2015, December: Festive Shopping Day

Santa's Grotto, outside Waitrose. Festive Shopping Day 2016. ©Josie Elias — Santa’s Grotto, outside Waitrose.
Festive Shopping Day 2016.
©Josie Elias

Christmas Tree Festival, Methodist Church, Cheap Street. ©Josie Elias — Christmas Tree Festival, Methodist Church, Cheap Street.
©Josie Elias

Stilt walker in Cheap Street. ©Josie Elias — Stilt walker in Cheap Street.
©Josie Elias

Cheap Street ©Josie Elias — Cheap Street
©Josie Elias

Treacle Eater Clog Dancers in Cheap Street. ©Josie Elias — Treacle Eater Clog Dancers in Cheap Street.
©Josie Elias

Entertainment in Cheap Street. ©Josie Elias — Entertainment in Cheap Street.
©Josie Elias

Entertainment in Cheap Street. Festive Shopping Day. ©Josie Elias — Entertainment in Cheap Street. Festive Shopping Day.
©Josie Elias

Elsa from "Frozen", turns on the Christmas lights. ©Josie Elias — Elsa from “Frozen”, turns on the Christmas lights.
©Josie Elias

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for What’s Coming Up in the surrounding area please click here

Thursday 20 June / Mediumship with Nikki Kitt, Psychic Medium. Nikki Kitt aims to provide evidence of life after life by getting links from loved ones in spirit for people in the audience. Digby Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £10.00 available online www.psychicmediumnikkikitt.co.uk

Saturday 22 June / Sherborne Chamber Choir: A Midsummer Marriage Sherborne Abbey, DT9 3LQ. 7.30pm A selection of wedding favourites, plus settings from the Song of Solomon. Tickets Sherborne Tourist Office, Digby Road. 01935 815341

Saturday 22 June / Celebrating the Arts Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne DT9 3AA. 11am-4pm Artslink Fizz! Presents artist demonstrations, talks, café, mini tea dance, activities & exhibits. www.sherborneartslink.org.uk

Sunday 23 June / Patrick Shelley Music Competition Tindall Recital Hall, Sherborne School Music School 9.30am onwards Advanced instrumentalists participate throughout the day culminating in winners for each section.

Sunday 23 June / Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves presented by Illyria Outdoor Theatre. Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne DT9 5NR. 6.30pm for 7.30-9pm. Bring picnic and blankets. All ages. Entry costs, Adults £15, Children £5, Concessions. £13. Tickets from Sherborne TIC 01935 815341

Wednesday 26 June / Sherborne Science Café Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL. 7.30pm Talk: ‘Discovery of the Elements: Geography and Fame’, by Prof Chick Wilson University of Bath. £2 http://tinyurl.com/sciencecafesherborne

Wednesday 26 June / Organ Recital Sherborne Abbey, DT9 3LQ. 1pm 40 minute organ recital by James Henderson featuring a variety of music. Retiring collection.

Wednesday 26 June / Arts Society Sherborne lecture Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne, DT9 3AA. 2.15 for 3.00pm & 6.15 for 7.00pm Talk by Peter Medhurst – ‘The Musical World of Johann Sebastian Bach’. Guests of member £7 https://theartssociety.org/sherborne

Wednesday 26 June -Saturday 29 June / The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) A one and a half hour romp through the complete works of The Bard. Featured works include a gory Titus Andronicus, a somewhat less than romantic Romeo and Juliet, the Othello rap and Hamlet performed in less than a minute. If you like Shakespeare you will like this. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love it! Sherborne Studio Theatre, Marston Road, Sherborne. 7.30pm. Tickets and more info here

Thursday 27 June / Talk & Signing with Victoria Hislop Cheap Street Church, Sherborne DT9 3BJ. 1pm Book launch of ‘Those who are Loved ‘ by Victoria Hislop. £5 entry from Winstone’s Bookshop. 01935 816128

Thursday 27 June / Leavers’ Concert Sherborne School Tindall Recital Hall, Sherborne School Music School 7.30pm Sherborne School Leavers of 2019 present a final evening of solo and ensembele performances.

