The Guide: What's on in Somerset

Not sure what to do this weekend? Here's a few suggestions with our guide (Friday 20 - Sunday 22 November)

Children in Need Day

Pudsey does Strictly in Bridgwater

Children in Need is celebrating its 30th anniversary

This year BBC Somerset will be in Bridgwater presenting a day of live entertainment for BBC Children in Need.

The radio station is inviting people to join in with the fundraising and have fun with presenters Emma Britton and Jason Harrold at the Admiral Blake statue in the Cornhill from 9am onwards.

More than a dozen local artists will be performing on the BBC Somerset Big Stage including the Hamp Community Junior School Choir and Samba Band, members of Bridgwater Operatic Society, and the Tone Valley Jazz Band.

Elvis tribute artist Tim Bassett will sing live, together with local songwriter Sophie Morris from Bridgwater College, and Le Roc and Salsa dance teams from across Somerset will compete for top honours in 'Pudsey Does Strictly' starting at 1pm.

BBC Somerset 95.5FM will be broadcasting live from the event with 'The Morning Show with Emma Britton' between 9am and 12noon and 'The Afternoon Show with Jason Harrold' from 2pm to 5pm.

For more information on how to be a part of Children In Need 2009 visit the official website and click here to find out what else is going on locally here in Somerset.

Arts & Culture

A 94-year-old year old watercolourist is launching his latest book - a collection of sketches dating back 30 years - in Castle Cary on Friday, 20 November, 2009.

Jim Woods' book signing will be held at the Trowbridge Gallery, High Street, from 6pm - 8pm.

Christmas Fairs

Hestercombe Christmas Market

Organisers of the Hestercombe Christmas Market are promising a sparkling affair to get you into the Christmas spirit.

The market, which runs on Saturday November 21st and Sunday 22nd will have a wide range of stalls selling unique hand-made products.

A wide range of toys, jewellery, fashion accessories and food and drink will be on sale, against the backdrop of choir music provided by Wellington, Taunton and Cheddon Fitzpaine schools.

Soloist George Reece will also be perform and there will also be face painting and magic entertainment for the children.

The market runs from 10am to 5pm and the £3 entry charge will go directly to the Hestercombe Gardens Trust. Children under 16 go free.

Arts and Music

2009 Musical Anniversaries

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Cannington, nr Bridgwater is celebrating the last concert of the season and the Feast Day of St Cecilia, the Patron Saint of Music.

Although this day falls on November 22nd, the church will be instead be celebrating on Saturday, 21 November.

The long tradition of celebrating St Cecilia Day is marked both here and abroad and many composers, including Henry Purcell and Handel, wrote Odes for St Cecilia.

The concert will include Bach, Mozart, Purcell and Hindemith, with some jazz thrown in and will start at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6.50 (including light refreshments).

Comedy

'Milton's Paradise Jones'

Milton Jones will be working the crowds in Bath this weekend

Award-winning comedian, Milton Jones will be performing at Bath's Rondo on Saturday, 21 November.

Milton has starred in countless series for BBC Radio; for Radio 2 he featured in The Lee Mack Show and Stand Up 2, and his Sony Award-winning show The Very World of Milton Jones (BBC Radio 4) has enjoyed three successful series to date and was also nominated for a British Comedy Award for Best Radio Series in 1998.

Four episodes of Another Case of Milton Jones have just been commissioned and will be broadcast later this year.

More details are available on the venue's website .

Nature and Outdoors

Dark Sky Night

Exmoor National Park Exmoor National Park is looking to achieve 'Dark Sky Park' status and as part of this application, two dark sky nights have been planned.

'Dark Sky Parks' are areas which have been singled out for their lack of light pollution at night.

There are currently three parks based in America, and the first UK location, Galloway Forest Park in Scotland was recently handed this accreditation.

As part of the application there has to be somewhere for people to enjoy viewing the night sky.

The first will be 'Heaven's Above' in Porlock on Saturday, 21 November, 2009 from 3pm-7pm, in Porlock Village Hall.

The event will include the chance to explore the universe inside a planetarium, enjoy some interesting presentations from astronomers, handle real meteorites, make a rocket and have a go at naked eye and telescope observation of Exmoor's dark sky.

The final event will be The Geminids Shower, on Sunday, 13 December, 2009 at The Sportsman's Inn, Sandyway.