Ten Things to do in Hampshire this week

1/ Meet Peter Andre

Fans of Peter Andre should head to Southampton's Westquay shopping centre today for a special meet-and-greet with the star.

The Mysterious Girl singer can expect a welcome return is last year's scenes are anything to go by. His admirers queued outside the doors of Westquay shopping centre to meet their idol last time and now the hugely popular pop singer and reality TV star is set to do it ll again.

He will be promoting his new fragrance and 2018 calendar. Find him in Westquay South opposite Five Guys from noon for selfies and to get perfume bottles or calendars signed, which are available to buy from 11am.

2/Sample Long Barn gin and festive treats

It’ll be Gin-gle Bells all the way on Saturday at Long Barn’s Home and Garden Store in Alresford with plenty of Christmas spirit guaranteed .

For 'Still on the Move'- a travelling ‘gin theatre’ and sister company to the Devon Distillery, will be stopping off to spread the festive cheer.

Their charming travelling copper gin distillery ‘Prosperity’ is mounted on a vintage VW pick-up named ‘Ginny’ and it will visit Long Barn and set up in the Christmas Courtyard for the day, where they will distil 140 bottles of the very special Long Barn gin. The Christmas Courtyard will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland and you can buy everything from Christmas trees to hand-crafted wreaths and enjoy mulled wine and ‘street food’ in the cafe .

3/Visit Winchester Cathedral's Mother and Child Exhibition by Diane Rush

An evocative exhibition by Diane Rush, exploring the familiar subject of ‘Mother and Child’ through a collection of contemporary paintings which depart from traditional interpretations. runs at Winchester Cathedral until December 11. With a focus on the anonymous mother of the ‘every child’, Diane’s paintings reflect universality and invite the viewer to interpret the psychological inferiority of this most fundamental human relationship. The paintings celebrate the emotional fullness of the relationship between Mother and Child.

Diane Rush is a Winchester-based artist who has exhibited her work in London, Amsterdam, Washington D. C. Cornwall, East Sussex, West Yorkshire, Wiltshire and Hampshire. She was also preselected for the Columbia Threadneedle Prize Exhibition in London and shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 2015 and again in 2017. This exhibition is free upon entry to Winchester Cathedral.

4/Night Sky Live Winchester Science Centre.

Night Sky Live is a two-day festival this weekend celebrating the night sky with live stargazing talks and hands-on activities guided by experts, plus planetarium shows and full access to Winchester Science Centre.

An inspirational event, experts will lead exciting activities, including real-time exploration of the night sky, encouraging children and families to look up and discover the amazing world around us - the Moon, stars, planets and other celestial bodies.

Experience: Hands-on space and night sky activities; put your space questions to astronomers from the University of Portsmouth; enjoy live stargazing talks from 6pm (indoor or outdoor depending on visibility), and full access to the Science Centre’s 100+ hands on exhibits and creative space - The Invention Studio.

5/Hop aboard the pink craft bus at Hobbycraft Southampton

Learn to sew or brush up your sewing machine skills on board a fun and quirky pink sewing bus, which is coming to Hobbycraft Southampton on Saturday with craft expert, Miss Libby Rose.

Libby Rose is one of the UK’s foremost experts in sewing and crafting, with experience of teaching at prestigious events including exhibitions organised by the Royal Horticultural Society. The Australian born artist is known for her fun approach to sewing sessions and is also a contributor to Make It Today magazine.

The sewing classes will take place on Saturday from 9.30am- 4.15pm. Crafters will be guided by Miss Libby Rose, as she takes them through the basics of using a sewing machine as well as learning some new techniques with a variety of fabrics. Everyone is welcome to the class, to enjoy a chat, to share ideas or to ask for hints and tips from Miss Libby Rose. Attendees will also all receive a £5 Hobbycraft voucher to spend in store.

Hobbycraft Southampton store manager, Robert Hodges, said: “We can’t wait to see our crafty customers aboard Miss Libby Rose’s pink sewing bus.

“It’s a great chance for crafters of all abilities to pick up and develop their skills, in a fun environment with one of the UK’s top crafting experts.”

The cost for the session is £10, to sign up and to view times of the class please visit, http://www.misslibbyrose.com/hobbycraft-store-visits.

You’ll find Hobbycraft Southampton at Gaters Hill, Mansbridge Road. To find out more please visit www.hobbycraft.co.uk or @ Hobbycraft_SOU.

6/ Christmas arrives at Moors Valley Country Park

From Santa Specials to storytelling and stable animals – there’s a complete cornucopia of Christmas events to enjoy at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest plus hundreds of British Christmas trees to add that seasonal magic to your home.

Alongside traditional favourites like Christmas crafts, carol singing and a pantomime, new attractions include stable animals to meet and the opportunity to make memories with a special family photograph featuring a white falcon or owl, adding to a programme of events especially created to provide family fun at Moors Valley Country Park this winter.

The fun begins this weekend as The Old Fairy Godmother weaves storytelling magic as she decorates her tree for a rather special visitor. ‘The Fairy Godmother’s Christmas Tree’ is on Saturday 2, Sunday 3 and Saturday 9 December at 11am and 2pm. Booking is essential.

