via www.BournemouthEcho.co.uk

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1. Watch the fireworks at Bournemouth Pier

You know summer is coming to a close when the last Friday night fireworks of the season take place. The family fiesta starts at 7pm with fire performances, stilt walkers, circus workshops, and face painting before a firework finale at Bournemouth Pier from 10pm. If you can’t make tonight’s display, there will be fireworks on Friday and Saturday night at 10pm as part of next weekend’s Bournemouth Air Festival.

2. See a film under the stars at Corfe Castle

Open air cinema returns to Corfe Castle this weekend with not one but three films being screened as part of the Purbeck Film Festival. Watch Tom Hanks as Captain Phillips tonight, The Lego Movie will keep the little ones entertained tomorrow, while sci-fi fans will want to catch Star Trek: Into Darkness on Sunday. All three screenings start, weather permitting, at 8.45pm, with gates opening at 7.30pm. Movie fans are asked to bring their own seats and to wrap up warm. Don’t forget the popcorn. Visit http://purbeckfilm.com/

3. Have a party in the park

Poole’s popular annual Party in the Park returns to Ashley Cross this weekend and is set to be the biggest and best yet. The Daily Echo-backed event, which this year has a carnival theme, boasts a stellar line up including international DJs Norman Jay MBE and Jazzie B OBE and singer Rowetta from Happy Mondays. In addition there will be local bands performing, including winners of Europe’s best reggae band. The event starts from 12pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be bought online or from Patricks, Mambo, The Dancing Moose, The Brit pub. See partyintheparkpoole.com.

4. Watch teams pull a Boeing 737

The sixth annual Dorset Plane Pull event takes place on Monday with more than 25 teams seeing who can pull the 35,000kg Boeing 737 the fastest over 50 metres in a bid to raise money for charity. The event starts at 10am at European Skybus, on the Aviation Business Park accessible from Bournemouth Airport’s western entrance towards Parley. This year nine charities will benefit, not only from the sponsorship raised by the plane pulling teams, but from those families who attend the fun event.

5. Enjoy live music in a beautiful setting

The award-winning Purbeck Folk Festival continues this weekend at Wilkswood Farm farm in the heart of the beautiful Isle of Purbeck. The event, which is now in its sixth year, features its strongest musical bill to date with headliners including Turin Brakes, Eddi Reader, Idlewild Acoustic, singer songwriter Lloyd Cole, The (still beautiful) South, British folk stalwart Chris Wood and chart toppers Nizlopi. According to the Purbeck Folk Festival website, day tickets for both adults and children are still available.

6. Meet a sci-fi star at Charfest

Actors from the original Star Wars trilogy and Doctor Who will be among the line-up at Charfest this weekend. Among the guests expected from Doctor Who are John Levene, who played UNIT’s Sgt Benton in the 1970s; Sarah Louise Madison, who played a Weeping Angel in the revived show; and Ian McNeice, who played Winston Churchill opposite Matt Smith’s Doctor.

The two day event. which starts today. takes place at Avon Social Club in Charminster and is being held in aid of charity Victim No More. There will be signings, live bands, stalls, a barbecue and a Friday night cabaret. Saturday sees the start of the new series of Doctor Who – and VIP ticket-holders can watch it in the company of the celebrity guests. VIP tickets to Charfest cost £40; other tickets range from £6 for a day visit to £21 for a standard weekend pass. Under-12s go free. Details at charfest.info.

7. Watch Doctor Who on the big screen

Calling all Doctor Who fans! Watch a feature-length first episode of the new series on the big screen tomorrow night at the Regent Centre in Christchurch to mark the time lord’s return. Before the episode starts, the audience will also get to watch a ‘never seen before’ five minute video from an upcoming Doctor Who DVD release. After the episode, there’ll be a special ten minute behind-the-scenes of episode 1 feature. Tickets cost £13. Concessions £12. To book, call 01202 499199 or visit regentcentre.co.uk.

8. Make a poppy and remember the First World War

There will be a poppy making workshop at the Dolphin Shopping Centre on Saturday from 11am to 2pm. The free family event to commemorate 100 years since the start of WWI will be held by local artists, with the poppies set to form part of a local exhibition and World War One project.

9. Enjoy a traditional village fete

A fete will take place on Wimborne St Giles village green on Sunday from noon until 4pm. Admission to the event, which will feature jazz music, skittles, a display or classic cars, a duck race, refreshments and more, is £2.

10. Get on your bike and join the Sky Ride

Fancy getting out on two wheels? Then you’re in luck as two free guided bike rides will be taking place this weekend in Bournemouth. The first, entitled Parklands Special, is an ‘easygoing’ ride lasting an hour and a half which leaves Littledown Centre Chaseside at 10am, taking in Kings Park and passing AFC Bournemouth’s football ground. The second ride is a more challenging 27-mile ride starting at Hengistbury Head car park at 2pm, taking in the stunning scenery of the New Forest. More details at http://www.goskyride.com/Bournemouth

11. Admire the vehicles at Quay For My Car

Americana comes to Poole tonight when the popular weekly Rockley Park Quay For My Car event takes place. Owners of American cars will be showing off their vehicles between 6pm and 9pm.

12. Take part in a duck race

Thousands of plastic ducks will be thrown over the bridge in Bridge Street in Christchurch at 3.30pm on bank holiday Monday. The annual duck race encompasses various stalls, tombola, books, bric-a-brac and children’s games.