Seven Days

Dance is a major focus of this year’s festival including Big Dance, the UK’s largest outdoor dance event of 2012, with the audience invited to join in.

Dutch company Close Act is also thinking big, performing a new version of their dark show Invasion in The Broadway.

It wouldn’t be the same at Hat Fair without circus acts so it is fitting the award-winning Square Peg Circus closes the festival on Sunday with a one-hour spectacular.

At The Concorde Club...

AN intoxicating brew of jazz and beer will be flowing at The Concorde, Eastleigh over the weekend.

The three day Jazz & Beer Festival gets underway on today with legendary American band, The Drifters. They have a huge catalogue of over 50 hits, selling more than 214 million singles and 114 million albums across the world.

The line up has had many changes with more than 60 different singers, including icons such as Clyde McPhatter,Ben E King, Johnny Moore and Rudy Lewis. Their treasure trove of hits from the last 57 years include Saturday Night at the Movies, Under The Boardwalk, Come On Over To My Place, Kissing In The Back Row of the Movies, Save the Last Dance For Me and There Goes My First Love.

There will also be a chance to sample local real ales or dive into charity duck racing.

At The Over 50s Festival...

TWO weeks of exciting events and ‘taster activities’ across the city kick off on Sunday.

Highlights include a ‘Sing and Walk’ around Southampton’s historic sites with local musicians, Nordic Walking on Southampton Common, a bike ride and Tr aditional Folk Dancing to live music. Copies of the programme can be found in Southampton’s libraries and Age Concern Southampton’s office.

An electronic copy of the programme can be downloaded from the Age Concern Southampton’s website.

At Southampton Common...

CANCER Research UK’s Race For Life 2012 brings together thousands of women, their friends, family and colleagues to take part and raise money to help them continue their lifesaving work. Ladies will walk, jog or run the 5km or 10km course around Southampton Common on Sunday morning.

Spectators will line the route as a sea of pink cascades down The Avenue.

At Buddha Lounge… ONE Southampton fashion label is going places with its own summer line launch tomorrow.

Following the success of a one off T-shirt line, which was purchased by fashion lovers from as far afield as Australia and worn by cast members of Geordie Shore, Uberluv are branching out.

Their first full line will be available online from July 14 and to celebrate, they are transforming Buddha Lounge into a fashion store tomorrow between 1pm and 6pm, giving the people of Southampton a chance to sample the new summer collection.

Then to top it off they are hosting parties at 90 Degrees & Junk.

Uberluv is collaboration between Designer Lee “Uber”

Murray and DJ Gavin Foord.

At Lepe Country Park...

A TWO-day event this weekend marks the New Forest’s contribution to the Second World War. Attractions include living history displays, military vehicles, bands playing 1940s music and guided walks linked to D-Day.

Donations will be sent to the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes.

In Hedge End...

WORLD class stunts from horses in blockbuster films, live bands and spectacular shows are just a few of the attractions in a week long programme of events lined up for this Hampshire village.

The streets of Hedge End will be awash with colour tomorrow for the annual grand carnival procession.

The star attraction is a spectacular performance from Dolbadarn Film Horses.

Stars from hit movies Merlin and War Horse will demonstrate stunts they have been performing while they were being filmed on set.

Other attractions include a variety of live bands, a classic bike show, Solent Accordions, Pugh’s Punch and Judy and children’s competitions.

At New Park Brockenhurst...

STARTER’s orders for the New Forest ten mile race on Sunday. More than 1,000 entrants are expected to take part in the main race and fun run, which start at 11.30am and 10.30am respectively.