A BIT diverse this week, location-wise, as the summer season starts to wind down and the spook-citing autumn events of Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night move closer. However ....

TWO engaging events take place in tandem from Saturday (September 24); the Ullswater Outdoor Fest and Ullswater Walking Festival, the former includes outdoor adventure and experiences, films and talks while the second offers all things walking from gentle strolls to challenging hikes. Both events end on October 2. There’s too many activities to mention so go to www.ullswater.com/ and www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/ for programmes.

TASTE Cumbria Cockermouth – the original and the highlight of the Taste festival season, takes place on Saturday & Sunday (September 24 & 25). Main Street will be bustling with more than 80 producers’ stalls selling fab food and drink. Next to the stalls is the show marquee, home of the chef and expert demonstrations, a must-visit spot since tips and delicious recipe ideas feature temptingly on the menu. If all this food makes you peckish then Market Place is the eat-on-the-spot place to be, plus there’s loads of family fun.

Oh, and for liquor connoisseurs there’s expert spirit tasting sessions on Sunday, courtesy of the Lakes Distillery, in the Trout Marquee. Tickets from £10 [depending on event] www.tastecumbria.com/.

A RIP roaring new stage musical for kids, The Giant's Loo Roll, is set to bounce into Lancaster's The Grand on Saturday (September 24, 2.30pm) after falling to the floor! This gigantic children's show sees the villagers living in the town below the giant's house using the runaway loo paper for their own benefit; one sheet provides a huge canvas for an artist, while the tailor uses another to fill her shop with paper pants! Watch out for some frightened sheep, lots of excited children and a fantastic amount of loo paper, presented by TaleGate Theatre.

Tickets: Adults £12; concession £10; family £38. www.lancastergrand.co.uk.

AN EXTRAORDINARY exhibition of works for sale by devoted Lakes artist and architect Michael Bottomley, takes place on Saturday and Sunday (September 24&25) at Kendal Town Hall. The artist was a longstanding supporter of both Kendal Art Society and the Lakes Artist Society, and following his death last year, an extensive archive of his paintings from the 1940s to the present, was discovered. Michael was fascinated by the jumble of assorted buildings to be found in many old towns, by unexpected views through archways and narrow lanes, by the detritus of agriculture and industry and by the unusual effects of light and atmosphere, and this led to him creating a feast of visual information. It’s worth noting that this exhibition will be one of the last opportunities to buy the artist's remaining work. Exhibition is open from 10am-4.30pm.

IF YOU are potty about Beatrix and enjoyed the musical adventure Where's Peter Rabbit? then hop along to the next theatrical offering Meeting Bea. Presented by the Bowness Theatre Festival and written by Eric Pringle, the play is set in 1927 and Beatrix Potter is now Mrs William Heelis. The author is a successful Lake District farmer and her children's books have been left far behind, which she never wishes to revisit, until one day the arrival of a girl from Lancashire and an American publisher who won't take 'no' for an answer turns her life upside down. The play runs from tomorrow (Friday) to Sunday (October 9). For evening and matinee performances check website at www.oldlaundrytheatre.co.uk or call 08445-040604. Tickets from: Adults £20-£22.50; children £7; seniors £21.

FESTIVAL of the Fells, at Ambleside, is a four-day outdoor and cultural festival, starting today (Thursday) until Sunday (September 25) and includes guided walks, swimming in tarns, talks, chats, ghyll scrambling, abseiling and much more, at various places around the area. For example, today (Thursday, 11am-4pm) Predator Experience is on hand to introduce their star turns, wolf hybrids Maska and Kajita, and you are invited to go along and meet them as well as learn all about the species’ habits, there’s also falconry and a chance to hear all about Eagles, this takes place at Cunninghams on Rydal Road. Then, if you fancy twirling the night away then there’s a Festival Ceilidh at the parish centre, tomorrow (Friday) 7pm, featuring the ceilidh band Tumbling Tom.

For all events go to www.festivalofthefells.uk or Facebook page.