Paul Duncan provides the highlights of what's going on across the region in the next 7 days - from exhibitions and fairs to sport and walks - it's all in Pick of the Week!

ART

INDULGE your artistic side at an exhibition by The Witherslack Group entitled The Art Circus. The exhibition features an intriguing array of work, including drawings, woodcraft, poetry and a flea circus. The exhibition opens at 117 Highgate, Kendal (next to Turning Point) tomorrow (Saturday) and until December 24.

MANCHESTER Town Hall is playing host to the Dazzle Jewellery Exhibition until January 3. The exhibition showcases over 3,000 pieces of work, ranging from Perspex fashion-led items to more precious diamond, gold and platinum. The exhibition is also the perfect place to find unusual Christmas gifts and other Dazzle customers include Gwyneth Paltrow, Susan Sarandon and Dame Judi Dench.

CAROLS

KENDAL and District Support Group for Derian House Children's Hospice is holding its annual Christmas Service of Readings and Carols at Kendal United Reformed Church, Highgate, on Wednesday. There will be performances from Ghyllside School and The Crosscrake Singers. Doors open at 7.30pm.

THE choir from Stainton Primary School will be singing a selection of Christmas Carols at Rheged, near Penrith, from 12.30pm-2.30pm on Wednesday. Entry is free.

COMEDY

ENJOY some sporty humour at the ComedySportz Show, at Chorley Little Theatre, tomorrow (Saturday). Two teams battle for laughs and points as they make up scenes, games and songs on the spot. The audience votes for the winners and a referee calls the fouls. Doors open at 7.30pm. For tickets call 01257-275123.

CONCERTS

WINDERMERE Choral Society's Christmas Concert takes place at St. Mary's Church, Windermere, on Tuesday. The programme features excerpts from Schubert's Mass in G and there will be seasonal refreshments provided. Tickets are available on the door. Doors open at 7.30pm.

DON your platform shoes and flares for a night of spangly disco music today (Friday). Top Abba tribute band Voulez Vous will be performing a concert of classic pop hits at Forum 28, Barrow. Doors open at 8pm. For tickets call 01229-820000.

PENRITH Junior Brass Band Come along and support the Junior Brass Band who will be performing Christmas carols and other popular tunes in the Mountain Hall. The performance starts at 2pm and finishes at 4pm. Entry is free.

PAUL Carrack, the singer/songwriter behind Mike and the Mechanics' timeless hit The Living Years, will be appearing at Preston Guild Hall tonight (Friday). Doors open at 7.30pm. For tickets call 01772-258858.

TOP Beatles tribute band The Bootleg Beatles will be playing some of the Fab Four's classic hits at a special Christmas Show at Preston Guild Hall on Wednesday. The concert also features a string and brass ensemble. Doors open at 8pm. For tickets call 01772-258858.

ENERGETIC Canadian folk band Barachois will be appearing at Thornton Cleveleys Lecture Hall, Four Lane Ends, near Blackpool, on Sunday. The concert is part of the Fylde Folk Festival and will be their last before disbanding. Doors open at 7.30pm. For tickets call 01253-872317.

THE Kendal Midday Concert Club series continues at Kendal Town Hall on Wednesday with a concert by the Camerata Chamber Ensemble. The programme includes two string quartets from Mozart and Mendlessohn. Doors open at 1pm. For tickets call 01539-725768.

DOMINIC Kirwan, one of Ireland's most popular recording artists who has shared stagest with some of country music's greats including Tammy Wynette and Don Williams, appears in concert at the Sands Centre, Carlisle, tomorrow (Saturday). Doors open at 7.30pm. CaLL 01228-625222 for details.

THE London Adventist Chorale present their unique brand of classical masterpieces, traditional hymn arrangements and contemporary gospel music at the Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven, on Sunday. Doors open at 2.30pm. For tickets call 01946-692422.

EAGLES tribute band Talon will be performing all their greatest hits such as Hotel California, Tequila Sunrise, Midnight Flyer and Lyin' Eyes, at the Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven, on Monday and Tuesday. Doors open at 8pm. For tickets call 01946-692422.

ELTON John plays the M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, on Sunday. For tickets call 0870-060-1768.

COURSES

LEARN more about the native trees of the Lake District on a weekend course at St Martin's College, Ambleside. The course, entitled Ancient Woodland in the North West, includes lectures and field trips and takes place tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday from 10am-4pm. For details, call 01524-952623/4.

EXHIBITIONS

THE Silver Band Falconry Display Team will be exhibiting their collection of birds of prey at Rheged, near Penrith, this weekend (Friday-Sunday). Meet Buster the European Eagle Owl and Norman the Peregrine Falcon among others. Displays take place from 10am-5pm.

FARFIELD Mill Arts and Heritage Centre, Sedbergh, will be helping visitors to the galleries get into the festive mood with performances of seasonal music from the Calrsach Society Celtic Harpists tomorrow (Saturday) and from the Wild Thyme Recorder Group and Kirkby Lonsdale Bell Ringers on Sunday. There will also be demonstrations of lace making. For details call 015396-21958.

FAIRS

THE Keswick Victorian Fayre takes place on Sunday. Stallholders will be in Victorian costume, providing entertainment and mulled wine alongside late-night shopping.

FATHER Christmas will be leading a procession through Kirkby Lonsdale and there will be a Christmas Fair to coincide with the Christmas lights being turned on, tomorrow (Saturday).

