School holiday special: Week 1 » 24 - 31 July

Today
Rhythm Sticks 2005, London

Last day of the South Bank Centre's annual percussion festival.

South Bank Centre, Belvedere Road, London (0870-3800 400).

Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show

Final day of steam engine and vintage vehicle rally with fair, market, craft and model show. Children's entertainment daily.

Meadow Farm, Ringwood Road, Netley Marsh, Southampton (02380 867882).

Stoney Middleton Well-Dressing

Final of two days of dressing of Traditional Derbyshire well-dressing. Band concerts in afternoons and maypole dancing by village children.

The Nook, Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire (01433 631590).

BARC Championship Races, Hampshire

Single-seaters, saloon and sports cars. Under-15s free if accompanied by adult.

Thruxton Motor Racing Circuit, Andover, Hampshire (01264 882200).

Brampton Live, Cumbria

North of England's biggest folk/roots music festival. Two main stages featuring top artists from across the world, plus a club stage. Workshops, activities for children, craft fair and free on-site camping.

William Howard Centre, Brampton, Cumbria (01228 534664).

All week

Great Escapes Exhibition, London

Focuses on the extraordinary escape attempts made by Allied servicemen from German prisoner-of-war camps in the Second World War, including the stories of The Great Escape and Colditz.

Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London (020-7416 5320).

Liverpool International Street Festival

Performers from around the world bring the streets to life with dance, drama, music and street theatre.

Citywide until 7 August (0151-709 3334).

Monday to Thursday

Tall Ships Races 2005, Newcastle upon Tyne

Race fleet arrives and, on 28 July, leaves for Fredrikstad, Norway.

Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne (0191-277 8002).

Tuesday

Chesterfield Medieval Market

A charity market with a medieval theme. Entertainment throughout the day with funfair in marketplace.

Various venues, Chesterfield, Derbyshire (01246 345777).

Tuesday to Thursday

Royal Lancashire Show

An agricultural show with livestock, events and trade stands. Light horses and showjumping.

Salesbury Hall Farm, Ribchester, Preston, Lancashire (01254 813769).

Tuesday to Saturday

Chulmleigh Old Fair

West Country fair held annually since 1253. Opens Tuesday evening with a money scramble. Wednesday is main fair day, with country craft market, a sheep show and a flower show.

Various venues, Chulmleigh, Devon (01769 580276).

Wednesday

Nantwich and South Cheshire Show

Largest one-day agricultural show in the country includes biggest cheese show in Europe.

Dorfold Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire (01270 780306).

Wednesday to Sunday

The Longines Royal International Horse Show, East Sussex

Showjumping event with showing championships, horse-drawn carriages, period-costume side-saddle riding, pony and trap racing, shopping village, country crafts fair and children's funfair.

All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, Haywards Heath, East Sussex (01273 834315).

Thursday to Saturday

West Wiltshire Show 2005

Leisure and entertainment in Wiltshire's county town. Music and firework spectacular on first night, with another free concert on Friday.

Civic Hall and Town Park, Trowbridge, Wiltshire (01225 770387).

Thursday

Ambleside Traditional Lakeland Sports

Only remaining full traditional Lakeland sports meeting with Cumberland and Westmoreland wrestling, hound trails, guide and fell races, grass-track cycling, children's races, fairground, trade and craft stands and displays.

Rydal Park, Rydal, Ambleside, Cumbria (015394 34087).

Friday

Langholm Common Riding

Ceremonial processions across the town with brass, pipe and flute bands, plus horse-racing, athletics, Cumberland wrestling and Highland dancing.

High Street and Castleholm, Langholm, Cumbria (01387 380428).

Friday and Saturday

York Stamp and Coin Fair

More than 150 dealers buying and selling at one of the largest fairs outside London. This is the place for first-day covers, new issues, classics, postal history, thematics, stamps and coins from across the world, collectors' literature, banknotes and tokens.

York Racecourse, York (01793 513431).

St Helens Show

Children's play, action and performance zones, classic car show, equestrian show, craft fair, traders, exhibitors, and funfair.

Sherdley Park, Marshalls Cross Road, St Helens, Lancashire (01774 456864).

Potfest in the Park

International potters' market showing 100 potters from UK and Europe.

Hutton-in-the-Forest, Penrith, Cumbria (01768 483820).

Friday to Tuesday 2 August

Class 1 Powerboats World Championships, Plymouth

Watch the speeding boats in hot competition from the water's edge.

Plymouth Sound, Plymouth, Devon (01752 304849).

Friday to Saturday 6 August

Skandia Cowes Week 2005

Yacht-racing regatta for handicap and one design classes. Grand fireworks display on the Friday at 9.30pm.

The Solent, Cowes, Isle of Wight (01983 293303). Until 6 August.

Lake District Summer Music International Festival and School

Concerts will be held throughout the Lake District and Cumbria. Artists performing include the Chilingirian and Skampa string quartets.

Various venues, Cumbria (0845-644 2144).

Sixth Bristol Children's Festival

More then 20 performances each day will be given by children's theatre companies, puppeteers, clowns, storytellers, jugglers and magicians. Plus arts and crafts workshops.

Durdham Downs, between Saville Road and Stoke Road, Bristol (01458 832925).

Saturday

Northern Proms, Co Durham

Musicians include opera stars Graeme Danby, Valerie Reid and Bethany Halliday. Bring flags, picnic rugs, tables and chairs for a patriotic fun outdoor party. Durham County Cricket Club, County Ground, Riverside, Chester-le-Street, Co Durham (0191-387 5151).

Britannia Leek and District Show

Show with cattle, horses, goats, show jumping, sheep, horticulture, floral art, Women's institute stalls and trade stands.

Birchall Playing Fields, Leek, Staffordshire (01538 372006).

Saturday and Sunday

138th Heckington Show

Large village show featuring livestock classes, horticultural marquees, a rural craft tent, food hall, 250 trade stands, antiques fair, a concert marquee and tug-of-war. There are athletics and cycle races on Saturday, and showjumping on Sunday.

Showground, off Eastgage, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire (01529 461823).

Cumbria Steam Gathering

Traction engine and vintage vehicle exhibition with agricultural equipment, tractors, displays, arena events, craft exhibitions, fairgrounds and live entertainment.

Cark Airfield, Flookburgh, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria (01524 271584).

Sunderland International Air Show

Military and civilian aircraft, parachute teams, stunt-flying, entertainment, trade stands and displays.

Show/Display Promenade, Sunderland (0191-510 9317).

Kirkleatham Vehicle and Engine Rally

Attractions include 120 vintage and classic cars and 50 motor bikes plus tractors, steam-traction and miniature traction engines, rides and children's activities.

Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar, Yorkshire (01642 479500).

Have-A-Go Weekend, Kent

Try your hand at sailing, canoeing or windsurfing under expert tuition. Take towel, change of clothes and soft shoes.

Bewl Water, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent (01892 890661).

Sunday 31 July

Sutton-on-Sea and Trusthorpe Carnival

One of the biggest carnivals on the East coast.

Sutton and Trusthorpe, Sutton-on-Sea, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire (01507 442457).

Bognor Regis Carnival

Procession of floats inspired by children's books and nursery rhymes.

West Park to town centre (01243 861125).