Get into the Christmas mood with the Levens Choir when its members present an evening of seasonal songs, poems and prose at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre next Tuesday. Or, if you are seeking inspiration for the New Year, then take yourself along to the centre's Intro Caf Bar where an exhibition of calligraphy and lettering could revolutionise your hand-writing...

POTPOURRI...

LOCAL author Alec Barker will be signing copies of his new book PoW to Lancashire Farmer at Grange Library, today (Friday) from 10am-noon. The book looks at events in his life, including his capture by the Germans at Dunkirk and five years as a prisoner of war. For details, call 015395-61321.

MAKE your own festive table, wall and door decorations at a Christmas Floral Workshop at Dallam Training and Education Centre, Heversham, tomorrow (Saturday) at 10am. For details, call 015395-65123.

EXPERIENCE some spell-binding traditional seasonal stories and songs with Taffy Thomas at Arnside Education Institute tomorrow (Saturday) at 7.30pm.

TONIGHT (Friday) Milnthorpe Village Green will come alive for an annual dash of free festive fun. Opened by Tim Farron MP at 6pm, the fifth Christmas on the Green event will include live music from Milnthorpe Steel Band, The Lashley Brothers with further entertainment provided by the Astral Circus. Schools are also performing a variety of seasonal song and dance and Father Christmas will be in his grotto. There will be free mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies to help keep the cold at bay. For details, call 015395-62243.

PULL on your hiking boots for a guided winter walk around Grasmere with the Lake District National Park Authority tomorrow (Saturday). Meet at Grasmere Information Centre at 11am. For details, call 015394-46601.

CONCERT...

LEVENS Choir presents a lively evening of seasonal songs, poems and prose at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, next Tuesday (December 13) at 7.30pm. For details, call 01539-725133.

KENDAL South Choir, conducted by Hugh Davies, presents a programme of music by Rossini including Le Petite Messe Solennelle at Kendal Parish Church tomorrow (Saturday) at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the door.

OLD Hutton Ladies Choir, Beetham Handbell Ringers and Kendal Concert Band will be performing a concert of Christmas music at Kendal United Reformed Church on Monday (December 12) at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the door.

LADIES looking for a night of raucous raunchy entertainment, featuring the original tanned, toned and buffed male dancers The Chippendales, should head for Forum 28, Barrow, next Tuesday (Dec 18) at 8pm. For details, call 01229-820000.

LANCASTER and District Choral Society is holding a traditional Christmas Concert, featuring Morecambe Band, at Ashton Hall, Lancaster, tomorrow (Saturday) at 7.30pm. For tickets, call 01524-791634.

KICK up your heels at a Christmas Ballroom and Latin American Dance Party with live band at Natland Village Hall tomorrow (Saturday) at 8pm. Black tie and evening dress. For details, call 015242-76455.

ST Michael and All Angels Church, Beetham, is hosting a Christmas Concert with well-known Lancashire group One Accord, today (Friday) at 7.30pm. Seasonal refreshments will be available. For details, call 015395-63238.

ENJOY an evening of classic Christmas favourite songs from Welsh opera quartet Noel Noel at the Platform, Morecambe, tomorrow (Saturday) at 8pm. For details, call 01524-582803.

PRESTON'S Orpheus Choir presents a Festival for Christmas at the Preston Guild Hall tomorrow (Saturday) at 7.30pm. For details, call 01772-258858.

THE Coronation Hall's annual festive gathering Carols at the Coro, takes place in Ulverston tomorrow (Saturday) at 7.30pm. For details, call 01229-587140.

THE Kendal Midday Concert Club series of concerts continues with a performance by violinist Emma Hancock and pianist Alvin Moisey at Kendal Town Hall next Wednesday (Dec 14) at 1pm.

FOR an evening of energetic music head for the Lanternhouse, Ulverston, tonight (Friday). Squeeze, Tang, Buzz features the Dynamite Duo of Peter Moser and Calvin Cairns who will be playing an eclectic mix of tunes on a variety of instruments from accordion to fiddle. For details, call 01524-831997.

EXHIBITIONS...

