The annual Dorset Arts and Crafts Exhibition starts today at Bovington Middle School.

This year’s exhibition will be a bumper show to celebrate the centenary of the Dorset Arts and Crafts Association.

Bovington Middle School:  27-31 July:  10am-5pm

[Image courtesy of Brian Wadie]

Just a reminder of what’s going on this weekend in Purbeck and its surrounds: take a step back in time at the Milton Abbas Street Fair; catch some fantastic outdoor theatre with a production of Thomas Hardy’s ‘Far From The Madding Crowd’ at Corfe Castle; or enjoy many of the fun-filled events taking place at the Swanage Regatta and Carnival, which kicks off on Saturday.

As part of the Swanage Carnival, the Half Marathon starts at 11am - if you’ve still got any energy left after watching or participating then there is a medley of live music at the marquee and music stage in the evening, interspersed with a spectacular fireworks display at 9.45pm.

Sunday sees the crowning of the Carnival Queen at 2pm, followed by some seafront entertainment, which leads nicely into the Carnival Procession at 3pm.

Tickets have gone on sale today for the rough diamond with the sumptuous voice that is Amy Winehouse.

The nationwide tour of her superb Mercury nominated ‘Back to Black’ album comes to the BIC in November.

BIC:  £20

If the wet weather has been getting you down and you are feeling frustrated at not being able to get out and about, why not take a virtual 360 degree spin around Durdle Door courtesy of the BBC at http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/panoramas/durdle_360.shtml

The same website also has a 3 mile historical walking tour of Swanage, taking in the pier, Peveril Point, Durlston Castle and other architectural highlights.

Tickets are selling fast for this year’s production of  Shakespeare’s ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ by the Brownsea Open Air Theatre (BOAT) company.

95% of tickets have now been sold, so to enjoy some great theatre in an idyllic setting you will need to get on the phone now to reserve your tickets.

BOAT:  £16 inclusive of ferry:  Tel: 01202 251987

Crowded House are to play the BIC as part of their comeback tour in December.

I was at their farewell gig on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in 1996, much to the indignation of my wife who is a far bigger fan than me and was stuck back in the UK - so karma will finally be restored to this household when we get to see them together.

BIC:   £32.50

The picturesque village of Milton Abbas will be transformed into an 18th Century Street Fair this Saturday.

Step back in time and enjoy music and dancing, craft stalls and a farmers’ market.

The charter for the fair dates back to King Athelstan who reigned back in the good ole days of 924-939 when Milton Abbas was known as Middleton.

Get into the Spirit Of The Countryside at Lulworth Castle in August.

This ‘celebration of leisure, work and sport inspired by rural life’ will take over 80 acres of the Lulworth Estate and events include jousting battles, gundog displays, falconry and light cavalry displays.

For the more active amongst you there will also be plenty ‘have a go’ activities such as laser clay pigeon shooting, fly casting, quad bikes, archery, rock climbing wall and more.

If all gets too much you can slope off to the Beer Festival and sit back and enjoy some live music on the Saturday evening

Lulworth Castle:  Adult £9, Child £4.50

Dorset based Butterfly Conservation is holding an online vote to find out Britain’s favourite butterfly.

Six celebrity panellists are championing their favourite butterfly and you can vote for one of these at www.butterfly-conservation.org

The online vote is part of Save Our Butterflies Week (21-29 July), with events taking place in Dorset and all around the country. 

Spend an evening in the company of Van the Man at the Lighthouse in Poole as he tours his new album ‘The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3′.

This is a unique opportunity to see a living legend in an intimate venue right on your doorstep.

Lighthouse:  Tickets £34/41

The RNLI headquarters in Poole are open to the public this weekend.

This is your chance to look behind the scenes and see how the RNLI trains its crews.

There will be rescue and survival demonstrations, film and images about the work of the RNLI, as well as the chance to experience the adrenalin of a rescue on the advanced simulator that is used to train crews.

RNLI Headquarters:  West Quay Road, Poole: Entrance £1

Locals and tourists in Cerne Abbas got a surprise today when they came across a 180 foot-tall image of Homer Simpson (complete with obligatory donut) right next to the legendary Cerne Abbas Giant.

The line drawing (which will eventually wash away in the rain) is a publicity stunt from the makers of the new Simpson’s film. 

Putting jokes aside about who is the biggest dick, pagans and conservationists are not happy that this Site of Special Scientific Interest has been rented out for a publicity stunt.

The National Trust have defended their decision by saying that it has been used before to advertise condoms, jeans and bicycles - oh that’s alright then, doh!

There are over 120 events taking place at this year’s week-long Swanage Regatta & Carnival.

Attractions include spectacular firework displays (Saturday and Wednesday nights), an amazing carnival procession (Sunday afternoon), live music every day and a myriad of competitions to participate or just watch, including: darts, fishing, painting, go-karts, sand sculptures and yard-of-ale, to mention just a few.

Last year the carnival raised £26,000 for charity so please give generously if you attend. The beautifully put-together full programme of events can be purchased for £2.50 from any bookshop or tourist information centre in Purbeck or from the carnival website. 

Swanage Regatta & Carnival:  28 July-4 August

Plans by developers to transform Dorchester’s derelict former brewery into shops, restaurants, an arts centre and apartments have been approved by West Dorset District Council. 

The £100m scheme also includes plans to turn Dorchester South into the country’s first solar powered railway station.

The principle planning officer has described this as ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity’.

Much of the demolition work has already been completed and so the work could be completed by 2009.

Exciting news for Harry Potter fans as The Rex has been selected by Warner Bros to screen ‘Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix’ on Thursday, a day before its nationwide release.

There will be 2 showings (4pm and 7.15pm) and tickets are the usual price but Potter fans should arrive early to guarantee a seat.