woodhouse Gardens, Blandford Forum DT11 7DN Slades Park, Bournemouth BH10 4EP

Bring a picnic, listen to live music and soak up the great atmosphere, with free activities for all the family. Wimborne 7 Sep, Blandford & Bournemouth 14 Sep. 11am–3pm.

8 September

Family Roller Disco New Milton Memorial Centre, New Milton BH25 6DE

Come and enjoy the friendly environment of a Roller Disco, with all the latest music and games. Fun for all ages. 3–5pm. Skater £6, skate hire £1.

PetFest Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe BH23 4LE

Pet-related trade stands and dog competitions with a petting zoo, snake handling and birds of prey on display! 10.30–4pm. Adult £2, child £1.

Try Rugby Sports Morning Wimborne Rugby Club, Wimborne BH21 2AP

Wondering if your child would enjoy playing rugby? Rugby workshops for girls and boys plus sports taster sessions for the whole family. Just come along in sports kit! Age 5-16. 9.45am–12pm. Free.

8, 15, 22, 29 September, 6, 13, 20, 27 October

Kids Club Laser Quest, Bournemouth BH1 2LZ

Your kids can burn off some excess energy with up to 2 hours of safe, non-stop fun. 10am–12pm. £11pp.

From 9 September

Jo Jingles Broadstone Arts Centre, BH18 8NB St Marys Church, Ferndown BH22 9EU Bearwood Community Centre, Bournemouth BH11 9TF

Fun weekly interactive music, singing & movement classes for babies and young children. Broadstone – Tues & Fri, Ferndown – Wed & Bournemouth – Thurs. See jojingles.com/poole for times & prices.

9, 16 September

Dorchester Elfins Kid’s Taster Sessions Dorchester Community Church, Poundbury DT1 3DF

Woodcraft Folk is a national co-operative youth group with a focus on fun, friends, equality and building a better world. Activities include games, crafts, bushcraft and camping. Register your interest at: dorchesterwoodcraftfolk@gmail.com Taster sessions 9 & 16 Sep for ages 6–9.

14 September

Circus Spectacle 2019 High Street & Quay, Poole BH15 1AW

A circus extravaganza including jugglers, rope walking, acrobats, arts and crafts and much more, on the High Street and Quay throughout the day. 10am–6.30pm. Free.

16, 23, 30 September, 7, 14, 21, 28 October

Naturetots Woodland Playgroup Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch BH23 3ND

Babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and their parents can explore and discover all that mother nature has to offer in this woodland setting. 10–11.30am. £4.

21 September

Longham Lakes Open Day Longham Lakes, Longham BH22 8AB

Enjoy a variety of ‘have a go’ activities suitable for the whole family including fishing, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, pond dipping and birdwatching. 11am–4pm.

Ringwood Carnival Town Centre, Ringwood BH24 1AT

A festival of fun for the whole family with fun fair and street entertainment. 12–10pm. Street processions at 2pm and 7.15pm. Fireworks at 9.30pm.

15 September

Free-Expression Community Arts Festival Blandford Market Place & Beres Yard, Blandford Forum DT11 7AD

Free Expression is a vibrant community arts festival set in the centre of the picturesque riverside town of Blandford Forum. This FREE family event celebrates all areas of the arts, covering a wide range of styles to introduce people to areas with in the arts they may not have seen before. With drop-in workshops covering arts, crafts, music, circus and more, performances, stalls, tasty food and exhibitions to enjoy.

A truly all-encompassing arts event, suitable for the whole family and all ages, and best of all its free with plenty of free parking. 10am–4pm. Free. www.free-expression.com

22 September

Wimborne Baby & Toddler Show Allendale Centre, Wimborne BH21 1AS

There’s shopping, learning and fun for parents and carers of babies and toddlers, with exclusive show offers, live demos and more. 10am–2pm.

28 September

Coastal Comic Con Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth BH1 2EW

A celebration of pop culture, from comics to cosplay, gaming, film and television. 10am–5pm. Adult £10, child £5.

28 Oct - 1 Nov

The 115 Holiday Club Moordown St Johns Primary School, Bournemouth BH9 2SA

Exciting day trips and fun daily ageappropriate activities designed for under 8s, over 8s and 11+ to guarantee entertainment for everyone this Autumn Half Term. 8am–5.45pm. £24 day. £27 for trip days. 115club.co.uk

5–6 October

Grandparents Day Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, Poole BH16 6EU

Free entry for a grandparent on Grandparent's Day at Farmer Palmer's with voucher downloaded from their website. A fun family day out on the farm for all generations. 10am–5pm.

6 October

Expectant & New Parent Event Dolphin Shopping Centre, Poole BH15 1SZ

Free talks, taster classes and demonstrations from some of the best local maternity and baby businesses. First 100 families receive a free goody bag. 10am–2pm. Free.

