MISCELLANEOUS

WITH a line-up of fun activities, Millom's Mini-Fest takes place on Saturday. Featuring the first ever Scarecrow Festival, the day includes an entertaining and historical walk around the town and a Summer Fete (10am-12.30pm) at St George's Church. Call 01229-774819 for details.

FILMING for BBC's One Man and his Dog, takes place at Holker Hall, Cark-in-Cartmel, this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm, don't miss your chance to see man's most intelligent best friend rounding up his woolly friends. For details, call 015395-58838.

ELEVEN Arnside gardens will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, from 2pm-6pm, in aid of the NSPCC.

THE Wainwright Shelter at Grayrigg will open its doors to animal-lovers on Sunday afternoon with an open day. From 1pm-4pm, there will be a raffle and stalls selling various home-produce and visitors will get the opportunity to see the rescued animals and the kind-hearted carers in action. Call 01539-824293 to find out more.

HIGH Dixon Ground at Coniston, a private fellside garden with stunning views across the fells, will be open to the public on Sunday from 10am-5pm. Meanwhile, the delightful Beckstones, at Eskdale, will be open in the afternoon from 1pm-5pm.

CONCERTS

APPLEBY Jazz, a foot-tapping festival of all things musical, takes place this weekend. In a marquee on the banks of the River Eden, the action kicks off on Friday from noon, with a number of top jazz acts swinging you through the weekend into Sunday evening. Booking Office 07817-118750.

THE North West's leading flute group, Tooti Flooti, will play a concert of summer music at Cartmel Priory on Saturday from 8pm.

AN HOUR-long programme of German and British organ music by the San Fransico Bay organist, pianist and composer Dr Angela Kraft Cross, will take place at St. Andrew's Church in Coniston on Sunday from 2.30pm.

MUSIC for a Summer Evening is on the menu at Windermere's Carver Memorial United Reformed Church on Monday evening. With soprano Greeba Hurst, Edward Lawton on the oboe and cellists Rachel Lucas and Anna Jones, the entertainment will begin at 7.30pm. 015394-88833.

FANS will get two opportunities to see organ recitalist Philip Underwood, this week. On Tuesday, he will share his talents at Hawkshead Parish Church from 8pm and the following day from 1pm at Grasmere Parish Church.

THEATRE

IF YOU are in the mood for a little Shakespeare, The Chapterhouse Theatre Company bring feuding brothers, cross-dressing, unrequited love, sheep, shepherds and song to Fell Foot Country Park at Newby Bridge on Friday night at 7.30pm with the lively pastoral romance, As You Like It. For details, call 015394-46402.

FREDDIE Starr, one of the true comic geniuses of all time, takes to the boards at Blackpool's North Pier this weekend. On Friday night until Sunday, from 7.30pm, it's the perfect medicine if you need a little lift. Call 01253-292029 for details.

VANESSA Brooks's amusing comedy, Let's Pretend, takes to the stage at Burton-in-Kendal's Memorial Hall on Friday night and tomorrow, from 7.30pm. Performed by Burton Amateur Dramatic Society, expect an entertaining evening. Call 01524-781007 for details.

INTERNATIONALLY-renowned theatre company Illyria will perform Shakespeare's The Tempest in the grounds of Brantwood, on the shores of Coniston water on Tuesday, from 7pm. Call 015394-41396 to book.

EXHIBITIONS

THE Milnthorpe Men's Forum is showcasing more than 400 exhibits, from paintings to ceramics, in their popular annual exhibition at St Thomas's Church, in Milnthorpe, this weekend (10am-7pm until Sunday). With all proceeds going towards South Lakeland charities, this year the forum is linking up with Milnthorpe Art Education and Community Partnership to encourage young art within the community. A Schools Art Exhibition at Dallam School, with work from pupils from 26 primary schools on show, is open on Friday and Saturday (10am-4pm).

TESTING The Palette, an exhibition of two and three-dimensional art and craft work produced by Dallam Community Centre's adult learners, is on show at the centre, in Milnthorpe, on Friday and tomorrow from 10am-4pm.

THIRTEEN kind-hearted Cumbrian artists are currently displaying their wares at Keswick Museum and Art Gallery with a Summer Art Exhibition. Donating 25 per cent of the proceeds to the Friends of Keswick Museum, the work of the talented crew can be seen until the end of the month (Tuesday-Saturday 10am to 4pm). Call 017687-73263 for details.

BLACKWELL, the Arts and Crafts House at Bowness, is now housing the Anderson Collection of Art Nouveau. This stunning new exhibition, featuring furniture and objects from the continentally-styled movement, explores the developments of the 20th Century modern design. Open daily from 10.30am-5pm. If you want to know more, call 015394-46139.

