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Once Upon A Princess Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne BH21 1LT The ultimate pop Princess party, live on stage! This glittering production features your favourite fairytale Princesses and a soundtrack of top pop hits and movie musical classics. 12pm & 4pm. £12.
18 May The Amazing Bubble Man Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis DT7 3QA
Throughout May & June
Until 6 May
Experience the breath-taking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and spellbinding bubble tricks. 11am & 2.30pm. Adult £12, child £10 advance.
Pottery, Crafts, Cuddly Toy Making & More
Jawsome Sharks Sea Life Adventure Park, Weymouth DT4 7SX
Wipeout World
Create at the Cove, Wareham BH20 5SG
Take a dive into the deep as a Jawsome Ranger and fulfil the mission of finding the missing shark teeth. Help Professor Finn locate the large Play-Doh model shark teeth in the tanks. Once qualified, Jawsome Rangers get a special Play-Doh gift.
Rossmore Leisure Centre, Parkstone BH12 4HR
Get creative at this charming and unique all-weather venue. Choose from a variety of craft kits, fossil digging, model making, decopatch, paint your own pottery, colouring & painting, make your own cuddly toy and more. Open daily from 10am–5pm.
Up Close & Personal with Birds of Prey Liberty’s Owl, Raptor & Reptile Centre, Ringwood BH24 3DZ A fun, thrilling and educational family day. Liberty’s houses a large collection of birds of prey and an indoor reptile house. Observe these magnificent birds flying free or experience falconry first-hand with our Flying Experience Days. 10am–5pm.
4, 11, 18, 28-29, 30-31 May, 8, 15, 22, 29 June Bikeability Level 1 & 2 Courses King’s Park Cycle Centre, Bournemouth BH7 7AF Give your child the skills to cycle on today’s roads. Level 1 & 2 cycle training for children aged 10 and over to help build the skills and confidence to ride a bike safely on the road. Saturdays & May Half Term from 9am–12.30pm & 1–4.30pm. Visit bcpcouncil.gov.uk/bikeability or call 01202 454636 to book.
4–6, 25–27 May Go Nuts! Monkey World, Wareham BH20 6HH Every child who brings an unopened bag of nuts for the primates receives a free Monkey World badge over the Bank Holiday weekend. 10am–5pm. Adult £14, child £10, under 3s free.
5 May Knob Fest Kingston Maurwood College, Dorchester DT2 8PX Visit the world-famous Dorset Knob Throwing Festival. Fun attractions include fun Knob Eating, Knob Painting, a Knob & Spoon Race, Knob Darts and a Knob Pyramid. A fun family day out with a difference! 10am–4pm. Adult £5, child <12 free.
6 May, 3 June Wildlife Tots Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve, Ringwood BH24 3PJ Fun outdoor play and wildlife discovery activities for the family. For age 2–5. 10.30am–12pm & 1–2.30pm. Booking essential.
10 – 12 May Diesel Gala
Dash through the 50ft obstacle course. Get unlimited use of nine activities for you and your family to enjoy. Why not compete against the kids? Suitable age 5+. 10am–4.30pm. Advance booking. £9.99.
21 May – 13 June Matchstick Fleet Exhibition Nothe Fort, Weymouth DT4 8UF Made entirely of matchsticks and matchboxes, marvel at a special exhibition of model ships, that have taken one man a lifetime to build. Be amazed at the detail and accuracy of the modern warships models on display. 10.30am–5.30pm.
24 – 27 May
Swanage Railway, Swanage BH19 1HB
Purbeck Pirate Festival
Swanage Railway’s Diesel Gala and Dorset Beer Festival runs an intensive daily service over the full 10 mile line between Swanage and Wareham. 1 Day Rover tickets on the day: Adult £35, child £25, family £73. Discounts on advance bookings.
Sandpit Field, Swanage BH19 1LA
11 May Sooty’s Magic Show The Regent Centre, Christchurch BH23 1AS Izzy Wizzy let’s get busy! Join Sooty for his brand-new Laugh Out Loud Magic Show! A spectacular family treat with a chance to meet Richard and Sooty after the show! 11am & 2.30pm. Adult £12.50, child £10.50, family £40.