Friday 28 June / Gala Concert Sherborne School Big School Room, Sherborne School 7.30pm A variety of music from the students of Sherborne School

Friday 28 – Saturday 29 June / Susie Watson Designs celebrating their 1st year birthday in partner with Mere-based florists ‘Sprout & Flower’ in-store for spectacular flower event. One customer will win a floral bouquet in an engraved vase. Coffee & Cake throughout the day. 9am to 5.30pm. Susie Watson Designs, 28 Cheap Street, Sherborne.

Saturday 29 June / Better than church – the history of pubs and brewing in Sherborne (SDFHS talk). Barry Brock’s talk will investigate the history of the inn and the alehouse in Sherborne, taking a look at some of the people involved and the tales associated with them. Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd, Sherborne DT9 3NL, 2.30pm. £5 (SDFHS members: £3).

Saturday 29 June / Cathy Newman with Kate Adie Cheap Street Church, Sherborne DT9 3BJ. 2pm Cathy Newman (C4 News) promotes ‘Bloody Brilliant Women’ & is interviewed by Kate Adie. £5 Winstone’s Bookshop. 01935 816128

Saturday 29 June / Ballroom Dancing Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne, DT9 3AA. 8-11pm Ballroom, Latin & popular sequence. O18s, all levels, smart casual dress. £5 01460 240112 dance@dancewessex.co.uk

Monday 01 July / Insight Event: The Cost of Care Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL 7.30-9.pm Talk by Ron Martin, lead chaplain at Dorchester County Hospital. £5 www.insight.sherborneabbey.com/events

Friday 5 – Sunday 7 July / Dorset Moon Sherborne Abbey, Digby Road, DT9 3LQ 8am-12 midnight daily. Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon, featuring a 7m diameter spherical sculpture with imagery, moonlight & sound. Programme of events throughout the weekend. Free. https://dorsetmoon.com/sherborne/

Friday 5 July / Andrew Smith – Moondust, In Search of The Men Who Fell To Earth 7.00pm Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne. Tickets from dorsetmoondust.eventbrite.co.uk, Winstone’s or Sherborne TIC

Saturday 6 July / Sherborne Abbey Choir Concert The choir’s annual concert, including anthems and motets taken from the year’s repertoire. This year’s concert takes place under the watch of the Dorset Moon, which will be in the Abbey from 5 to 7 July. Enjoy some specially chosen music to accompany this stunning installation! Director of Music Paul Ellis. 7.30pm. Free entry with retiring collection.

Friday 5 – Sunday 7 July / Sherborne Walks Make the most of your visit to the Dorset Moon and bring 1300 years of history to life with a 2 hour stroll around town guided by Blue Badge guide Cindy Chant or Paul Birkbeck. Various times & routes each day, a 2 hour stroll. Adults £8 Children £5 U8 free. Book at Sherborne TIC or: www.sherbornewalks.co.uk See flyer for details.

Saturday 06 July / Men’s Breakfast St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Close, Sherborne DT9 4HU 8-10am

Saturday 06 July / Train Like An Astronaut Cheap Street Methodist Church, Sherborne DT9 3BJ 1-5pm Interactive family workshop linked to Dorset Moon/Museum of the Moon at Sherborne Abbey. Learn to be an astronaut using virtual reality. Free.

Saturday 06 July / Sherborne Summer Craft & Gift Fair Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL. 10am-4pm An antiques, crafts & collectors market, up to 35 stalls. Free. West Country Fairs 01749 677049

Sunday 7 July / Friends of the Yeatman Hospital Car Boot Sale The Terrace, Sherborne DT9 5NS. Sellers: £5.00 from 8am. Buyers: 50p 9am-12noon. Free Parking. No dogs. Contact : elizabethturnbull70@btinternet.com or 07790 863518

Sunday 07 July / Sprint Triathlon Sherborne Sports Centre, DT9 3AP Swim 500m Cycle 20km Run 5km. tessa.kelly@sherborne.org or tel: 01935 810548 www.sherbornesports.co.uk

Sunday 07 July / Blast Off! Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, DT9 3NL 12-5pm Interactive family workshop linked to Dorset Moon/Museum of the Moon at Sherborne Abbey. Dress up, learn about rockets and launch your own. Free.

