IT’S the weekend! And there’s dozens of fun-filled events taking place for all the family across Hampshire.

Here’s our top ten...

1: Southampton Mela Festival

Take a trip to the city’s biggest free family festival tomorrow.

The Southampton Mela Festival, which attracts up to 30,000 people each summer, will be back at Hoglands Park.

Organisers from Art Asia are promising a fusion of music, dance and family activities, all of an international flavour.

The main stage opens at midday with Bollywood music and songs from Pooja Angra and Karan Rana and continues with a drumming spectacular from Another Dimension Drumming Troop.

The audience can enjoy a whole host of dance and singing styles throughout the day with highlights set to include a performance of Bollywood film classics form Southampton Wind Band Ensemble and Pulse 8 and Rajasthani Folk Music from Caravan Raj from India.

Afghanistani music and songs from the Kabul Boys, Flamenco music and dance from the Jero Ferec Flamenco Company and an appearance from Chinese Arts Southampton all take place on the World Stage.

Belly dancing and flamenco demonstrations and workshops are on the programme in the activity tent, while the Jubilee Brass Band, Warsash Band and Southampton Folk Orchestra will perform in the Big Band & Brass Tent.

Stilt walkers, elite circus performers from Rajasthan Circus Raj and jugglers will entertain visitors around the site.

The Mela’s bustling food court will also tickle the tastebuds, offering dishes from all corners of the globe. Shoppers can browse numerous stalls offering handmade jewellery, clothing, arts and crafts.

It runs from midday to 9pm. Visit southamptonmela.com.

n At Mottisfont...

Art exhibition and family trail

The Gruffalo and Friends: the Art of Axel Scheffler - opens tomorrow.

This extensive family exhibition features many favourite illustrations from the personal collection of artist Axel Scheffler. Axel has been creating imaginative illustrations for more than 30 years. He is perhaps best-known for his collaborations with Julia Donaldson, including the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over five

million copies worldwide and been translated into 50 languages.

Throughout the summer families can set out on Mottisfont’s activity-

packed Gruffalo-inspired trail around the gardens.

Go to nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont

2: The Medieval Weekend

Historical re-enactments, a medieval village featuring authentic cooking, combat demonstrations and travelling players performing a series of rambunctious plays will help bring the past to life in a free weekend of entertainment for all the family.

Presented by the Road To Agincourt, the Medieval Weekend will take place at River Hamble Country Park tomorrow and Sunday and follows last year’s popular event.

The special festival will celebrate the launch of The Virtual Museum of the Grace Dieu – a new digital portal exploring the history of Henry V’s ‘great ships’ – the Grace Dieu and Holigost.

Designed and created by members of Tec Hub Eastleigh, the museum will be going live this weekend, with visitors to the event having the first chance to explore the virtual exhibitions via a set of on-site computers.

Other attractions at this year’s Medieval Weekend include demonstrations of authentic medieval crafts such as leather working, pole turning, felting and herbology, themed children’s activities, guided walks along the interactive King’s Great Ships Trail, and the opportunity to take part in medieval sports and dancing.

See roadtoagincourt.co.uk

3: Eastleigh Celebration of Steam

Eastleigh’s proud railway heritage is celebrated in spectacular style in July.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the age of steam in the town, a steam locomotive that served Eastleigh and other Southern Railway stations will be the stunning centrepiece of an exciting weekend of events for all the family, as well as diehard railway enthusiasts.

Wadebridge, the 92-ton steam locomotive will make a very special stop – not at the busy Eastleigh railway station, but in the centre of the main shopping precinct at the north end of the town centre. Wadebridge will be numbered as Eastleigh-built classmate Bideford and weathered to the condition she was in at the end of steam.

In July 1967, steam trains, including Wadebridge, visited Eastleigh station for the very last time, heralding a new era of diesel and electric - that may have been more efficient, but had nowhere near the romance and spectacle of their magnificent, coal-powered predecessors.

As well as a chance to see Wadebridge at close hand, other plans for the 60s-themed event include heritage displays, rare film footage, music and children’s rides.

Visit eastleigh.gov.uk/celebrationofsteam

4: Sunset Cinema

If you’re a foodie or a film fan, or both, you’re in for a treat.

Rick Stein’s Sunset Cinema, the latest launch from the Pop-Up Picture Company, continues in the idyllic surroundings of Chewton Glen in New Milton this weekend.

Forget the ordinary cinema experience, Sunset Cinema is debuting in Hampshire with a series of delicious gastronomic film nights.

Good Will Hunting, Grease and Gladiator are on the menu this weekend.

