A round up of the the best events in Lancashire and the Lake District during August

THEATRE

2nd-November 8th

The Shape of Things

Black American comedy set in a liberal arts college all about the contemporary obsession with appearances.

Theatre By The Lake, Keswick, 017687 74411

Until 3rd

9 to 5: The Musical

Starring Natalie Casey as Judy Bernly, Jackie Clune as Violet Newstead, Anita Louise Combe as Roz Keith, Amy Lennox as Doralee Rhodes and Ben Richards as Franklin Hart.

Liverpool Empire Theatre, 0844 871 3017

4th

Treasure Island

Swashbuckling adventure in the open air by Cambridge Touring Theatre.

Rufford Old Hall, 01704 821254

8th-10th

Grease the Musical

Annual stage experience which gives budding actors, singers, dancers and musicians aged 11 to 21 the chance to experience what it is like to work on a professionally run theatre stage. This year culminating in the classic Grease the Musical.

The Palace Theatre, Manchester,

Until 10th

Robin Hood

The Dukes Theatre returns with it’s annual open air theatre show. This is a new adaptation of this traditional tale performed in this spectacular setting with two essentials for the story – fantastic woodlands and the Ashton Memorial, a very grand castle indeed.

Williamson Park, Lancaster, 01524 598500

10th

Twelfth Night

Brand new production of Shakespeare’s comic tale of shipwrecks, sea storms and mistaken identity performed in the open air by Chapterhouse Theatre Company.

Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass, 01229 717614

12th-16th

Bury Grammar School Theatre Week

This year’s Bury Girls’ Grammar School theatre week culminates in a unique performance of ‘Ticket to Ride’, the story of The Beatles and how the band formed, with the children performing, singing, dancing and making their own props and costumes.

The kindergarten in Bury Grammar School, Girls’, 0161 7972808

17th

Sherlock Holmes

Dynamic detective duo Holmes and Watson tackle their most fiendish case yet in this inventive sow for all. Bring your picnic!

Speke Hall, Liverpool, 0151 427 7231

21st-24th

West Side Story

National Youth Music Theatre present a cast of 40 and an orchestra of 35 exceptionally talented young people from all over the UK as tow young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs in 1950s New York.

Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, 0161 835 3500

CONCERTS

2nd-4th

Lytham Proms Festival Weekend

The biggest musical and cultural event in Lytham featuring The 80s Strikes Back featuring some of the best known sounds of the 80s, Russell Watson, Rita Ora, Conor Maynard and Stooshe.

Lytham Green, 0844 888 9991

9th-10th

Testifest

Two day indoor music festival with headliners Kazabian and The Soul Train with more than 15 babds playing over the weekend.

Tosside Village Hall

10th

The Beatles Story

The story of one of the world’s much loved groups in the form of music and video starring Garry Gibson.

The Philharmonic, Blackpool, 01253 367636

20th

The Houghton Weavers

An evening of folk music, song and humour encompassing the talents of Tony Berry, David Littler and Steve Millington.

The Floral Hall, Southport, 01704 500036

COUNTY DAYS OUT

3rd

Garstang Show

Fantastic day out for all the family with entertainment for all ages and tastes, horticultural and agricultural exhibits as well as The Galloping Acrobatics.

The Showfield, Garstang, 07867 313346

3rd

Cockermouth Show

Promises to be an action packed day for all the family with animal antics galore, entertainment from the Black Rock Llamas Display Team, rodeo bull rides, sheep clipping and sheep dog demonstrations.

The Fitz, Cockermouth, www.cockermouthshow.co.uk

4th

Lytham Hall Classic Car Show

More than 300 classic cars, trucks, commecials and classic motorcycles, as well as displays from classic car clubs, trade stands and autojumble.

Lytham Hall, 01253 736652

10th

Clitheroe Food Festival

Showcasing the Ribble Valley’s finest food and drink producers, professional and highly acclaimed chefs, first class cookery demonstrations throughout the day.

Clitheroe Market

10th

Cockerham Village Show

Traditional village show with classes for all skills and interests including flowers, vegetables, art, crafts, cookery, floral art and photography as well as those for children to enter.

Cockerham Village Hall, 01524 793549

10th-11th

Lowther Show

The all new Lowther Show is set to host the Horse Carriage Driving Trials, which have a long and proud history with Lowther, supported by HRH Prince Phillip.

Lowther Castle, www.countrymanfairs.co.uk

11th

Trawden Show

Fabulous day for all the family with exhibits including sheep, cattle, rare breeds and working sheep dogs, heavy horses, horse show and showjumping as well as dog show and dry stone walling competition.

Recreation Ground, Trawden, 01535 637994

13th

Lunesdale Agricultural Show

Traditional local country show.

