20 things to do in Dorset and the New Forest this weekend

To help get you prepared, we've decided to publish our round-up of what's on a little earlier this week. 

If you'd like to be included in our guide to what's on next weekend, send us the details of your event to digital@bournemouthecho.co.uk 

Please note: The British Heart Foundation was due to take place on Sunday but has now been postponed due to the weather forecast.

Bournemouth’s annual LGBT Pride Festival takes place this weekend. Now in its 11th year, Bourne Free will see a host of events taking place across the town including a parade which will leave East Cliff at 11am on Saturday, music in the bandstand between 12.30pm and 4.30pm plus entertainment in the Triangle Arena all weekend. Entry is free on Friday from 6pm with a big screen showing The Sound of Music. Entry on Saturday is by wristband only and costs £10 or £25 for a VIP wristband. More at http://bournefree.co.uk/

There will be ponies, polo and parties this weekend in Sandbanks when the Asahi British Beach Polo Championships make a return. This year the Clogau Wales Polo Team will be playing against England, Scotland and The Barbarians hoping to hold onto their title of reigning champions. Beach volleyball also returns to the sand with the REVO Beach Volleyball Sand Slam 2015. This year sees the England women's team meet their Olympic qualifier rivals Greece. For details on tickets, visit http://www.sandpolo.com/

The 15th Grooves on the Green community festival takes place on Ashley Cross Green on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's Main Stage bill is headlined by Bournemouth groove machine The Baker Brothers , G13, Afro Tallawah, Kaia, All About Tobe and Krista Green & the Bees also appearing. On Sunday bill topper Mutant Vinyl is playing his only local show of the year at Grooves. He'll be appearing with Duveaux, Signals, Not Made In China, Fearne and Wikkaman. Meanwhile, hosted by Si Genaro from BBC's The Voice, the Calling Stage will showcase the very best of Dorset's unsigned talent. Plus there will be real ale, cider and entertainment for the little ones. Tickets are £5 with £1 going to Diverse Abilities Plus. Entry for under 16s is £3 with free entry for children five and under.

The two-day Cheese and Chilli Festival is back at Bournemouth Sports Club, Chapel Gate. As well as more chilli and cheese, there will be a huge selection of award winning real ales, cider, wine and lager from the Ringwood Brewery. There will also be live music and activities including free chilli and cheese tasting, magic shows, a children’s fun fair and a free cocktail master class. The fun and games will kick off from 10am.

It’s the fourth annual Upton and Lytchett Minster carnival on Saturday. The parade commences at 1pm from Factory Road and proceeds down Moorland Way across Sandy Lane and up Seaview Road to end at the Recreation Ground in Dorchester Rd at 2pm, where a fete with live bands will be held until 6pm.

Dorset’s first ever Run or Dye event comes to King’s Park on Saturday. Hundreds of runners have already signed up for the colourful 5k to help raise money for Julia’s House. Registration starts from 8am and the race begins at 10am. Participants will be pelted with dye at the start, during and at the end of the race. To enter, visit http://runordye.co.uk/uk-locations/bournemouth

More than 50 bands will be appearing at the 26th Swanage Jazz Festival. The event, which starts on Friday, is based at venues across Swanage, with the main marquees situated at Sandpit Field. Among those set to appear this year is the Keith Nichols Blue Devils, Tom 'Spats Langham' and violinist Ben Holder. The half-hour traditional brass band parade, starting at Swanage Tourist Information Centre, Shore Road, at 10.30 on the Saturday, will feature Dave Brennan's Jubilee Jazz Band. Visit swanagejazz.org for full details.

Join Hattie Miles for a circular walkingtalk on Saturday morning and uncover the hidden secrets of Westbourne. During the walk you’ll find out all about the writers, actors, pop stars, scientists and British prime minister connected to the area. Meet outside the Lavish life Cafe in the Arcade. Costs £6, or £5 for over sixties and students. For more, visit walkingtalks.wordpress.com

The RNLI are hosting their annual summer fete on July 11 in the garden of The Red House Museum. With stalls, refreshments, the New Forest Dixieland Jazz Band and a Dinosaur Trail, there’s something for the whole family. The event is free and will take place from 11am-3pm.

Want to get you car clean and help the local community? A hand car wash will be taking place at the Parkstone URC Church in Lower Parkstone from 2pm on Saturday. The event is taking place to help raise funds for community projects. There will also be a table top sale and work on show by local artists.

The sixth New Milton Pedal Car Grand Prix is held on Sunday. There will be events and entertainment on the recreation ground for everyone between 12noon and 5pm with the main event taking place during the afternoon. The race can be viewed from anywhere around the 1km track which takes in most of Station Road and part of Old Milton Road, from the traffic lights to the Elm Avenue car park entrance.

Cherry Bear will be opening a summer fair at Queens Park Infant School in East Wa on Saturday. The event takes place between 10.30am and 2pm and there will be quad bikes, games, unusual pets, pony rides, trampolines, crafts stalls and more. Costs £1 for adults, children go free.

The Bell pub in Pokesdown will be hosting a fun day on Saturday to raise money for homeless veterans. From 11am there will be live music from the likes of Fired Up, Samba Panashe Band, Lemon Oven, Everyday Sunshine plus a total madness tribute from 9pm. There will also be cake stalls, wood carving and creative art, tarot card readings, face painting and a BBQ.

A whole host of family fun will be on offer at the Slades Farm fun day on Sunday, July 12. The event is held in association with the Ensbury Park community centre and will take place between 10am and 5pm. It will include a skate festival, bouncy castle, live music, crazy golf, a dog show plus Peppa Pig will be there.

The multi-award winning Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival takes place this weekend. The event, which is now in its eighth year, offers fish lovers the chance to sample seafood dishes from almost 100 stalls, live cooking demonstrations from the likes of Matt Follas, Gill Meller from River Cottage HQ, Russell Brown and Jimmy Buchan. You can also learn to fillet a fish like a pro and eat in one of the pop-up restaurants. Takes place between 10.30am and 6pm on Saturday and 11am to 5.30pm on Sunday at Weymouth Harbourside. Read more about it here 

A 24-hour relay for life is due to take place at Ferndown Leisure Centre on Saturday. More than 300 people are expected to take part in the event, which raises funds for Cancer Research UK, from 12noon. This year, 40 cancer survivors will complete the first lap of the relay after Ferndown’s mayor and scientists from the charity officially open the event. There will also be live music to celebrate the relay, with 70 members of the Rock Choir will perform taking to the stage at 1pm, and while Jenny Oag will sing at 9pm. At 10pm 500 candles will be lit around the track. All are welcome to come along over the weekend to cheer on participants or donate.

An emergency services fun day takes place at Poole Park on Saturday between 11am and 4pm. There will be interactive stands and giveaways from the likes of Dorset fire and Rescue, South West Ambulance Service, Dorset Police, Dorset Road Safe, Streetwise, Safewise, RNLI, Maritime & Coastguard Agency and more. Entry is free.

There’s a fun day at Stanley Green Infant Academy on Saturday between 12noon and 5pm. There will be a bouncy castle, arena displays, games, a treasure hunt, climbing wall, pony rides, a bake off competition, car boot sale and a raffle.

Learn how to make your own kite with the RSPB on Saturday at Upton Country Park. Join in the free drop in session between 11am and 3pm.

An open-air performance of The Canterbury Tales will be held at Upton House on Sunday. The Wessex Actors Company will be using Chaucer's original characters but they will be speaking modern English. Tickets for adults are £12 with unders 17 costing £8 in advance. To book, visit http://wessex-actors-company.co.uk. This event is weather permitting.