Ten Things To Do In Hampshire This Weekend

(1) At The Watercress Line...

IT'S full steam ahead for live theatre as E Nesbit’s classic story The Railway Children comes to the Mid Hants Railway Watercress Line today and tomorrow.

The captivating play, which tells the story of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis as they get up to adventures surrounding the steam railway near their home, is a brand new musical adaptation by Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Youth Theatre and will take place at Ropley Station.

Organisers are encouraging people to bring picnics and enjoy a family afternoon at the open-air theatre, which will be surrounded by the real sights, sounds and smells of the railway in an immersive experience.

Performances of The Railway Children will be held at 12.15pm and 2.15 pm on both days.

Tickets are on sale now at watercressline.co.uk

(2) At The Winchester Cheese & Chilli Festival...

EXPECT an amazing array of tastes, colours and experiences at the event that sees cheese and chillies from around the world brought to Hampshire along with demonstrations, arts and craft stalls, a beer festival and live music.

The Cheese and Chilli Festival returns for a third year to Winchester.

The event will be at North Walls Recreation Ground tomorrow and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Celebrating the food it features stalls and craft stands as well as music entertainment, a children’s play zone, live music, demonstrations and chilli eating.

This year organisers also say there will be more cheese and chillies from across the world and there will also be live music, and a mountain bike student show

Admission is £5 in advance and £7 on the gate; children free.

Details at cheeseandchillifestival.com.

(3) At Bradbeers Retail Park, Hedge End...

YOUNGSTERS are in for a treat this weekend as Smyths Toys Superstores opens a brand new flagship store in Hedge End.

The retailer will be holding its official opening party on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm.

Join in the celebrations and rock out to a live DJ in addition to receiving a free goody bag. There will be candy floss and face painting as part of the celebrations, as well as competitions to win a brand new PS4 and a new pair of Heelys shoes.

Doors open at 9am with a number of special guests including Skylanders Gill Grunt, Sylvanian families Freya Rabbit, Playmobil’s Alex the Knight and many more all dropping by at various intervals between 10am and 4pm.

Smyths Toys Superstores trade from over 100 stores across the UK and Ireland. Catering for all ages, the leading toy retailer’s stores are bursting with a huge range of toys, video games, bikes and baby products, including all the top brands.

(4) At Riverside Park...

SOUTHAMPTON'S first Healthy Living Festival is taking place on Sunday, offering a range of free activities for the whole family.

More than 3,000 residents are expected to attend the festival that has been organised by ParkLives – a partnership between Active Nation Southampton, and Coca-Cola Great Britain – alongside Active Ability and Special Olympics Southampton.

Local sports clubs and organisations from across the city will also attend the event, from 10am to 4pm.

Free activities will run throughout the day at Riverside Park and the Woodmill Outdoor centre including flag football, pop-up tennis, storytelling, face painting, martial arts, buggy mum classes – as well as an inflatable bouncy castle and bowling alley.

(5) At St Mary's Stadium...

SAINTS host the Hammers in another 3pm Saturday kick off tomorrow in what is their second game of the 2017/18 campaign.

The match, switched from an away fixture at the London Stadium owing to the recent completion of the World Athletics Championships, is a chance for Mauricio Pellegrino's men to put more points on the board following a no score draw with Swansea in the season opener last weekend.

Still without wantaway Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk, Southampton are otherwise mostly at full strength.

With news of a Chinese takeover and new investment fresh in the mind, there could be the chance of a debut for new players, including record signing midfielder Mario Lemina.

Tickets for the clash with West Ham are now on general sale at southamptonfc.com

(6) At Port Solent...

GET all shook up and join in a very special celebration of the life and legacy of The King of Rock ‘n Roll, to mark the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s passing.

From 2pm until late tomorrow, Port Solent will be transformed so visitors can revel in free live music, enjoy an outdoor cinema and entertainment for all the family.

The extravaganza stars the UK’s premier Elvis tribute artist Mike Nova, crowned in Memphis as Best UK Elvis Champion, fresh from BBC TV appearances and producing the largest Elvis Festival in the world every September in South Wales.

A huge helping of rock ‘n roll with bite from the Jesse Ray Band will give the feeling and excitement of being at an actual Elvis concert and ensure everyone dances the night away. To remind all how to do it, the Swing Dance Company will be giving classes ready to put the moves into practice.

Visit portsolent.com/elvis

(7) At Leckford Estate...

WAITROSE is to host a summer festival at its Hampshire estate this weekend.

It will bring together producers, celebrity chefs and experts, showcasing the very best of British food and drink.

A food and drink village will feature an array of pop ups, including a pub backed by Heston Blumenthal and everything from sushi to artisan cheese.

Festival-goers can also enjoy live music and a chance to look around the stunning 4,000 acre estate in the Test Valley.

Among the many guests stars expected are Italian food writer and restaurateur Antonio Carluccio, food critic Jay Rayner, twice Michelin star chef Atul Kochhar and Masterchef judge William Sitwell.

Buy tickets at waitrose.com

(8) Across Hampshire...

MORE than 250 art studios across the county are opening their doors to the public for free from this weekend.

Hampshire Open Studios is an annual art trail where the public can meet artists in their studios and galleries.

From tomorrow until August 28, studios, galleries, artists and art groups will exhibit original artwork and give talks to visitors.

On a day out you can watch work in progress, ask about materials or techniques or maybe pick up a piece of unique art.

Visitors can also enter a prize draw to win £100 towards artwork from your favourite Hampshire Open Studios artist.

pleased to be able to add artist led workshops to our calendar of events where visitors can also make and take part in activities."

The Art House Group, Ascension Church Community Art Group, Totton Art Society and Greyladyes Art Foundation are among the groups displaying their work in and around Southampton.

There are a number of locations in and around Winchester taking part including The Granary in Owslebury, Fulfood Gallery on Stockbridge Road, The Loft on St Clement Street and The Yard Studios on Wharf Hill.

Visitors may also like to see Ali Lindley painting in Winchester, whose work was chosen for the front cover of 2017's brochure. Her paintings will be on display alongside artist Carolyne Viney at Western C of E Primary School. Their exhibition entitled Summer Fusion is a contemporary collection featuring dynamic colour and texture.

To find your nearest venue visit the Hampshire Open Studios website or look out for the pink direction arrows that will guide you to the artists’ doors.

You can also download a digital version of the listings brochure from the website hampshireopenstudios.org.uk

(9) At Queen Elizabeth Country Park...

THE many wonders of the South Downs are brought together in one exciting family show this weekend!

Arena acts, a dog show, local food, horses, sheep, re-enactment, falcons, ferrets, gun dogs, face painting and live music will all be a part of the South Downs Show and Hampshire Wood Fair.

Audiences will be treated to Stallions of Substance, the Dog and Duck Show, Ray Prior Falconry and Reedlands Retrievers in the main arena.

Expect fun for all the family with ferret racing, an animal zone, panning, donkey rides, miniature horses and meet the reptiles.

Visit southdownsshow.co.uk

(10) At Palmerston Park, Southampton...

PAGAN Pride South is heading to Southampton this weekend.

Starting off with a parade from The Bargate, which will walk up through the city centre, musicians and performers will take to the stage in Palmerston Park on Sunday.

It takes place between 11am and 5pm, with an assortment of stalls selling items like jewellery, clothing and tools of the trade.

Pagan Pride South’s aim is to provide an opportunity to unite pagans across the south coast of England in a family friendly environment where it can share tales, songs, music and dance in a creative way that celebrates shared experience as pagans.