Tonight, Will Hunting (Matt Damon) has a genius-level IQ but chooses to work as a janitor at MIT. When he solves a difficult graduate-level math problem, his talents are discovered by Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard), who decides to help the misguided youth reach his potential. When Will is arrested for attacking a police officer, Professor Lambeau makes a deal to get leniency for him if he will get treatment from therapist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams).

Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) takes power and strips rank from Maximus (Russell Crowe), one of the favoured generals of his predecessor and father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the great stoical philosopher. Maximus is then relegated to fighting to the death in the gladiator arenas in Gladiator, which runs tomorrow night.

Experience the friendships, romances and adventures of a group of high school kids in the 1950s on Sunday night. Welcome to the singing and dancing world of Grease, the most successful movie musical of all time. A wholesome exchange student Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and a leather-clad Danny (John Travolta) have a summer romance, but will it cross clique lines?

Guests can expect a suitably summery menu of seafood dishes curated by celebrity chef Rick Stein. Tom Kerridge’s famous homemade Hand and Flowers ice cream is also served ‘usherette style’ at each screening.

Visit popuppicturecompany.co.uk

5: The Ageas Bowl...

The home of Hampshire Cricket is back to its first love tonight with the return of T20 Blast.

Hampshire take on Middlesex under the lights.

NatWest T20 Blast has got it all; splayed stumps, big hits, outlandish catches and thrilling finishes – if it’s edge of your seat excitement you’re after, the T20 Blast is for you!

Hampshire are revered as one of the best NatWest T20 Blast sides in the country, having reached Finals Day in six of the last seven years.

James Vince’s men play seven action-packed matches at the Ageas Bowl in 2017 and with three of those on Fridays, the weekend starts there.

2017 sees Hampshire’s ranks boosted by the return of Australian batsman George Bailey and Pakistan superstar Shahid Afridi.

See ageasbowl.com

6: Hampshire cinemas

The second sequel to the 2006 computer-animated comedy Cars continues the misadventures of anthropomorphised vehicles, who orbit championship racing car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) as he ponders retiring from the track.

Fond memories of mentor Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) compel Lightning to hit the comeback trail and he heads to the Rust-eze Racing Center where trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo) promises to improve Lightning’s speed and stamina.

Cars 3 is the most poignant film in the series, striking a pleasing balance between heartfelt sentiment, belly laughs and dazzling artistry.

Admittedly, director Brian Fee does not reinvent the steering wheel but he does tinge even the most colour-saturated scenes with aching sadness and a wistful yearning for the simple pleasures of the past.

Cars 3 is one of the big screen blockbusters this summer and is sure to delight young fans of the franchise.

7: Alton Bus Rally

Buses don’t come in threes this weekend, they come in their hundreds!

One of the Britain’s largest free bus rallies with a static exhibition of buses and coaches of all shapes and sizes from a variety of eras and operating areas will take place in Alton on Sunday.

Also enjoy a large display of classic cars, lorries, vans and motorcycles as well as emergency services vehicles at Anstey Park.

Entry to the event, between 10am and 5pm, is free.

Visit altonbusrally2015.com

8: Lymington Carnival

Thousands of people are expected the line the streets when Lymington Carnival takes place on Sunday.

The theme of this year’s event is 100 Years of Musicals, with revellers planning to dress up as Mary Poppins and other famous characters from Hollywood movies.

The procession will move off from Lymington Town Hall at 11am. The High Street will be closed between Church Lane and New Street from 10am until 12.30pm.

Organised by the Lions Club of Lymington and Brockenhurst, the carnival will also include a fete at Lymington Sports Ground, with attractions including live music and a dog show.

9: Beaulieu Village Fete

One of the best-known TV faces in the south is forecasting a great day out in the New Forest on Saturday.

BBC South Today weather presenter Sam Fraser will open this year’s Beaulieu Village Fete, which is being held in the grounds of Palace House.

Organisers are hoping that Sam will bring good weather with her when she arrives at the historic stately home at 1.30pm.

This year’s line-up includes Morris dancing and a Velcro assault course for children, plus a fancy dress competition based on the theme Nations of the World.

10: Romsey Festival

The festival continues this weekend.

On Saturday there will be a family festival fun day from 11am to 6pm, Romsey Signal Box open day from midday to 4pm.

Romsey Male Voice Choir and Guests are in concert at the Abbey from 7.30pm on Saturday.

On Sunday Romsey Abbey Bell ringers will ring out a quarter peal from 5.30pm and at 6.30pm the festival closing service takes place at the abbey.