THOUSANDS of music lovers are expected to flock to Weymouth’s Esplanade and harbourside for two music festivals this weekend.

Now becoming firm traditions for the Whitsun bank holiday, the Quayside Festival on the harbourside and the Trawler Trashed festival in the Lazy Lizard are growing in popularity every year.

Both events started after the demise of the town’s traditional trawler race and are now firmly established on the map as events to showcase the best of the local musicians.

The Quayside whopper will run all day Sunday and Monday and the Trawler Trashed festival will take place on Sunday from 5pm.

Quayside organiser Keith Treggiden from Rendezvous said: “This weekend will mark the fourth time we’ve held Quayside and it is growing in popularity each time.

“We are inundated with requests from bands and the public about who gets a slot to play.

“For this weekend we’re all hoping for sunshine so that everyone can enjoy two days of live music.”

The festival has free entry and alongside the outdoor stage will be a giant screen showing videos to keep the crowds entertained.

Along the seafront the Lazy Lizard is hosting its Trawler Trashed event from 5pm which will feature 14 local bands playing on both floors of the Lazy Lizard.

Organiser Ali Record said: “We’ve been getting busier every year.

“The local live scene is so vibrant at the moment and everyone expects to come into Weymouth and have a really good night out. This year is no exception so we hope it will be bigger and better than ever.”

Music is not the only activity on offer this weekend – village fetes, family theatre, live music and much more is being laid on all over Dorset and the county’s many tourist attractions are also preparing themselves for a bumper weekend and half term week.

Artists from Weymouth, Portland and the Bridport area of West Dorset are also throwing open their studios, galleries and homes this weekend and inviting the public in to say hello, watch work in progress and maybe even buy a piece of unique, original artwork.

On Saturday, the pedestrian South Street in Dorchester will be thronging with a traditional food market – the perfect opportunity to buy some delicious goodies for the rest of the weekend.