Underley Park, Kirkby Lonsdale, 015395 67618

15th-18th

Morecambe Beer Festival

A range of handcrafted ales, from many local breweries organised by the Lunesdale CAMRA group.

Winter Gardens, Morecambe, 01524 422180

17th-18th

Lytham 1940s Wartime Weekend

Historic vehicles, music and dance, memorabilia, thrilling battles, educational talks and demonstrations plus a living history camp.

The Green, Lytham, 01253 658443

18th

Fylde Coast Food and Drink Festival

A must for all food lovers with cooking demonstrations, samples, food to buy and eat as well as plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained.

Marine Hall, Fleetwood, 01253 887693

25th-26th

Summer Steamings

27 old stationary steam engines rescued and restored, some of the engines which once powered the cotton mills of Lancashire. Most will be running in steam on these days only.

Bolton Steam Museum, 01204 846490, www,nmes.org

24th-25th

Great Eccleston Tractor Pulling Championships

The UK Championship finals with some machines producing in excess of 9000 horsepower.

Great Eccleston showground, www.nwtpc.co.uk

24th-26th

Great British Food Festival

Tuck into a Man v Food competition or get baking for the cake-off at this perfect day out with lots of child friendly activities. Entertainment includes live music, chef demos and local producers.

Stonyhurst College, Hurst Green, www.stonyhurst.ac.uk

25th

Turton Tower Farmers Market

Local farmers market including an excellent range of individual and exotic foods and goods. Victorian Kitchen Tea Room, fantastic craft stalls, specialist Asian cuisine stall and Mrs Dowson’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Turton Tower, near Bolton, 07551 794283

31st

Furness Medieval Fair

Sample life in medieval times when the abbey ruins will be taken over by a living history group transforming it into a medieval camp, with staged fights, guided talks on the architecture, traditional crafts and early Tudor music amongst the entertainment.

Furness Abbey, Barrow, www.furnessabbeyfellowship.co.uk

31st

Darwen 1940s Day

Various entertainers throughout the day including singers, music and dancers, unique Victorian style markets surrounding the square and all money raised to ABF Soldiers Charity.

Darwen Market Square, 01254 688040

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

9th September

The Annual Baby Beat Charity Golf Day

With Match of the Day’s Mark Lawrenson, teams of four are invited to play in this prestigious event to raise funds for The Baby Beat Appeal. Tickets £250 per team.

Leyland Golf Club, 01772 524414

EXHIBITIONS

3rd-17th

Kendal Art Society Exhibition

Annual exhibition by Kendal Art Society of their latest works with unframed pictures to take away.

Kendal Town Hall, 01539 720181

17th-18th

Art in the Gardens

Annual open air selling exhibition by members of the Lytham St Annes Art Society. Original paintings and artworks will be displayed – weather permitting – from 9am to 5pm.

Memorial Gardens, Lytham

23rd-29th

Bardsea Schoolroom Art Exhibition

The painting ‘Great Langdale Beck’ by Ron Stacey is just one of the original paintings created by more than 40 members of the Bardsea Schoolroom Art Group at it’s bi-annual art exhibition. The painting will also be raffled to raise funds for St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston.

Bardsea Village Schoolroom, near Ulverston

Until 8th September

Heaven’s Company: Ornithological Art

Exhibition celebrating Ruskin’s love of birds with a display of stunning pictures by some of the 19th century’s greatest ornithological artists.

Brantwood, Coniston, 015394 41396

Until 13th October

Different Kinds of Weather

Exhibition by Daniel Cooper, a response to the atmospheric transitions throughout the seasons, inspired from hot summer sunlight to sweeping strom clouds.

The Ruskin Museum, Coniston, 015394 41164

OUR FAVOURITE FIVE

1st-4th

Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show

Hit the road with Mickey Mouse and your favourite Disney friends for a hilarious talent search in this all new Disney production where Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy set out on a zany road trip where audiences can help find the coolest acts around.

Echo Arena, Liverpool, 0151 475 8888

20th

Babe the Sheep-Pig

Illyria present Dick King-Smith’s family favourite in the open air. A heart warming tale of friendship, courage and one pig’s determination to save his bacon.

Brantwood, Coniston, 015394 41396

23rd-26th

Bolton Food and Drink Festival

Four day foodie spectacular with entertainment including Britain’s favourite baking duo, Mary Berry and Paul Holllywood, Michelin starred chef Michael Caines, James Martin, Aldo Zilli.

For more information visit www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com

25th

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show

The original and world famous Lakeland Sports comprising the old and traditional sports of fell running, Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling and Hound Trailing.

Grasmere Sports Field, www.grasmeresports.com

31st-September 1st

Mintfest

A kaleidoscope of international performers take over the whole town for one of the UK’s leading outdoor arts festivals.

Kendal, 01539 720252, www.lakesalive.org