AN EXHIBITION of 35 distinctive paintings by one of the most significant British figurative artists of his generation, Walter Sickert (1860-1942), is on show at Abbot Hall Art Gallery in Kendal. Included in The Human Canvas are self-portraits, nudes and architectural subjects and each work is accompanied by an in-depth interpretation making for fascinating viewing. Open Monday-Saturday from 10.30am-5pm, call 01539-722464 for more information.

BOLTON le Sands Art Society will be displaying their wares on Friday from 10am-8pm and Saturday from 10am-3.30pm, at St Mary's Church Hall. As well as more than 250 pictures on display and up for sale, there will be various flower and table arrangements depicting the theme, Every Picture Tells a Story.

WIRE and bronze sculptures, installations, collages and prints of human torsos, animal heads, and strange and wonderful creatures all feature in a fascinating exhibition at the Storey Gallery in Lancaster this week. You can view the inspiring body of work by internationally-acclaimed artist Sophie Ryder, until the end of August (Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm) or check out the selection on show in the city centre. Call 01524-844133 to find out more.

FORMER county and district councillor, Edward Acland is currently displaying his artwork in the Brewery Warehouse. Another Story reveals his longing for society to recognise that our extravagant consumer way of life is slowly despoiling bruised planet Earth and looks closely at everyday surroundings. Call 01539-725133 for more details.

AN Exhibition and Sale of Paintings and Craft Work is on show until Sunday at All Saints Church at Watermillock (on the way to Pooley Bridge). The free exhibition is open from 10am-5.30pm.

MILLOM Railway and Scale Modellers Exhibition takes place at the Palladium on Sunday (10am-5pm). The bi-annual event features eight working layouts, trade stands and demonstrations.

A NEW textile exhibition at Farfield Mill, Sedbergh, displays work made from a variety of materials from wool and silk to hand-made papers and embroidered lace, Select Fibres, features the work of five textile artists whose work is linked by felting techniques and a passion for fibres and colours. Open 10.30am-5pm each day, call 015396-21958 for more information.

ARTISTS and writers have joined forces to produce a virtual model of the new Storey Creative Industry Centre - where it is hoped exhibitions and presentations will be held - at the Folly in Lancaster. The fully interactive exhibit can be seen until the end of the month. 01524-388550.

SOME rare Blake drawings, last seen in the UK in 1914, are on display at The Wordsworth Museum in Grasmere as part of an exhibition on Milton's Paradise Lost. Works by Medina, Romney, Turner and original editions of Milton's work will also feature. Call 015394-35544 for details.

THE complete body of Lucian Freud's published etchings are currently being displayed at Kendal's Abbot Hall Art Gallery. Including some rare early prints and several new and unpublished works, the 60 pieces cover a variety of subjects from portraits and nudes to studies of nature. Open 10.30am-5pm Monday-Saturday. Call 01539-722464 for details.

THE Sugar Store Gallery at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal is currently displaying the work of Libby Edmondson. Based on the gardens of the lovely Levens Hall, the talented painter has produced a riotous explosion of colour on canvas. To find out more, call 01539-725133.

FIFTEEN Minutes with Giotto! an exhibition at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston, which shows the work of ten art teachers following an inspirational visit to Venice, comes to an end on Sunday. Call 015394-41164 for details.

WORKS by local photographer Rob Daniels, can now be seen at the Community Shop in Morecambe as part of the relaunched Folly Community Art Scheme. Two abstract and beautiful bodies of work will be on display An Aesthetic Evaluation of the Cooling Tower and Six Works on Water. Open 10am-4pm Monday-Friday, call 01524-413064 for more information.

A FASCINATING exhibition into the life and works of well-known fell walker, Alfred Wainwright, continues at Kendal Museum this week. Call 01539-721374 for times THE Severn Studio at Brantwood (the former Coniston home of John Ruskin) will be literally transformed when Pamela McTurk brings her rich and diverse exhibition to the venue from Saturday. The thoughtful collection of paintings, entitled Transformed, will be on show daily (11am-5.30pm) until September.

For more information, call 015394-41396.

TALKS

BROTHER John, a 14th Century monk, will present a story of life in the abbey and offer remedies and cures for the ailing, at Furness Abbey on Sunday from 10am-5pm. Call 01229-823420 for information.

LITERARY fans take note, Simon Armitage - the poet, novelist, playwright, broadcaster and performer - will present a talk on Tuesday evening at the Thistle Hotel in Grasmere from 6.30pm.