ACTIVITIES:

- A DUCK and Raft Race will take place on Monday at New Bridge, Sedbergh, 2.30pm. Details on 015396-20948.

- FAMILY Fun Days at South Tynedale Railway at Alston will include locomotives with faces, entertainment for children and a chance to drive a diesel locomotive and meet Big Boss'. The service between Alston and Kirkhaugh will operate hourly between 11am-5pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. For details, call 01434-381696.

- TEDDY Bear Picnics are being held at The World of Beatrix Potter, The Old Laundry, Bowness-on-Windermere, on Saturday and Sunday. Children and their teddies are invited to hear stories, tour the attractions, hear noises and enjoy a picnic in the new indoor Tea Garden. To book call 015394-88444.

- SIMPLY Social' a group for non-smokers in their 30s to 50s, are going to Megazone at Morecambe today (Friday) at 7.45pm. To book call 07751-485131.

- ECO-TASTIC is a weekend of eco-friendly fun for all ages at the Brockhole Visitor Centre, Windermere. Hands-on activities to generate awareness of all things great and green. Cartoon workshops, guided strolls, games and displays. For more information call 015394-46601.

- ENJOY Birds and Breakfast in the forest with forest district manager Graeme Prest for a dawn chorus in ancient oak woodland. Wrap up warm. Breakfast will be served in the Grizedale tea rooms on your return. Suitable for ages from ten up. Call 01229-860010 to book a place on this easy walk of two miles. Meet at the Grizedale Forest Visitor Centre, near Hawkshead, at 6am on Sunday.

EXHIBITIONS:

- KENDAL Museum, Station Road, is celebrating National Museums and Galleries Month and is opening its doors 10.30am5pm (except Sundays), free from Thursday. Call 01539-721374.

- A CUMBRIAN Feast display looks at food traditions associated with Cumbria and the stories surrounding them. From Kendal Mint Cake to Rum Nickies, find out how such exotic foods came to be associated with Cumbria. On display are items of farming and cooking equipment, images of farming and food production, traditional recipes and items of Cumbrian produce. The display also looks at modern day farming techniques and specialised foods that are being produced in Cumbria. The display runs from May 1 August 30 at the Museum of Lakeland Life, Abbot Hall, Kendal, 10.30am-5pm. Both museums are closed on Sundays.

CONCERTS:

- AMBLESIDE Choral Society presents Faure's Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racini; Vivaldi's Gloria; Mozart's Ave Verum and Panis Angelicus by Franck; in Ambleside Parish Church tomorrow (Saturday) at 7.30pm. Call 015394-33828 for details.

- WINDERMERE Choral Society is presenting Vivaldi's A Sprig of Thyme, conducted by Ian Pattinson tomorrow (Saturday) at Carver Church, Windermere, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets from Alexander Sports, Windermere and at the door.

- DR FEELGOOD, a rhythm and blues act with a raw and uncompromising style, is appearing at Rheged in association with Penrith Blues on Saturday. The music starts at 8.30pm but call 01768-860004 for tickets and to book supper.

FESTIVALS/FAIRS:

- A COUNTRY Fair is being held at The Toll Bar, New Hutton, near Kendal. Classes including simulated coursing, carriage-driving, dogs and a pony show, a gundog scurry, dressed sticks, stalls and other attractions. The fair starts at 10am on Sunday. Contact 01539-721686 for details.

- ARNSIDE and Milnthorpe Music Festival takes place over three days. Tomorrow's (Saturday) master class is with Wynford Evans, one of Britain's foremost tenors from London, at St Thomas' s Church, Milnthorpe (2pm). On Sunday, Wynford and Tracie Penwarden will join the Arnside Choral Society in a performance of Mozart's Requiem at St James's Church, Arnside, (3pm) and on Monday, The Musical World of Wynford Evans will be revealed at St Thomas's Church, Milnthorpe (7.30pm). For more information, call 015395-62221 or 01524-76125.

- FLAG Fortnight starts tomorrow (Saturday) and runs until May 17 when Ulverston's streets will be adorned with mmore than 100 stunning silk flags. On Sunday, the Schools' Flag Parade starts at 1.30pm.

- The North West divisional final of one-act plays, with Geoffrey Annis adjudicating, takes place at the Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands tomorrow (Saturday) at 6pm. Tickets at the door.

GARDENS:

- THERE is a plant sale at the Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge, Windermere, tomorrow (Saturday) with a range of Holehird-grown plants from tiny alpines to trees (1.30-4pm).

- DALLAM Tower gardens, Milnthorpe, will open to the public on Sunday. See this medium-sized garden, with woodland walks, lawns, shrubs and a cast iron orangery. Teas in aid of Marie Curie.

MUSIC:

- BLACK Dyke Band with musical director Nicholas Childs, is performing at the Coronation Hall, Ulverston, in aid of Barrow and District Society for the Blind at 7.30pm on Sunday.

SPORT:

- NETHERFIELD Cricket Club host reigning Northern Premier League champions Darwen in a key match for both teams on Bank Holiday Monday, with wickets pitched at 1pm at Parkside Road.

Kendal are at Morecambe on the same day.

- TOMORROW'S league matches see Kendal entertain Leyland and Farrington, while Netherfield are at Preston (again 1pm start).

- RUNNERS are well catered for, starting with the Coniston Fell Race tomorrow (Saturday) at 11.15am, the Dallam Dash on Sunday (11am) and the Wray-Cayton Moor Fell Race (2.30pm) on Monday.

THEATRE:

- LA BOHEME by Puccini is being staged by SLDC Arts and Events and Opera Box today (Friday) at 7.30pm at the Coronation Hall, Ulverston. This opera will be sung in the original Italian.

- Hull Truck Theatre Company's tour world premier tour of Gordon Steel's Albert Nobbs is coming the Grand Theatre, Lancaster, on Monday (7.30pm). The comedy centres on retirement with major ups and downs. Phone 01525-64695 to book.

WALKS:

- A TORCHLIT walk around historic Lancaster with a guide begins at 7pm from the John O'Gaunt Gateway, Lancaster Castle, on Sunday, St George's Day. For details, call 01524-32878.

- VARIED guided walk take place over Tom Heights to Colwith Force, then over Holme Fell with magnificent views down Coniston Water on Monday. There will also be a moderate walk of eight miles. Meet at Tom Gill National Trust Car Park, near Coniston, at 10.30am. Call 015394-41533 for details.

- CARTMEL Fell, church and a Gummer's How guided walk takes place on Thursday. The moderate plus walk of six miles starts from Gummers How car park, near Newby Bridge, at 11am. Call 015394-42895 for details.

May 1, 2003 10:00