PICNIC Cinema returns to Muncaster Castle for the weekend – Friday and Saturday (August 10 & 11). Two classic films on the giant screen on the castle front lawn and the best summer party! Tomorrow (Friday), The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Cert 15) is showing so get ready to shake your groove thing to 70s and 80s disco classics and karaoke favourites. The evening’s entertainment gets started at 7pm, followed by the film at 9.30pm – because it needs to be dark! Same goes for arrangement on the following evening, Saturday – the film will be The Big Lebowski (Cert 18). Also Brownie points if you turn up in fancy dress – drag is the thing with flip flops, feathers and crazy hair adornments. The event goes ahead regardless of the weather – so go prepared and remember to take your own seating. Venue: Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass.

Book on-line: www.muncaster.co.uk/picnic-cinema

Tickets £15 per film.

IT’S THAT time again folks when we are in the thick of the agricultural show season. Today (August 9) sees the return of the ever-popular Appleby Show but to a brand new location – Hanging Shaw Fields, Long Marton Road, Appleby, CA16 6JL. The usual traditional activities include Equestrian Show, craft & food halls, a large number of trade stands, local exhibitors as well as classes for horses, sheep, poultry, vintage machinery, dogs, children’s pets, produce, handicrafts and horticultural exhibitions. Equestrian classes include veteran horses and ponies, riding horses, fells, Dales, Shetlands and coloured horses, working Hunter and handy pony. Judging starts at 9.30am.

And, don’t forget the events that take place in the Main Arena – Grand Parade, Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling, Terrier racing and so much more.

www.applebyshow.co.uk.

THE next concert in the Grange & District Concert Club's series takes place on tomorrow (August 10, 8pm), featuring the Willshire Piano Duo. Husband and wife James and Philippa are an internationally acclaimed duo who regularly tour around the UK performing a wide variety of repertoire, from Saint Saen's Carnival of the Animals and Britten's works to new commissions such as Duelogue by Rory Boyle. The concert takes place at the Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands. Admission at the door.

WHAT did I say earlier about country shows – well here’s another one (though less agricultural!) – The 2018 Lowther Show, held on Saturday & Sunday (August 11 & 12) at Lowther Castle (9am-5pm). This event is a true show stopper with the introduction this year in the Realtree Main Arena of Pig Racing, and Stampede, as well as the Essex Dog Display Team and both the Fell Pony Society and The Pony Club UK. Key elements returning are the Lowther Horse Driving Trials, Food & Beer Festival, the Lowther Fishing Island and the Lowther Hound Show. Away from the competitions there is lots going on for all ages – the ever-popular Folk Roots Festival, Food Festival and the Lowther Trail Run. This is a must-visit, must-see event and for more information go to www.lowthershow.co.uk.

Tickets: Adults £15; children (U15) free: weekend ticket £28.

HERE we go again – The Dalston Show is a traditional village event which has all the features of an agricultural show and a full programme of entertainment. It takes place on Wednesday (August 11) on the village showfield (CA5 7QB). Boasting a day of all-things champions from enumerable classes of livestock represented to a Pet Show, Fancy Dress, Cumberland & Westmorland Wrestling, displays of Gun Dogs, Terriers, Vintage Vehicles and the popular Tug ‘o’ War. Plenty of entertainment for kids, too, from Gary James, the Magician and Clown Bluey’s Crazy Fire Engine to Punch & Judy Show and music from The Border Concert Band. The usual trade stands, demonstrations, food and drink – in fact everything to make it a brilliant day out. Go to www.dalstonshow.co.uk for even more information about what’s going on.

Tickets: Adults £7.50; children (5+yrs) £5; concessions £5; family (2 adults/2 children) £20.

Car Parking free.

LAST chance to view Slyne artist, Niall Pickvance’s latest exhibition which focuses on our faces. Using oils and pen on paper, Niall says: “Our faces tell the story of who we are, where we come from and even how we think and feel. This series is my attempt to visually express the capricious and contradictory nature within all of us. None of us is one thing.”  Niall’s work is on show at The Dukes’ Gallery, Lancaster, and can be viewed during normal working hours. If you are making a special trip to see it, call the box office as sometimes the gallery is used for other activities.

Box office 01524-598500 or www.dukes-lancaster.org.