1 AROUND 3,000 residents are expected to head to Hedge End’s Greta Park on Saturday evening as the annual Firework Fiesta and Fun Fair returns for another year.

Organised by C. Burnett and Sons in association with Hedge End Carnival Committee, half of the money raised through admission tickets will be distributed to good causes around the town.

Tickets cost £4 for adults and £2 for children, with family tickets available for £10. For more information or to buy tickets, call 01489 780440 or email info@hedgeendcarnival.org.uk.

2 AS PART of the Royal Armouries’ Armistice Day celebrations, Fort Nelson will see a uniformed detachment from Ubique Right of the Line firing at British 18-pounder field gun dating back to the First World War.

Marking the start and finish of the two-minute silence at 11am on Sunday, the 18-pounder field gun dates back to 1917 when they formed the backbone of the British field artillery and fired nearly 100 million rounds during the war.

The Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson, near Fareham, is home to a collection of First World War artillery and the museum will be open from 10am to 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking is free.

3 ONCE a year you can experience the historic Watercress Line from a completely different view by walking along the trackbed of the railway.

From track level you get to fully appreciate the gradients locomotives and footplate crews have to tackle to haul trains along the 10-mile line.

There are three lengths of walk – three miles, six miles and 10 miles – available on Saturday and a free vintage bus service will run you around so that you end up in the right place at the end of the walk.

The Mid Hants Railway Preservation Society’s is also asking people to raise funds through the walk to restore the British Railways Standard Class 4 No. 75079 locomotive.

A £10 registration fee is required for people aged 16 and older, and parking at Alton in the railway station car park is £3 on Saturdays. For more information visit watercressline.co.uk.

4 COMMUNICARE’S popular vintage and craft fair returns on Saturday with vintage homewares, clothing, jewellery, and handmade assortments available for visitors, making it perfect for getting Christmas shopping out of the way early this year.

The craft fair, which runs from 11am to 3pm, will also see entertainment with live performances from the vintage vocalist Serena Lin, as well as dancing from Strolling Sirens. For more information, call 02380 216023.

5 CHRISTMAS will officially get under way in Southampton this weekend with the traditional German market arriving in Above Bar Street.

Santa will be flying in the skies above the city at 5pm and 7pm and there will be independent stalls and food chalets, plus there will be entertainment from musicians and carol singers on offer for city centre shoppers.

The Christmas festival open at noon on Saturday, and will run through to December 23.

6 FANS of the Mayflower Theatre will get the chance to go behind the scenes and see the inner workings of the theatre when it opens its stage doors to member of the public this weekend.

There will be an opportunity to explore areas of the theatre that not many members of the public get to see and learn more about what is the third largest theatre in the country.

Tickets for the tour around The Mayflower theatre on Saturday at 10am cost £12 per person, or £9 for under16s and are available to purchase by calling the theatre’s Box Office on 02380 711811.

7 LOVERS of the unique Smart car can join other enthusiasts at a special event in the New Forest on Sunday.

Organisers say Simply Smart, at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, is set to provide a great opportunity to admire a wide range of these fun and often colourfully wrapped vehicles, from the `ForTwo` to the `Roadster` and even the limited edition Crossblade.

Participants bringing along their Smart cars will also have the chance to compete for the People’s Choice Award, which will be selected by public vote.

But for those who prefer other cars and modes of the transport, the world-famous National Motor Museum will also be open during the day.

Usual museum admission rates will apply to the Simply Smart event, which runs from 10am to 5pm.

For more information, visit beaulieu.co.uk.

8 DISCOVER the fascinating history of Southampton, from Saxon times to the present day, with a guided talk around the city’s historic walls on Sunday.

Hosted by STGA, the longest running tour guiding association in the city, you can also hear the stories and legends of Southampton brought to life inside some of the city’s medieval vaults.

The walks will run from 11am-12.30pm from Bargate, with tickets costing £5 per person for adults, with under 16s going free.

For more information, call 07974 292414, or email STGAwalks@hotmail.com.

9 THIS year marks the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death and as the dark nights draw in, what better time to see the 2005 screen adaption of one of her most famous novels.

The cinema adaptation of Pride and Prejudice sees Keira Knightley in the lead role of Elizabeth Bennet, while Matthew Macfadyen plays her romantic interest Mr Darcy.

The story depicts five sisters from an English family of landed gentry as they deal with issues of marriage, morality and misconceptions

Tickets for the showing at 2pm on Sunday at Winchester Guidhall cost £4.50 for adults, £3.50 for concessions and are available through the Tourist Information Centre. This is film is rated PG.

10 IN ADDITION to the Christmas market, an real-ice skating rink will come to Westquay shopping centre on Saturday, November 11.

Skaters can book an hour for £11 (£9 for children), which includes skate hire. Concessions and family tickets are also available, and for those who would rather watch there will also be an authentically decorated alpine chalet.

To book, visit iceskatesouthampton.co.uk.