RHEGED, near Penrith, plays host to the Young Enterprise Christmas Trade Fair with a number of stalls selling goods for Christmas made by local Young Enterprise groups. Doors open from 10am-3pm.

KRISTKINDLE Craft Market takes place at Leven Valley School, Backbarrow, on Sunday. There will be numerous stalls selling handmade pottery, woodcraft and chocolates. There will also be seasonal entertainment and refreshments. Doors open at 2.30pm.

THE Westmorland and Lonsdale Liberal Democrats Grand Christmas Fair takes place at Kendal Town Hall tomorrow (Saturday) with stalls and entertainment galore. Doors open from 10am-3pm.

CHRISTMAS Festival 2003 takes place at Blackpool Zoo Park, East Park Drive, from tomorrow (Saturday) until December 21. There are plenty of attractions including an indoor Christmas market and children's fairground. For details call 09051-600161.

1st KENDAL Boys' Brigade Parents' Association holds a coffee morning at the Parish Hall, Kirkland, Kendal, from 10am-noon.

LECTURES

LEARN about the native birds of the USA at a talk entitled Birding in Northwest America by bird watching expert Tom Lawson, at Leighton Moss RSPB Nature Reserve on Tuesday. Doors open at 7pm. For details call 01524-701601.

SPORT

WORK off the excesses of the festive season on a cycle ride to Ings with the Kendal and District Cycle Scene on Sunday. There will be two separate rides, one of 33 miles and one of 17 miles departing from Kendal Leisure Centre at 10am and 11am respectively. For more information call 01539-729770.

KENDAL Rugby Union Club were lifted by a winning display away at Tynedale last weekend and bid to maintain their impressive home form when they host Blaydon from the North East in a National League 3 North match at Mint Bridge tomorrow, Saturday (2.15pm kick-off).

KENDAL Town FC manager Peter Smith sends out his side in search of an overdue victory after three defeats in a row when they entertain Lincoln United at Parkside in the UniBond League's first division tomorrow (2pm kick-off).

ULVERSTON'S Christmas Pudding 10k race takes place on Sunday. Organiser Simon Barton, of Glaxo Hoad Hill Harriers, says 100 pre-entries have been received and entries will be accepted on the day (5 club runners, 6 unattached). The race starts at 11am from the Glaxo Sports Club and heads out towards Conishead Priory at Bardsea before looping back.

EXCITING motor sport action lies on the doorstep when the Grizedale Stages Rally takes place tomorrow (Saturday). The event starts and finishes at Coniston from 9am onwards until about 4pm, with car parking available for spectators within the forest boundaries. For more information go to www.grizedalestages.co.uk

THEATRETHE Heron Theatre, Beetham, present Christmas in the Greenwood a production featuring the songs and music of Thomas Hardy's rural England with the Gladly Solemn Sound singers, today (Friday). Doors open at 7.30pm. For tickets call 015395-64283.

TAKE to the skies on a magic carpet ride with the wonderful adventures of Aladdin at Preston's Charter Theatre on Thursday. Pele Productions have added a modern soundtrack and special effects to this most traditional of pantomimes. Aladdin will run until January 11. For details call 01772-258858.

HANS Christian Andersen's classic tale The Snow Queen, adapted by Neil Duffield, is showing at the Dukes, Lancaster. The Snow Queen lives in a palace in the far frozen North where she has hatched a plot to destroy spring and summer and turn warm, kind hearts into cold, hurtful ones with the help of Jack Frost. The Snow Queen runs until January 3 with performances at various times. For details call 01524-598500.

JOHN Dighton's The Happiest Days Of Your Life, a no-holds-barred battle of the sexes set in a boys-only school in the tradition of the Ealing comedy, is appearing at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, until January 17. For details call 0161-833-9833.

CINDERELLA, the classic fairytale of the downtrodden servant girl who defies her ugly sisters and wins the heart of Prince Charming, opens at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, on Thursday. Cinderella runs until January 3 with performances at various times, including evening and matinee shows. For tickets call 01539-725133.

GRASMERE Players present a new pantomime version of the classic Treasure Island at Grasmere Hall on Thursday. Travel with Jim and his wonderful mother Dame Ruby Hawkins to Treasure Island - hotly pursued by the dastardly Long John Silver and his cronies. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the door or call 015394-35627.

THE BFG, the classic Roald Dahl tale of the lovable giant who steals an orphan from her bed, is appearing at the Bolton Octagon Theatre until January 10. There are performances at various times. For details call 01204-520661.

JOIN Dorothy and chums on their quest to find The Wizard of Oz at the Grand Theatre, Church Street, Blackpool, tonight (Friday). Singalong with the characters as the words appear on a big screen and enter the fancy dress competition. Doors open at 6pm and 9pm. For tickets, call 01253-290190.

WALKS

CELEBRATE Yuletide on a seasonal singing walk through the spectacular Dentdale countryside on Sunday. The walk is part of a folk carol workshop and takes in woods, waterfalls and ends with a sing-a-long around the log fire at a local pub. The walk begins at Dent Memorial Hall at noon. For details call 015396-21166.

STROLL over fields and through woods to Black Crag, taking in spectacular views of Tarn Hows in winter on a Lake District National Park Authority walk on Sunday. Meet at Hawkshead Information Centre at 10am. For details call 015394-46601.