OPEN-air theatre is set to return to Ulverston's Ford Park as the Festival Players bring their latest touring production of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. The play features jealousy and joy, revenge and romance, loss and discovery, remorse and revelry, and ... an amazing revelation. This all-male, colourful production promises drama, comedy and great entertainment for a summer evening. The performance starts tomorrow (Friday, 7.30pm), with the park open for picnics beforehand. Remember to take your own seating, picnic blankets, etc. Hot and cold drinks available.

Box office 01229-581666.

Tickets: Adults £13; concessions £12; children/students £8; family (2 adults/2 children) £36.

FOR more than 40 years the Cumbria Steam Gathering has been attracting exhibits of some of the finest examples of preserved vehicles and machinery. Last year saw thousands of visitors descend on Cark Airfield, near Flookburgh, to view the immense range of steam engines, from giants to miniatures. Alongside the exhibits are numerous trade stands along with attractions in the main arena including Kangaroo Kid who will amaze you with his gravity-defying stunts on his quad bike, as well as Mr Alexander's Travelling show. The gathering takes place on Saturday & Sunday (July 28 & 29) from 9am-5pm.

Details: www.steamgathering.org.uk.

Ticket: Adults (advance on line) £12.00; (on the day) £14; concession (65+yrs) £10.00; (on the day £12; children (U16) free.

THE Lake District Summer Music International Festival (LDSM) is set to enthral and captivate audiences with the veritable banquet of works from 87 different composers, over 40 events throughout the programme. The festival starts on Saturday (July 28) until August 10 at various venues. On Monday (July 30, 8pm) the Eblana String Trio will be playing at Ambleside Parish Church, their programme ranging from Mozart's self-composed Prelude and arranged Bach Fugue, to other Viennese masterworks and music from Hungary and Czechoslovakia, all part of this year's theme highlighting music from states founded in 1918.

Details www.ldsm.org.uk.

Box office 01539-742621.

Ticket prices vary.

THE Dukes Theatre returns to picturesque Williamson Park with a new adaptation of the swash-buckling story of The Three Musketeers. This outdoor, walkabout play sees D’Artagnan (Lucy Parkinson) team up with the ‘all for one and one for all’ Musketeers, Porthos, Athos and Aramis, in a death-defying quest to save the life of a loving queen. The show comes complete with inventive stagecraft, energetic swordplay, and witty dialogue and as the actors move from one fantastic location to another the audience will follow in the footsteps of more than half-a-million people who have been entertained outdoors by the Lancaster theatre since 1987. The Three Musketeers can be enjoyed until August 18.

Box office 01524-598500.

Tickets: Full £20-£26; children £13.50-£16; concessions £18-£24.

PENRITH Agricultural Society held its first Penrith Show in 1834 and since then it has gathered much momentum, with a wide spectrum of competition classes for farm livestock, arable, horses, rabbits, poultry, show jumping, industrial and horticulture, to a host of local trade stands, food hall and rural crafts marquees. All this, plus the fantastic main ring attractions providing entertainment for all the family. Also, between 11am - 4.30pm, The Creation Station, for a small donation at the door, will keep children busy making paper cup puppets; clay creations and crowns. The show takes place on Saturday (July 28) at the Showfield, Brougham Hall Farm, Penrith, from 8am.

Details: www.penrithshow.co.uk.

Tickets: Adults (advance on line) £10 (on the day £12; children (U16s) £3 (on the day) £4; concessions (advance) £7 (day) £8; family (2 adults/2 children) £25 (day) £28.

Roll up! Roll up! Astral Circus brings their acclaimed Circus Show Extravaganza from the stripy big top to the comfort of Rheged’s Theatre, tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday, at 11.30am, 2.30pm & 6.30pm. A show for all ages, featuring comedy, aerial acrobatics, fire, balance, juggling and more. So close you could touch (though perhaps best you don’t).

Also, try your hand at circus skills, including poi, spinning plates, diabolo and juggling with the Astral Circus team. If you’re good, we might even put you in the Astral Circus show! Drop in and have a go at 1pm. Parental supervision required.

www.rheged.com.

£7 per session.