Tuesday 09 July / Book Launch The Butterfly House, Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne DT9 5NR 6.30-9pm ‘The Climate Change Garden’ by Sally Morgan & Kim Stoddart. Tickets £3.00 from Winstone’s 01935 816128

Wednesday 10 July / Sherborne Artslink Flicks Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL 7 for 7.30pm Film: Can you Ever Forgive Me? (15) £6 from Sherborne TIC. 01935 815341 www.sherborneartslink.org.uk

Friday 12 July / Illyria Outdoor Theatre Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne DT9 5NR. 6.30pm Bring picnic & blankets, 7.30-9pm ‘Tempest’. All ages. A£15, C£5, Conc. £13.

Monday 13 July / Whist Drive Cheap Street Methodist Church, Sherborne DT9 3BJ 2pm Whist Drive in aid of the Rendezvous. 2-5pm, tea included. vicki@addey.co.uk tel: 01935 815816

Sunday 14 July / Sherborne Steam and Water Wheel Centre Open Day Come along and see the new waterwheel and the Hindley steam engines under steam on open days. 11.30am to 3.30pm. Oborne Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3RX. Limited parking on site, additional parking available nearby on Oborne Road.

Sunday 14 July / Music in The Park Enjoy second concert FREE, open air concerts by the wonderful Sherborne Town [Brass] band. For the first two concerts, the band will be joined by the Sherborne Youth Band. Sit back, enjoy the pageant gardens, bring the family and a picnic and be entertained! Concert starts at 2.30pm. Seating in the park available.

Monday 15 July / Insight Event: Post-Modern Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL 7.30-9.pm Talk by the Revd Duncan Dormor, CEO of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. £5 www.insight.sherborneabbey.com/events

Wednesday 17 July / Sherborne WI Catholic Church Hall, Westbury, Sherborne, DT9 3RA 2.30pm Anna McDowell presents ‘The History of Dorset Buttons’. New members/visitors welcome. £4 (includes refreshments)

Friday 19 July / Sherborne Literary Society Lunch Leweston School, DT9 6EN 12.30 for 1pm Two course lunch then speaker John Hare OBE FRGS, explorer & conservationist. £32 from Sherborne TIC and www.sherborneliterarysociety.com

Saturday 20 July / Oxfam Coffee Morning Raleigh Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL. 10.30am-12.30pm Monthly Coffee Morning to raise money for Oxfam

Sunday 21 July / Sherborne 5km Run From the Terraces, Sherborne DT9 5NS. 8am registration, 8.25am warm-up, 8.30am 5km run.Sign up at or www.facebook.com/sherborne5km/www.communifit.co.uk

Sunday 21 July / Classic & Supercars Now in its 16th year in the beautiful grounds of Sherborne Castle, Dorset, the Classic & Supercars Show has the largest display of Vintage, Classic & Supercars in the South West. 9.30am to 16.00. Sherborne Castle. For more information and tickets click here

Monday 24 July / Sherborne Science Café Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL. 7.30pm Talk by Prof Andrea Russell, Southampton University: Not so Fantastic Plastics. £2, open to all.

Monday 24- Sunday 27 July / Sherborne Abbey, DT9 3LQ. 6.00pm Sherborne Choral Course singing Choral Evensong, conducted on different days by John Rutter, Bob Chilcott, or James Henderson.

Tuesday 25 July / Wildlife Friendly Garden Awards Castle Gardens, New Road, Sherborne DT9 5NR. 6.30-9pm Guest speaker George McGavin, with Dorset Wildlife Trust. Awards ceremony tickets available in store. 01935 814633 www.illyria.co.uk

Saturday 27 July / The Photographic Legacy of the American Civil War (1861-1865) (SDFHS talk). Robin Ansell will briefly touch upon some of the earlier conflicts that were photographed, before reviewing in greater detail the extensive and amazingly varied photographic legacy of the Civil War. Raleigh Hall, Digby Rd, Sherborne DT9 3NL, 2.30pm. £5 (SDFHS members: £3).