Festive Fun Weekends also start on Saturday and run on Saturday and Sunday from noon – 3pm until 17 December with family crafts to enjoy from just £2.

Moors Valley Rangers are still adding to the list of events this year so there is more to come. To book, or to check full details of any event go to www.moors-valley.co.uk

7/Festive fun at Emirates Spinnaker Tower

Enjoy a Festive High Tea at Emirates Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth - a perfect Christmas treat!

Take in the breath-taking views whilst dining on a traditional afternoon tea with a seasonal twist. Expect a selection of sandwiches with all your favourite festive flavours, an assortment of sweet treats and fruit scones with clotted cream and jam, all served with your choice of tea or coffee.

The Festive High Tea experience costs £55.00 for two people, which includes general admission tickets to explore the Tower at your leisure.

You can also join the Elf Trail too.Visitors to the Tower are invited to follow a fun family trail to track down Santa’s little helpers who are hidden around the iconic building. Standard admission prices apply.

To compliment this activity, the Tower’s gift shop has become an official supplier of Elf on the Shelf character toys.

Over the festive period, The Waterfront Cafe is offering warming drinks and tasty treats, making it an ideal place to take a relaxing break during your Christmas shopping in Gunwharf Quays.

Contact: 02392 857520, www.spinnakertower.co.uk

8/Meet Santa Claus on a special steam locomotive

Children will have the chance to meet Father Christmas on a special, festive steam train as the Watercress Line’s highly-anticipated ‘Santa Special’ locomotive chugs into town this weekend.

The Watercress Line’s Santa Special events will run through December, right up until Christmas Eve, and will treat families to travel in a specially-decorated, festive traditional steam train – with visits from Father Christmas and his jolly helpers, as well as a gift for every child.

The historic railway platforms will be festooned with tinsel and festive decorations, while families are invited join in with their favourite Christmas songs and enjoy delicious refreshments.

Woodies Mountford, marketing manager at the Watercress Line, said: “Every year our Santa Special sells out and tickets for this year’s event are going quicker than ever before. It’s one of the only Santa experiences where families don’t need to queue and we love seeing childrens’ faces lighting up with Father Christmas visits them in their seats and delivers presents.

“This year we’re making sure our younger passengers have an even better time on board with an activity sheet and gingerbread man included in the price of the ticket, while as always there will be mince pies and white wine available for adults.”

Tickets can be booked online in advance at www.watercressline.co.uk and people are urged to allow plenty of time for parking.

9/Santa & the Elves Christmas (Science) Experience at Winchester Science Centre

From today, Winchester Science Centre is inviting families to experience the North Pole to see Santa’s Inventor Elf experiment with the colours of Christmas, make their own Christmas gift and visit Santa in his home.

The new Santa and the Elves Christmas (Science) Experience takes families through a space portal to the North Pole, where Santa’s elves invite children and their grown-ups to join them on a special tour of the Elf Invention Studio. In there, the elves experiment with whizzes, fizzes and bangs and demonstrate how science creates the colours of Christmas. Afterwards, children are welcomed into Santa’s house to discover how he prepares for Christmas with his elves and take part in a science-themed toy-making workshop, before personally meeting Santa to tell him what they hope to get for Christmas.

“Our Santa and the Elves Christmas Experience is a totally immersive experience that offers an alternative to the traditional Santa’s grotto,” said Charlotte Barnaville, Director of Marketing and Communications at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium. “The experience is perfect for all ages; babies and toddlers will love the fun Christmas characters and visually-exciting demonstrations, while older children will enjoy the Christmas narrative and explore our fascinating science theme – the colours of Christmas – that runs throughout the event.

“We’ve had great fun working with Santa and his elves to develop this unique experience, to perfectly combine Christmas and science. It’s a great addition to Winchester’s Christmas offer providing a fun, memorable and educational day-out for families. Ticket sales have gone really well so it looks as though the public agree!”

Throughout December, there is lots of Christmas fun to be had for all the family including a special-elf themed trail around the main exhibition area and workouts in the interactive Elf Gym. There is also a new live planetarium show – Reindeer Round-up in Space, tickets for this are included in the Santa and the Elves Christmas Experience but can also be purchased separately and with general admission.

To book tickets or apply for an annual pass visit: www.winchestersciencecentre.org

10/Hear BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s Lance Ellington sing Broadway

Platinum award-winning artist, Lance Ellington, the voice of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is coming to Theatre Royal Winchester with his new show, Lance Ellington Sings Broadway on Wednesday (6 December).

The show features new and exciting arrangements of classic Broadway hits - with songs from Guys and Dolls, Les Misérables, South Pacific, Wicked and many more. All interspersed with some behind the scene tales and Strictly gossip!

Lance is bringing an incredible, all-star musical line up featuring some of the UK’s finest musicians, led by George Michael’s sax soloist, Ed Barker.

Lance Ellington Sings Broadway will be at Theatre Royal Winchester on Wednesday 6 December, 7.30pm. Tickets are available from theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk and from box office 01962 840 440.