Distinctly Delicious Darlington Festival of Food, this weekend

HELD in the town centre, there will be stalls selling everything from local produce to street food from a variety of countries, there will be workshops and demonstrations encouraging residents and visitors alike to experiment with new skills and cuisines. Each day between 10am and 5pm the area’s food producers will be showcasing their wares from stalls at High Row, while a variety of street food will be available from midday until 5pm at West Row. Throughout the weekend, chefs will be holding cookery demonstrations in the Big Tent in the market place, where visitors will also be able to taste local delicacies such as handmade chocolate, artisan cheese, real ales and freshly baked bread. There will also be a programme of family based entertainment, with the event culminating in a repeat of last year’s highly successful Locomotion cake parade through the town. For more information visit darlofoodfest.org

Scottish printmakers exhibition, Zillah Bell Gallery, Thirsk, opens Saturday and runs until June 30

SCOTLAND has a reputation for producing some of Britain’s finest printmakers and the Scottish Printmakers Exhibition will showcase work by the best of these including Dame Elizabeth Blackadder, Royal Academician Barbara Rae and 2014 Turner Prize nominee Ciara Phillips. Tel 01852-522479.

Common Grounds, Lace from the Everyday, and Prehistoric People, The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

TWO new exhibitions have just opened at the Bowes Museum: Common Grounds is an installation of light sensitive drawings by artist Sarah Casey which bring to light hidden aspects of the museum’s Blackborne Lace Collection, while Prehistoric People explores over 700,000 years of history in one gallery. Discover what life was like in the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages. Amazing archaeological finds, interactives and craft activities make this exhibition suitable for the whole family. Tel 01833-690606.

Arts Showcase, Darlington, on Sunday, 10am-4pm

THIS free family arts event will take place both in venues and outdoors in Darlington's cultural quarter. This is the area along Borough Road, which includes the Civic Theatre, The Forum, Scrap Studioarts and the site of the proposed new young people’s theatre, The Hullaballoon. There are three open air performance areas where shows will be presented throughout the day. There will be stalls, children's activities, music and public art displays. At noon, Lord Sawyer of Darlington will open Middleton Street Peace Garden commemorating the loss of two local men in the First World War. Visit www.darlingtonforculture.org for further information. In the theatre's courtyard, In Situ Circus will be performing The Wind and the Sun an exciting and thrilling two person outdoor circus theatre show based on the original fable by Aesop that celebrates the good old British weather. Tel 01325-486555.

Sailing Club Open Day, Knaresborough, on Sunday, 10am-4pm

A FREE open day for first timers and seasoned sailors of all ages. Ripon Sailing Club, based at Farnham Lake, near Knaresborough, are really pushing the boat out for the RYA Push the Boat out day. Members and non-members alike can come along to the day, have a go at sailing with the club's boats, enjoy a meal in the clubhouse, have a chat with committee members and find out about sailing for pleasure or learning to race around Farnham's 75-acre lake. No need to book, just come along and enjoy the day. Tel 01423-865467.