Weekend Picks: Your plan for the weekend

With 62 cheesemakers attending from across Britain and Ireland the Artisan Cheese Fair is the UK’s largest cheese event.

There are talks, tastings, demonstrations and entertainment too. Families are welcome with free entry for children under 16.

“We’re expecting visitors from across the UK to come and sample some of the 300 cheeses that the 62 cheesemakers at the Fair produce between them. And it’s not just cheese there’s pies, cakes, wine, champagne, chocolates, in fact everything for a delicious weekend. And it’s all under cover so don’t worry about the weather.” - Matthew O’Callaghan, Organiser

For opening times and more information visit: www.artisancheesefair.co.uk

Organisers Viva! Are bringing their Vegan Festival to Birmingham for the first time this weekend.

The free event is open to all and there’ll be a variety of cookery demonstrations, talks, veggie stalls and competitions for visitors to take part in.

Free nutritional advice will be available all day alongside a range of free food tastings from vegan and animal-friendly food stalls.

“We are hugely looking forward to a great day of fun that all the family can enjoy. For the increasing numbers of people who want to find out more about improving their health, saving animals and protecting the environment, this is an upbeat event which will entertain and help.” - Justin Kerswell, Viva! Campaigns Director

For prices, opening times and more information visit:

www.viva.org.uk/festivals/birmingham-2016

The annual Lymelight Festival returns to Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre this weekend.

The event aims to gather music fanatics from in and around Staffordshire to play on the two music stages. There’ll also be an Artisan Market, fairground, street food and children’s fun and games, so there’ll be something for all the family.

The event will take place on the interlinking location of High Street and Ironmarket where local bands and artists will perform live.

“...The event has gone from strength to strength. We expect 2016 to be our best festival ever.” - Richard Buxton, Event organiser

For prices, opening times and more information visit: www.visitnewcastleunderlyme.co.uk/

Around 400 world-class historic racing cars from the 1920s to the 1990s are due to be on display at Donington Park this bank holiday weekend.

With three full days of racing, each featuring a mix of grids across a range of eras from pre-War to the 1990s, the Donington Historic Festival hopes to offer something for everyone.

“There is something very special about Donington Park. The only pre-War race circuit that is still in use, it brings an unrivalled sense of history to the meeting, which is highly appropriate for a historic event” - Duncan Wiltshire, Festival founder

In addition to all the on-track action and open-access race paddock, the event will feature live-action historic rally car demonstrations, infield displays from dozens of car clubs, historic karting demos and a trade village full of automobilia, prints, books.

For prices, opening times and more information visit: www.doningtonhistoric.com

This bank holiday weekend visitors are invited to a three-day canal festival celebrating life around the Shropshire waterways.

The festival will take place along both sides of the canal at Norbury Junction on the Shropshire Union Canal, between Newport and Stafford.

There’ll be a whole host of activities for all the family to get involved with.

Visitors will get the chance to take a look inside some of the narrow boats to see what life is like on board. Live bands will also provide entertainment in the main marquee.

“We are delighted that we have been able to lay on more activities and stalls than ever before by expanding onto both sides of the canal for the first time.

It is always a really great weekend of entertainment for the whole family and the chance to find out more about life on and around the canal.” - Bernie Jones, Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust Chairman

For prices, opening times and more information visit:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/events/2016-04-30-norbury-canal-festival