Spring Country Fayre High Mead Farm, Ferndown BH22 9DR There’s something for all the family to enjoy with children’s play area, small animal cuddle corner, alpaca walks, fun dog show, birds of prey, storytelling and country fayre games. 10am–7pm. Adult £5, child £3, under 3s free.
12 May Lone Parent Fair St James Church, Poole BH15 1JN Come and join in the fun. With haircuts, manicures and beauty treatments (parents only), bike safety checks, legal advice, budget coaching and parenting advice. Children can also enjoy face painting, entertainment, games, crafts and more. 10am–1pm. Free.
There’ll be much raiding, pillaging and plundering with pirate stalls, food, re-enactments and entertainment for all ages. 10am–4pm.
25 – 26 May 1940’s Home Front Family Weekend Nothe Fort, Weymouth DT4 8UF What was life like during WW2? 1940’s war time history is brought to life with Home Front re-enactments, or try the Evacuee Experience and visit secret areas of the fort. Plus 1940’s vehicle displays, live entertainment, themed activities, side shows and stalls. 10.30am–5.30pm. Adult £8, child £2, family £18, under 5s free.
25 – 27 May Inflatable Theme Park Redland Community Sports Hub, Weymouth DT3 5BA Experience some of the best bouncy castles and slides in Dorset. Children receive unlimited access to 10 large inflatables, a visit from Mickey and Minnie Mouse and a free face paint. There’s also an under 5’s inflatable area. 10am–12pm, 12.30–2.30pm, 3–5pm. Adult free, child £6.
25 May – 1 June Family Fairground Baiter Park, Poole BH15 1TQ Dorset’s favourite family fairground is returning to Baiter Park. Enjoy amazing value for money with a £6.99 wristband for unlimited rides on all the family favourites for two hours! 12–2pm, 2–4pm, 4–6pm and 6–8pm. Come along and enjoy the fun!
25 May – 2 June 50 Things This May Half Term Kingston Lacy House & Gardens, Wimborne BH21 4EA Have some wild fun over May half-term. Explore the woods and parkland on the Woodland Walk, have a go at some of the 50 Things to do before you’re 11¾ and celebrate birds, bugs and bees with some hands-on activities. 10am – 4pm. Admission charges may apply.
May Half Term on Brownsea Island Brownsea Island, Poole BH13 7EE Get your children out and about and enjoying nature on Brownsea Island. Grab a free adventure trail or join a special free Minibeast guided adventure, and more to discover the island’s weird and wonderful wildlife. 10am–5pm. Normal admission fees apply.
May Half Term at Kingston Maurward Kingston Maurward Animal Park & Gardens, Dorchester DT2 8PX Go wild at Kingston Maurward this half term! Explore the stunning parkland estate, discover our friendly farmyard animals, and enjoy a range of kids’ activities. 10am–5pm. Adult £7, child 4-16 £5, child age 3 £2, under 2s free.
Treasure Trail Avon Heath Country Park, Ringwood BH24 2DH Your treasure awaits you, but first you must embark on an adventure across the heath and through the woods in search of clues to unravel the wildlife riddles for your prize at the end. 11am–3pm. £3.
26 May West Bay Pirate Day West Bay, Bridport DT6 4HA Shiver me timbers! There’s pirate mayhem at West Bay harbour with pirate games and entertainment for all the family. 12–5pm. Free.
27, 29 May Creepy Crawly Show Upton Country Park, Poole BH17 7BJ Mad 4 Animals returns with their energetic Creepy Crawly Show introducing some exotic animals while encouraging participation. 9.45–11.30am. Child £2.50. Adults & under 2s free.
27 - 31 May Half Term Pirate Trail & Crafts
WANT TO PROMOTE YOUR LOCAL EVENT IN THE NEXT ISSUE?
Highcliffe Castle, Christchurch BH23 4LE Follow the Pirate trail around the inside of the castle, with crafts and activities in the Dining Room. 10am–3.30pm. £2.50.
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