Top 10 things to do in Lancashire at the weekend

Here is our guide to events coming up this weekend.
Kite festivalKite festival
Kite festival

FREE: St Annes Kite Festival, Saturday and Sunday July 30 and 31

The festival will feature single line kites of all shapes and sizes, including a 30 metre long inflatable Octopus, flying cows, dogs and even hippos. Children are invited to bring a teddy bear for the teddy parachute drop. Music from Pisces, Charlotte Cannon, Katie Dean, Tirikilatops, Jekyll, Morgan Marshall, Second City, Michael Shepherd and Joni Fuller. Open 11am until 5pm.

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FREE: Family Fun Day and Boathouse Open Day, Lytham, Sunday July 31

Gingerbread festivalGingerbread festival
Gingerbread festival

The Sea Rescue Charity's Lifeboats and Boathouse, in the South Promenade, will be open from 11am until 4pm for public view. The fun day will also include stalls, games, live music and other attractions to entertain all ages. A BBQ and pop-up cafe will be also be available.

PAID: Chorley Flower Show, Saturday and Sunday July 30 and 31

The spectacular show, organised by Chorley Council, will take place at Astley Park.

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New elements include introducing show gardens to complement Chorley’s award-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show exhibit The Evaders’ Garden and increasing the variety of horticultural stands in the vicinity of Astley Hall.

Gingerbread festivalGingerbread festival
Gingerbread festival

Gardeners’ World presenter Carol Klein and garden designer and television presenter Joe Swift will carry out demonstrations and take part in a question and answer session.

Advanced tickets: £5 adults; £1.50 child; £12 family. On the door: £7 adults; £2 children; £15 family.

FREE: Lancashire Market, Preston, Saturday July 30

Friargate will be transformed into a hustling, bustling street-market, full of local and artisan produce, fantastic handmade crafts and gifts and street food. There will also be animations and attractions for younger members of the family, including an animal petting area, face painting

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and free caricatures. The Lancashire Market forms part of the Love Food Love Preston campaign. Open 10am until 5pm.

FREE: Lytham Classic Bus Day, Sunday July 31

Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust will present a collection of classic buses at Lytham Hall, from 10am until 4pm. There will be a free bus service which will connect the Hall with Lytham Town Centre and onwards to Fairhaven Lake which is a popular local tourist destination. There will be a display of buses and coaches in front of the building. Parking is available in the car park adjacent to Ribble House on Ballam Road.

FREE: Owd Nells Cider Festival, Bilsborrow, Thursday July 28 to Sunday July 31

Owd Nell’s Canalside Tavern is hosting the North West’s only Pressed Cider Festival, with live music on the Canalside stage, Friday and Saturday Evening and Sunday afternoon. A barbecue is also available.

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On Sunday, there is lots of fun for all the family, including a Punch and Judy Magic Show and a Special Wassailing Celebration welcoming this year’s Cider by Barge at 3.30pm. Admission free.

FREE: Family Fun Day, Lancaster, July 31

All ages and abilities can get stuck into a variety of free sporting activities such as tennis, football, cricket, climbing, bubble football, aqua splash, and indoor athletics at Lancaster University’s Sports Centre.

There will also be face painting, bouncy castle and much more to raise funds for North West Air Ambulance Charity.

The event is from noon until 4pm.

FREE: Gingerbread Festival Day, Ormskirk, Saturday July 30

To celebrate the historic gingerbread story of Ormskirk, people are invited to the market in the town centre from 10am until 3pm. The event includes special markets and vintage crafts; a gingerbread model trail around Ormskirk; brass band, jugglers, street entertainers, live music and an historic gingerbread stall. The festival will be opened by the Mayor and Town Crier.

FREE: Halcyon Day, Samlesbury, Sunday July 31

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Samlesbury Hall, in Preston New Road, is open for live music throughout the afternoon. Those playing include Balderstone Brass Band; Preston Peoples Choir; Norman Hadley (Poetry); Willow Whelan acoustic guitar and singer; Danielle Riding – singer and Broughton Hand Bell Ringers. Weather permitting outside, if not, in the historic rooms. All proceeds to Samlesbury Hall Charitable Trust.

PAID: Cloudspotting Music Festival, Clitheroe, Friday July 29 to Sunday July 31

Families are invited to a three-day day family friendly music and arts festival in the beautiful forest location of Gisburn, with more than 35 live music acts. Other activities include a Cloudspotting Rio-Style Carnival, a sports day, family disco, a vintage mobile cinema and arts workshops. Adult weekend tickets are £109; under 16s are £20 - available from The Grand Box Office on 01200 421599.

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