JANUARY

24 WHITEHAVEN
The Beacon. Merchant Ships of Whitehaven. Talk including refreshments. £3. 2pm-3pm. Details 01946 592302. www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk

26 GRANGE OVER SANDS
Victoria Hall. Lethal Lovelies. Grange Lecture Society. Talk about the most notorious poisonous plants by John Robertson, former warden of the Poison Garden at Alnwick. 7.15pm. Details 015395 32125

28 BARROW IN FURNESS
Forum Twenty Eight. Solid Gold Country Legends. Mix of old and new country hits led by country stars Jeanne Jordan and BJ Thoams.
Details 01229 820000. www.forumtwentyeight.co.uk

29 ULVERSTON
Coronation Hall. A Night at The Musical with Darren Shaw and The Dynamics. Evening of dazzling musical theatre including Opera, Oklahoma, Mamma Mia, West Side Story and Evita. 7.45pm. Details 01229 588994. www.corohall.co.uk

29 KENDAL
Farmers’ Market. 9.30am-3.30pm.
Details 01539 713434. www.madeincumbria.co.uk.

30 CARNFORTH
RSPB Leighton Moss. Big Garden Birdwatch. Staff and volunteers will be at the woodland feeding station with telescopes. 10am-12pm.
Details 01524 701601. www.rsp.org.uk/reserves/guide/leightonmoss

30-31 BEETHAM nr Milnthorpe
Beetham Nurseries. Orchid Weekend. Displays of orchids with talks and demonstrations plus advice from orchid experts. 9am-5.30pm Sat, 10.30am-4.30pm Sun. Details 015395 63630. www.beethamnurseries.co.uk

30 KENDAL
Castle Street Community Centre. Annual Ceilidh. Evening of music, dance and song. £5/£10 includes hot pot supper. 7.30pm. Details 01539 739154. www.castlestreetcentre.com

FEBRUARY

4 ULVERSTON
Lanternhouse. The Films We Like – Short Film Night. Eclectic collection of animations, music videos, super 8mm projections and home-made blockbusters. 7pm. www.lanternhouse.org

5-13 ULVERSTON
Various venues. Word Market. Celebration of the written word with a programme of live and exciting literary events. Regular workshops, writers’ surgeries, story time for grown-ups and appearances from best selling authors. Continues 16, 26 and 27.
Details 01229 580999. www.wordmarket.org.uk

6 CARNFORTH RSPB
Leighton Moss. Sketch Club. Join the team to sketch, doodle and scribble the wonderful birds and wildlife. Bring your own doodling equipment to take out onto the reserve. 10.30am. Entry passes available from the visitor centre. Details 01524 701601. www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide

6 KESWICK
Theatre By The Lake. Best of Banff Film Festival. Evening of extraordinary short films of remote landscapes and cultures. 7.30pm. £10.
Details 017687 74411. www.theatrebythelake.com

8 KENDAL
Friends Meeting House, Stramongate. Herbal Medicine – Fact or Fantasy. Illustrated talk by Mike Hall for Kendal Natural History Society. 7.30pm. £2.
Details 015395 61625

8-13 CARLISLE
The Sands Centre. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling family musical. Details 01228 6252228. www.thesandscentre.co.uk

9 GRANGE OVER SANDS
Victoria Hall. Grange Lecture Society – Seabird Hunters of Lewis with highly acclaimed landscape photographer John Beatty. 7.15pm

10 MILNTHORPE
Community Centre, Dallam School. Widening Horizons. Freddie Harris will talk about Oscar Wilde.
10am-11.45am. £2. Details 01539 740197

10 & 22 CARLISLE
Racecourse. National Hunt Racing
Details 01228 554700. www.carlisle-races.co.uk

12-21 KENDAL
Destination Cumbria Adventure Week. Climbing, scrambling, paddling, abseiling, zip-sliding, swinging, walking, riding and sailing. Details 01539 736006. www.destinationcumbria.co.uk

13 CONISTON
Brantwood. Young Musicians Concert Series. Various piano performances including Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin and Liszt. 7pm. Details 015394 41396. www.brantwood.org.uk

13 GRASMERE
Dove Cottage and The Wordsworth Museum. Workshop: Sewing, beading and embroidery. 10am-4pm. Booking essential. £10. Details 015394 35544. www.wordsworth.org.uk

13 & 14 PENRITH
Dalemain Mansion and Gardens. The World’s Original Marmalade Festival. Top producers and cooks around the world compete for the world’s best marmalade. www.marmaladefestival.com

13, 14 & 17 RAVENGLASS
Muncaster Castle. Darkest Muncaster. Lights, music sound and special effects transform Muncaster’s famous Gardens and Castle into an enchanting mystical experience. Details 01229 717614. www.muncaster.co.uk

15 BARROW IN FURNESS
Forum Twenty Eight. Chinese New Year Celebration. Traditional celebration with the year of the Tiger. Free. Details 01229 820000. www.forumtwentyeight.co.uk

16 BARROW IN FURNESS
Forum Twenty Eight. The Greatest Kids Sing-a-Long. Favourite West End musicals and films for kids and adults to sing along to. 4pm and 7pm.
Details 01229 820000. www.forumtwentyeight.co.uk

17 KENDAL
Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry. Craft Demonstrations. Craftsmen and women demonstrate the rich heritage of the Lake District with lace-making, rag rugging, swill basket making and woodworking. 11am-2pm. Details 01539 722464. www.lakelandmuseum.org.uk

18 KENDAL
Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry. Children’s Workshop – Toys of the Past. Activities to encourage children to engage with contemporary and historical works. £2 per child, materials included. 2pm-3.30pm. Booking essential. Details 01539 722464. www.lakelandmuseum.org.uk

18 CARNFORTH
RSPB Leighton Moss. Nestbox Making. Make your own nestbox during National Nestbox Week. £6 a box. Booking essential. 11.30am or 1.30pm.
Details 01524 701601. www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide

18 BROUGHTON IN FURNESS
Victory Hall. Ulverston International Music Festival. Odyssey Trio. Featuring Beethoven. 7.30pm. Details 01229 716115. www.ulverstonmusicfestival.co.uk

19 BOWNESS ON WINDERMERE
The World of Beatrix Potter. Tea with Peter Rabbit. Enjoy a scrumptious tea party with Peter Rabbit and guest of honour, Beatrix Potter. Cakes, sandwiches, games and stories. 3pm. Details 015394 40874. www.hop-skip-jump.com