It's another busy weekend of events in west Dorset, with food and hat festivals, an abundance of live music and much more.

Make planning your weekend easier with our what's on guide.

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

  • Watch a four-strong, all male troupe for a riotous bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at Bridport Arts Centre from 7.30pm. Tickets are available from bridport-arts.com

 

  • The Skalatans will be playing live at The Pymore Inn from 6.30pm as the pub hosts a paella night.

 

  • The Fat Marrow Blues Band will bring the sounds of blues, jazz and rock and roll to The Ropemakers pub from 9.15pm.

 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

  • Bridport Hat Festival will be taking place throughout the town, with live music, competitions and activities in the Borough Gardens, Millennium Green, Bucky Doo Square and arts centre. Don’t miss the mass hatted photo between 1pm and 1.30pm in South Street. For more information, visit bridporthatfest.org

 

  • Find out more about the role of a firefighter at Bridport Fire Station’s open day. There will be activities and demonstrations throughout the day from 10am to 4pm at the Sea Road station.

 

  • Food Rocks returns to Lyme Regis this weekend with Chef demonstrations, local food and drink stalls and entertainment. For more information and timings, visit hixrestaurants.co.uk

 

  • Enjoy a guided walk around Eype with Jurassic Coast Ambassador Geoff Rowland. Meet at Highlands end at 10am for a leisurely walk taking around two to three hours. To book, call 01308 807000 or visit jurassiccoast.org/shop

 

  • Belmont House will be open to the public this weekend. Explore the Grade II* listed villa that once belonged to businesswoman Eleanor Coade and John Fowles, author of The French Lieutenant’s Woman. It will be open from 10am to 4pm.

 

  • There will be fun at Lyme Regis lifeboat station near the Cobb from 10.30am to 5.30pm. There will be hundreds of books to browse, a win wine or water stall, name the welly dog family and much more.

 

  • The Artists of the Jurassic Coast exhibition starts at Eype Centre of the Arts, St Peter’s Church, until September 29. Meet the artists between 10.30am and 4.30pm.

 

  • Bridport and West Dorset Open Studios kicks off today, with more than 100 artists exhibiting across 56 venues. For more information, visit bridportopenstudios.co.uk

 

 

  • Dance with the Bridport Ceilidhs when they present A Pair of Shears at St Mary’s Church Hall from 7.30pm. No partner is needed but bring along something for a shared supper. Tickets cost £9 on the door or £8 in advance by calling 01308 423422.

 

  • Country singer/song writer Hank Wangford and The Lost Cowboys will be performing at the Electric Palace as part of Bridport Hat Festival. Tickets cost £12.50 in advance from Bridport Tourist Information Centre or £15 on the door. For more information, visit electricpalace.org.uk

 

  • Bridport Soul Club Night with DJ Dr Funk will be taking place at the Masonic Hall from 8.30pm. Tickets are available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre.

 

  • Rock band Compass will be performing at the Crown Inn, Bridport, from 10pm.

 

  • The Surfin’ Birds will be playing live at The Pymore Inn from 6pm.

 

  • The George Hall Trio will be joining The Shed at Bredy Farm from 6pm for a night of classic blues.

 

  • Pronghorn will be performing at The Ropemakers pub from 9.15pm.

 

  • The Kings Head in Bradpole will welcome Behind Closed Doors from 9pm, who will play a range of cover songs from green Day, Motorhead, The Darkness, Slipknot and more

 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

  • Food Rocks continues today on the coast of Lyme Regis with even more chef demonstrations and entertainment. For more information, visit hixrestaurants.co.uk

 

  • Belmont House, former home of businesswoman Eleanor Coade and author John Fowles, will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm.

 

  • Dread Balloon will be playing some covers and their own material at The Ropemakers pub from 4pm.

 

  • Relax at the Crown Inn, Bridport, to some of your favourite songs sung by Leanne Jackson from 4pm.

 

  • Hester Goodman and Matthew Robins present ‘Requiem for the Hatters’, a song-cycle about madness and shyness at the Lyric Theatre in Barrack Street at 7pm. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £5 for children and are available at Bridport Tourist Information Centre. For more information, visit aloadofstuffandnonsense.co.uk.