AN EXHIBITION of photographs by Herbert Bell is on display at the Lakes Discovery Museum at the Armitt, Rydal Road, Ambleside. A Snapshot in Time features portraits, landscapes and studies of the people and events that shaped Lakeland life throughout his lifetime. Runs until March 31, 2006. For details, call 015394-31212.

MARIANNE Birkby will be one of the artists who will be displaying their work at an exhibition celebrating the splendour of nature at Signature Gallery, Kirkland, Kendal. High Places runs until December 20. For details, call 01539-730260.

VIRIDIAN Gallery, Keswick, presents Mountain Memories, an exhibition of the work of John Burrows featuring pieces in pastel, pen and ink until February 2006. For details, call 017687-71328.

MAN'S feathered friend makes for an avian-themed Pinfold Gallery at Bowness this month. A Celebration of Birds is a solo show by Green Door artist Fiona Clucas and features paintings and graphite drawings which will be on display until Sunday, December 18. The gallery is open Wed-Sat, 10.30am-5pm, and from 11am-4pm on Sunday. Call 015394-42929 for more details.

TWO exhibitions are on show at Farfield Mill, Sedbergh. Holding My Breath 2 by Carole Hamby features paintings inspired by the beauty of nature while Artistry in Glass by David Whyman features the glass engravings from an artist who has crafted pieces for former US President Ronald Reagan and the Royal Family. Both exhibitions run until January 8.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition of some of the world's most famous people is on show at the Lancaster City Museum. Legends features the work of former resident photographer with BBC TV's Top of the Pops Harry Goodwin and includes shots of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and sporting heroes such as George Best, Mohammed Ali and David Beckham. Legends runs until December 23.

AN exhibition from one of Britain's leading potters Edward de Waal is on show at Blackwell the Arts and Crafts House near Bowness. The exhibition was inspired by the design of Blackwell and the pieces are exhibited throughout the house as a series of installations. The exhibition runs until December 31. For details, call 015394-46139.

MUSIC Be The Food Of Love is an exhibition with a difference on show at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre. Featuring the handsome hand of Kendal's very own Terry Johnson, the display of calligraphy and lettering could inspire you to transform your scrawl into a piece of artwork in itself. Visit the Intro Caf Bar until Christmas. 01539-725133.

LEARNING...

MAPPING Ambition is an interactive collaboration between the art and design students of Kendal College, Kendal Library and the people of Kendal.

The art show running in the exhibition space upstairs at Kendal Library until December 17 - aims to build links between the college and the wider local environment and showcase the broad spectrum of work being produced in the art and design department of the college's Allen Building on Beezon Road.

The work is based on the theme of Journeys.

SPORT...

ENJOY a bracing winter cycle ride to the watering holes of Staveley and Ings with the Kendal and District Cycle Scene on Sunday (Dec 11). Meet at Kendal Leisure Centre at 10am. For details, call 01539-729770.

KENDAL Rugby Union Club entertain Leicester Lions in National League 3 North tomorrow (Saturday) at 2pm, hoping not to take their losing league run into double figures. Upper Eden RUFC are at home to Carlisle in the North Lancs/Cumbria League. In the Cumbria League, Windermere travel to Aspatria Eagles and Kirkby Lonsdale are at Greengarth.

Kendal Town's footballers are away for both of this week's fixtures. Town travel to Ossett Albion in the UniBond League First Division tomorrow (Saturday) for a 3pm kick-off, and then go to Clitheroe for the replay of their abandoned UniBond League Cup, first-round match next Tuesday (Dec 13) for a 7.45pm kick-off.

THEATRE...

GRASMERE Players present the classic fairytale of the silly boy, the cow and the magical beans Jack in the Beanstalk at Grasmere Village Hall next Thursday (Dec 15) at 7.30pm. It runs until December 17. For tickets, call 015394-35041.

JOIN Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchitt and three prophetic ghosts, and discover the true meaning of Christmas at the Dukes Theatre seasonal spectacular production of Dickens classic novel A Christmas Carol, which runs until January 7. For details, call 01524-598500.