ULVERSTON...

Lovers of literature should head for the Word Party at the Lanternhouse on Thursday, October 21. The event features music, word games, performances from local poets and writers and a guest appearance from Booker Prize listed author, John Murray. The winners of our E Short Story and Poetry Competition will also be recognised and read. The event hopes to raise money for Word Market and begins at 7.30pm. For details, visit www.word-market.co.uk.

AMBLESIDE OUTDOOR enthusiasts young and old will be able to experience some exciting wilderness sports and raise money for mountain rescue at this year's October Outdoor Fest. The annual festival takes place in and around Gaynor Sports, Ambleside, from October 23-30 and this year's event should have something for everyone including guided walks with some of the biggest names in the outdoors, children's activities, and opportunities to test some of the latest equipment. For details call 015394-34204.

KENDAL...

KENDAL Recorded Music Society are holding a special evening entitled Brush Up Your Shakespeare at Stricklandgate Methodist Church on Thursday, October 21. The evening begins at 7.15pm. For details, call 01539-722697.

GRANGE-OVER-SANDS...

ENJOY a night at the theatre with a Grange Drama production of The Uninvited, by Tim Kelly. The play will be directed by Benita Finch and will be performed at the Victoria Hall from October 21-23. Tickets are available form Grange Tourist Information Centre or on the door.

GRASMERE...

THE Wordsworth Trust's series of Summer Poetry Readings comes to a close on Tuesday, Octo ber 26, with an evening with poet publishing magnate and poet, Felix Dennis. Felix was co-editor of the infamous OZ magazine in the 1960s. The evening will take place at The Thistle Hotel, Grasmere, at 6.30pm. For details, call 015394-35544.

BRIGSTEER STEPHEN Greenwood will be presenting a slide slow and talk entitled The Lure of the North West Highlands at Brigsteer Village Hall on Friday, October 22. The show begins at 7.30pm and tickets are available on the door. All proceeds go to the village hall funds.

MORECAMBE...

FORMER bar room hellraiser and comedian, Jeremy Hardy will be appearing at the Platform on Friday, October 22. Jeremy is a regular on TV and a columnist on the Guardian and the evening should promise a riotous evening of entertainment. The performance begins at 8pm. For details call 01524-582803.

BARROW AWARD-winning Scottish folk musician, Emily Smith, will be appearing at Forum 28 on Tuesday, October 26. Together with her band she has been enthralling audiences in the US, and Australia. The concert begins at 7.30pm. For details, call 01229-820000.

NEAR SAWREY...

EXPLORE the literary world of Beatrix Potter on a Lake District National Park Authority-led walk around the countryside that was the inspiration for her books. The walk takes place on Thursday, October 21, and will follow a route from Hill Top to Eccles Tarn starting at 10.30am from Hill Top Garden, Near Sawrey. Booking essential on 015396-4660.

SEDBERGH...

JOIN a workshop with one of Britain's best loved singing teachers, Frankie Armstrong, at Sedbergh People's Hall, on Saturday, October 23. The workshop is entitled A Song in My Foot and takes place from 10am-4.30pm. For details, call 015396-21166.