Seven Days (From Daily Echo)

Seven Days

3:08pm Friday 4th May 2012 in Leisure By Lorelei Reddin, Entertainments Editor

IN Fareham… MARKETS have now been held in the town for 800 years.

To celebrate this special anniversary, Fareham Town Centre Management has organised a number of activities at its Farmers’ Markets.

First up, tomorrow, is King’s John Morris perform Cotswold Dance and North West Processional Dancing between 10.30am and 12 noon, Deeds of Arms Hampshire performing a historical reenactment and music by Baba Lees Lost Rhythm.

AT WestQuay… THIS May bank holiday weekend, customers at WestQuay will be invited to step back in time and take part in a series of retro TV game shows – each with a special fashion twist, taking place tomorrow and Sunday and all completely free. It’s all part of WestQuay’s ‘alternative fashion show’ – showcasing the latest trends for spring and summer whilst giving all the family the opportunity to have fun and win a share of over £25,000 worth of prizes and fantastic retailer offers and discounts.

AT SALISBURY RACECOURSE… THE season gets off to a great start with the Bank Holiday weekend race meeting on Sunday. This is usually one of Salisbury’s biggest and most atmospheric crowds.

Free children’s facilities and entertainments include a bouncy castle, penalty shoot-out, children’s activity/crèche tent (ages three to 12), face painters and Harvey the Horse mascot.

Gates open at midday.

AT New Forest WILDLIFE PARK… VISITORS to New Forest Wildlife Park tomorrow are in for a treat – as well as seeing the amazing animals they can participate in an ancient May Day tradition.

The Deorfrith Lodge, a Morris-dancing troupe based in Lyndhurst, is performing at 2.15pm and visitors are welcome to join in the celebrations.

May Day, traditionally May 1 and this year marked by a bank holiday on Monday, May 7, derives from ancient pagan celebrations for spring and fertility.

AT FAREHAM SHOPPING CENTRE… A FACE painter will be giving free animalistic makeovers on Monday to raise money for the Stubbington Ark RSPCA animal shelter.

Find the fun between Card Factory and H.

Samuel, from 10am to 4pm.

Fareham Shopping Centre’s mascot Toffee Bear will be at the Centre too – bring the kids along to say hi.

AT STOKE PARK WOODS, Bishopstoke… To the north-east of Bishopstoke lies this tucked away forestry land. Hamble Valley and Eastleigh Heritage Guides put on a bluebell walk on Sunday at 2pm.

Come and enjoy a stroll through the trees and hopefully see the woodland floor bedecked with bluebells. Meet at the car parks at the entrance to the woods.

AT PORTSMOUTH HIS TO RIC DOCKY ARD… A WEEKEND of free events to commemorate the Naval and local contribution to the Falkland Island conflict 30 years ago, with displays and the opportunity to visit HMS Dragon the newly commissioned Type 45 destroyer and HMS Yo rk, a Ty pe 42 destroyer that was launched in 1982 and spent time in the Falkands in 1985.

Remember The Falklands will commemorate the Navy’s involvement, which saw some 18,000 individuals, from all the naval services, sail in the Falklands Ta sk Force of over 100 ships. Men and women from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Navy Nursing Service and the Merchant Navy all played a vital role.