Sunday 21 July / Lancaster Insurance Classic & Supercars Show 16^th Annual Charity Classic & Supercars Show. Porsche will be the 2019 marque feature, with an historic line up of cars including race, rally and road cars from 1948 to the present day. Visitors will also see over 2,000 Classic, Supercars, Veteran, Race, Rally, American, Custom, Hot Rod and Special cars, together with 40+ car clubs, all in the magnificent grounds of Sherborne Castle. With 150+ Trade, Autojumble and Craft stands plus children’s amusements, live music, large catering village and beautiful picnic areas, the show has something for all the family. Sherborne Castle, New Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5NR Contact : Show Secretary Telephone 07769 114211

Monday 05 August / Messy Museum Monday There will be lots of glitter, glue and sticky stuff as we welcome younger children to our activity, painting and craft session. Older children and adults (if they’re brave enough!) can participate in indoor and outdoor treasure trails or browse our latest exhibitions. Sherborne Museum, Abbey Gatehouse, Church Lane, Sherborne, DT9 3BP. Admission free but donations welcome.

Sunday 11 August / Sherborne Steam and Water Wheel Centre Open Day Come along and see the new waterwheel and the Hindley steam engines under steam on open days. 11.30am to 3.30pm. Oborne Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3RX. Limited parking on site, additional parking available nearby on Oborne Road.

Saturday 31 August / Fete Church of the Sacred Heart and St Aldhelm’s Fete. 1.00pm Pageant Gardens, Sherborne DT9 3NB. All welcome. Contact: Sherborne Tourist Information Centre 01935 815341

Friday 6 September / Festival Plus Event – Henry Hemming : Our Man in New York A gripping interactive talk inspired by Henry’s new book the eye-opening story of how the British used ‘fake news’ to help bring the United States into the Second World War. 7 pm. Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road. Tickets £9 / £10 from Winstone’s Bookshop, Sherborne TIC 01935 815341 and online https://ourmaninnewyork.eventbrite.co.uk/

Sunday 8 September / Friends of the Yeatman Hospital Car Boot Sale The Terrace, Sherborne DT9 5NS. Sellers: £5.00 from 8am. Buyers: 50p 9am-12noon. Free Parking. No dogs. Contact : elizabethturnbull70@btinternet.com or 07790 863518

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September / Sherborne Steam and Water Wheel Centre Open Day Come along and see the new waterwheel and the Hindley steam engines under steam on open days. 11.30am to 3.30pm. Part of Dorset Heritage Week. Entry by donation. Oborne Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3RX. Limited parking on site, additional parking available nearby on Oborne Road.

Sunday 15 September / Third Concert by Sherborne Town [Brass] band. Enjoy the last of the THREE concerts today, FREE, open air concerts by the wonderful Sherborne Town [Brass] band. Sit back, enjoy the pageant gardens, bring the family and a picnic and be entertained! 2.30pm. Pageant Gardens, Sherborne DT9 3NB

Friday 21 September / Words with Wine and AGM – Lucy Sewill on Horses and Humans Lucy Sewill has photographed some of our most familiar and well loved faces and become known for her particular style of one-on-one personal portraiture. In this remarkable new collection Lucy Sewill turns her lens to the animals that she has loved her whole life. Raleigh Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL. Tickets £5 each (including a glass of wine and canapés from Winstone’s Bookshop.

Sunday 13 October / Sherborne Steam and Water Wheel Centre Open Day Come along and see the new waterwheel and the Hindley steam engines under steam on open days. 11.30am to 3.30pm. Oborne Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3RX. Limited parking on site, additional parking available nearby on Oborne Road.

Friday 25 October / Sherborne Museum’s Big Fat Autumn Quiz Come and join in with our fun general knowledge quiz with a smattering of questions about the Dorset you know and love. Teams of up to 6 are encouraged or you can book individually and we will introduce you to a team. Light refreshments will be available but please bring your own drink and glasses.
Doors open from 6.30 pm. Digby Memorial Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne, DT9 3NL. Tickets are £5 pp in advance from Sherborne Tourist Information Centre from 1st October. Tel: 01935 815341.

Friday 15 November / Festival Plus Event – Lost Dorset by David Burnett Lost Dorset could easily be called ‘Unknown Dorset’, for few of the 350 photographs chosen from Barry Cuff’s remarkable collection of Dorset postcards have been published before, and many are extremely rare. The result is a 200 page hardback documenting Dorset’s villages and rural way of life through a period of extraordinary upheaval and change. 7pm Digby Memorial Hall in Digby Road. Tickets £9 / £10 from Winstone’s Bookshop, Sherborne TIC or online https://lostdorset.eventbrite.co.uk

Sunday 1 December / Festive Shopping Day Details to follow

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