THE world comes to Broadwindsor this weekend as the picturesque village near Beaminster holds its annual Fun Day.

Stallholders will be representing countries from around the world as the fun gets going on Bernards Place – the village green – in the centre of Broadwindsor, from 2.30pm.

There will be plate smashing (Greece), skittles (Russian), a Wild West bar and an Australian-themed barbecue.

There will be lots of games for the children, entertainment from a unicycling balloon modeller (who also does a bit of stilt walking), a couple of slots by Irish musician Duff Paddy and some Eastern European folk songs from The Maurice Yarham Singers. Entry to the fete is free.

And all weekend, scarecrows will be out in force throughout the village as part of the annual scarecrow festival.

The fun day starts on Saturday with a Big Breakfast in the Comrades Hall from 9am until 10.30am.

Then in the afternoon, a parade of village organisations sets off at 2.15pm from the Magna car park next to the Cross Keys.

Simon Emmerson, founder of the international folk band The Imagined Village and some of his musician friends will be playing at the event, which has Global Village as its theme.

The fete will be opened on the green by villagers Pip and Nicky Cadwell, who for years organised the Broadwindsor pram race.

Artwey Open Studios ends this weekend, but you do have until Sunday to get out, explore Weymouth and Portland and see the area’s brilliant artists and craftspeople at work.

The Upwey Potters have been busy at the Upwey Old School Village Hall. After the first week they report a steady flow of visitors, who have enjoyed the display of ceramics and demonstrations by the group of local potters.

Potter Bill Crumbleholme, who makes beautiful Raku-fired bowls, said: “We have been pleased with the enthusiasm of people to learn about our techniques and see the kilns.

“Our yurt in the playground is full of my prehistoric pottery replicas, which have been growing since my fleeting appearance on the Team Time over 10 years ago.

At the Old School at Upwey you can also see Maggie Cooke’s porcelain dishes, Fil Cooke’s soda fired functional mugs and jugs, Pat March’s garden sculptures, featuring flocks of birds and shoals of fishes.

Irene Passmore will be displaying her tiles and torsos and Laurence Eastwood will be exhibiting his display of bowls, jugs and mugs.

He is just finishing his GCSEs, so is only in attendance in late afternoons and at the weekend.

The Upwey Potters are open every day until Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

Visitors to Watery Lane in Broadwey will also be amazed by Di Pattinson’s icicle tree constructed from felt.

Di enjoys experimenting with her felt techniques to create both pictures and sculptures, working with the traditional methods but stretching them to produce very attractive objects.

During the current Artwey Open Studios event Di has opened her doors for visitors to see her at work. She has also been taking bookings from people interested in felt making workshops.

Artist Clare Buckle will also be exhibiting her works inspired by the Olympic sailing and the teams currently racing in Weymouth Bay.

You can see her work at Elwell Manor at 70, Rodwell Road, Weymouth from 2pm to 6pm until June 12.