Until 13 October

Daily Steam Train Services Swanage Railway, Swanage BH19 1HB

The picture postcard branch line to the seaside, with award-winning heritage steam trains running for 6 miles through the Purbeck countryside, between Swanage and Corfe Castle / Norden in Dorset. Under 5s free.

20 October

Justin Fletcher Live! Poole Lighthouse, Poole BH15 1UG

The CBeebies superstar is live on stage in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza. A fun show for all the family packed full of popular interactive song and dance routines, comedy, and custard pies! 11am & 2pm. From £17.

Milkshake! Live Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth BH1 2BU

Starring Fireman Sam, Noddy, Shimmer & Shine, Digby Dragon, Wissper, Nella the Princess Knight and the Floogals, alongside Milkshake presenters, expect laughter and audience interaction. 12pm & 3.30pm. £6 - £17.50.

25–27 October

Monstersaurus Poole Lighthouse, Poole BH15 1UG

Follow the young inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of whacky inventions and incredible monsters. Age 3+. 2 performances daily. Adult £15.75, child £12.

26 Oct – 3 Nov

Autumn Half Term Activities Tank Museum, Bovington BH20 6JG

Explore The Tank Museum and experience the biggest day out in history and take part in a range of family activities. 10am–5pm.

26 October – 3 November

Find Fennel at Monkey World Monkey World, Wareham BH20 6HH

Get your Find Fennel activity sheet with your Halloween pack. Spooky sand art and creepy crafts in the activity centre and a spook station will introduce children to creatures of the night!

Half Term Fun at Corfe Corfe Castle, Wareham BH20 5EZ

Take part in the Great Escape (teddy bear zip wire) and watch missiles launch from the castle's medieval siege engine, plus family castle quest and crafts. 10am–3pm.

29 October, 1 November

Family Pond Dipping Hengistbury Head Centre, Bournemouth BH6 4EN

Discover the weird and wonderful creatures lurking in the pond. Join this guided family pond dipping event! £3 per child, suitable for ages 5+. Booking essential. 10–11.30am & 12.30–2pm. Child £3.

31 October

Beastly Monsters Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe BH23 4LE

A theatrical show for children and young families, join Alice Quatermain as she recounts several of her daring escapades from the Edwardian era. Encounter marauding monsters, deadly dinosaurs and fiendish fauna! 6.30pm. £7.50.

5 November

Poole Quay Fireworks Poole Quay, Poole BH15 1BW

Come and join the party on one of the biggest nights of the year with live music, family entertainment, jugglers and fire performances plus children’s rides, bouncy castles and workshops! From 5pm. Firework finale starts 8pm. Free.

Animal Encounters at Kingston Maurward

At Kingston Maurward Animal Park, it’s an animal lover’s paradise with a host of close encounters feeding rare breed goats, sheep, ducks and chickens.

Plus, during weekends and school holidays daily activities include wallaby feeding, pony grooming and even guinea pig fishing! Wander further and discover giant rabbits, ferrets, alpacas, birds of prey, Rhea & Peafowl and Saddleback pigs.

The stunning formal gardens and parkland offer picturesque walks to the Walled Garden and lakeside, while the shop and café offer take-home gifts, food & refreshments and great coffee.

Opening September, the new indoor play barn guarantees all-year-round fun, whatever the weather.

Underwater Wonders at Weymouth SEA LIFE Park

Explore an amazing underwater world and take a fascinating journey to the ocean depths at Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park.

Get up close to over 1,000 creatures in 15 different zones, including our playful family of Otters and magnificent rescued Sea Turtles. Then meet the world’s smallest penguins at Fairy Penguin Island. Native to Australia, they are the only colony of Fairy Penguins in the UK!

Find out how it feels to touch a Starfish, crab and other creatures in our interactive rock-pool and take on a new adventure in Caribbean Cove, Dorset’s greatest adventure playground!

This Halloween, you daren’t miss the Ascarium and help the Sea Witch unlock the treasure chest, open from 12 October to 3 November!

With fun talks, animal feeds, our Dive Adventure Quiz Trail and special events throughout the year, there’s plenty to enjoy at Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park.

Feel The Magic of Vintage Train Travel

Swanage Railway is the picture postcard branch line to the seaside.

Steam trains run for six miles, weaving their way through the beautiful Purbeck countryside from Norden, home of the Purbeck Mineral Mining Museum, past the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle to the sandy beach of Swanage, the eastern gateway to the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage site. Swanage Railway offers an intensive heritage steam train service with departures up to every 40 minutes in the summer season.

Special events, including steam galas in the Spring and Autumn, a diesel gala in May and our acclaimed Santa Specials in December, run each year.