The North(ish) Lass

Explore the North.

Category: Culture

  • Things to do in Lancaster if you’ve lived here for years

    Things to do in Lancaster if you’ve lived here for years

    It’s often said that we don’t explore what is on our doorstep; that we go on trips and days out, often travelling miles, but we don’t really go out and see the things we could actually walk to.

    So, that being said, here are some things you can do in Lancaster if you’ve lived here for years, that I bet most of you haven’t done yet!

    Go To Lancaster Museum

    Go on, be honest, have you ever actually been inside Lancaster Museum (next to the Library/near TK Maxx)? If the answer to that question is no, you absolutely should. The history of our city is much bigger than its somewhat diminutive size would suggest. From a Roman settlement, to being wrapped up in witch trials, to the less-than-storied participation in the Atlantic Slave Trade (did you know Lancaster was the third biggest port in the eighteenth century after Liverpool and Bristol? It was only because the Lune silted up that the trade drifted elsewhere). Lancaster Museum is spread out over two floors and is full of interesting information about the history of our city, very worth a visit!

    Tour Lancaster Castle

    If you’ve never been on a guided tour of Lancaster Castle, then it is well worth it. It only took me about eight years of living in the city before I actually got around to it!

    Tours are usually done in groups of ten or less, so you get an excellent experience of being able to hear the guide/ask questions as the group moves around the open areas of the castle. The castle has over eight hundred years of history, from the high medieval gate house, Elizabethan additions (built for defensive reasons during the scare of the Spanish Armada), the history of the witch trials, the Georgian jail cells (try going in one – it’s scary and dark!), the Lancaster regiments participation in the wars of the twentieth century, before the castle was given over for use as HM Prison.

    There’s also the courtroom to have a look around, as long as it isn’t in session. It’s the oldest working courtroom in Europe, and as someone who has been on a jury in there – it’s quite an interesting place to be! Not the most comfortable ever, but still…

    The tour itself takes a couple of hours, and is well worth it to learn a little bit more about one of the most incredible buildings in our city.

    Visit the Butterfly House

    This is definitely one for the late spring/summer when the butterflies have had a chance to emerge from their chrysalises and put on a colourful display. The butterfly house can be found in Williamson Park, which is a wonderful place to have a wander around – whatever the weather/season!

    Head to a Festival

    Lancaster has any number of street/city festivals throughout the year – from Dino Fest, to Chinese New Year, Light Up Lancaster, Christmas in Lancaster, Italian Festival, the Jazz Festival, and (when it happens – hopefully in 2026!) Lancaster Music Festival. There’s a lot going on throughout the year in Lancaster, and often there’s something to check out in the city on the weekends. Often these events have lots of free aspects to them, whether it’s watching a live band, or a light show, so if you’re looking for activities that are kinder on your wallet, check when the festivals are scheduled and head along!

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  • Lancaster Grand Theatre: A Brief History

    Lancaster Grand Theatre: A Brief History

    As Christmas comes ever close and the Theatre becomes a hive of activity once again with not one, not two, but THREE pantomimes (Footlights, Schools’, and Adult), I thought I’d take a look at the historic venue that they will be taking place in. Having “trod the boards” in this historic theatre, I can say that it is a wonderful place to perform, and I can’t wait to get the chance to do so again.

    Lancaster Grand Theatre is a Grade II listed building built in 1782, and has been a mainstay of Lancaster’s cultural scene since then. Originally just called “The Theatre” and part of the Northern Circuit of theatres, where touring groups and players would make the rounds with their shows. The Grand is now the only surviving venue in it’s original state. The Grand Theatre is the third oldest working theatre in Britain, and it has been in near continuous use since it was built, apart from the odd year here and there when it has been dark. Pretty good going for a theatre approaching it’s venerable 250th birthday!

    In the first summer it opened, the theatre put on Hamlet, with Lady Macbeth being played by Sarah Siddons, a relation of one of the men who opened the theatre. Other performers included Ira Aldridge, who was the first Black British actor to appear on a UK stage.

    There is a pervasive theatre myth that the ghost of Sarah Siddons haunts the venue. I mean, what would a theatre be without a good ghost story and a residential spirit? As someone who has spent quite a bit of time there, I have yet to meet her, although if I do, I do hope she’s friendly. After all, this was a place she loved to be! Hopefully she would appreciate everything the volunteers and players do to keep The Grand going and vibrant.

    Ira Aldridge (1807?-1867) in the character of Othello

    Theatre performances at the theatre declined through the 1830s and 1840s, but it was reopened in 1849 as a music hall with a focus on classical music, as well as having a space for a museum for the Natural History Society, and was increasingly used for lectures. Charles Dickens appeared twice in 1860s, reading from A Christmas Carol and The Pickwick Papers.

    In 1897 the theatre was modified, including a new stage, by architect Frank Matcham, but the work of this architect was lost in 1908 when the building was badly damaged by fire. It reopened the same year, after significant restoration, as The Grand Theatre. In it’s currently form it seats 457 over two levels and is owned by Lancaster Footlights, an amateur dramatic group, who have been performing since the 1920s, but bought the theatre in 1951 for £7,000 to save it from demolition in the remodelling of the Canal Quarter in the city. This “remodelling” involved mass demolition of streets of old housing, in order to rebuild for “healthier,” more spaced out, housing.

    Tours of the theatre that explore it’s history, both older and more recent, are available throughout the year, hosted by extremely knowledgeable volunteer tour guides. Check out Lancaster Grand’s website for more information of when you can visit and take a tour.

    There is also very exciting things planned for the theatre’s future, and a major fundraising operation is ongoing to raise money for an extension to make a new foyer, and to make the building more accessible for all.

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  • It’s Panto Season (Nearly!)

    It’s Panto Season (Nearly!)

    Lancaster Footlights Presents: Snow White, The Fairest Panto in all the land kicks off at the end of November!

    “Rehearsals are going really well with our cast of 39(!). There’s lots of music, dancing, fun, and laughter! [The trailer] will be out very soon for everyone to see… and our talented crew is hard at work making final touches to the amazing set pieces. Not long to go now! I hope to see you all there! – C, Snow White’s Director.

    Opening night is on Friday 28th November, with a relaxed performance on the morning of Saturday 29th November. The relaxed performance will be a little bit quieter than the regular performances, and there will be no use of strobe lighting/flash-bangs etc., along with other accommodations, so guests who are more visually/auditory sensitive, want to have a dance in the aisles during the show, or shout out and join in, can come along and enjoy the panto to the fullest extent! (Note from the director: for tickets for the relaxed performance, please contact the box office ahead of the show date).

    A character familiarisation guide will be available before the show so visitors who would like to can get to know the characters before they come to see the show.

    “Join us as we bring to the stage the enchanting story of Snow White, the kind-hearted princess whose beauty is only rivalled by her gentle spirit. But all is not well in the kingdom! The wicked Queen, jealous of Snow White’s beauty, consults her magic mirror and hatches a dastardly plan to rid the kingdom of Snow White. Can Snow White escape the Queen’s clutches, find refuge in the enchanted forest, and discover her own happily ever after?”

    Annie Hughes as Snow White

    Having been in the panto last year, I’m very excited to be in the audience this year and appreciate all the hard work and wonder that goes into it from this side of the production. There are so many people involved and working hard on stage and behind the scenes to make the show including, but not limited to; main cast, chorus, director, lighting crew, sound crew, props + scenery team (both backstage during the show, and those who make/paint/construct the sets and props), chaperones for the younger cast, riggers (who fly the scenery in and out), front of house, photographers/videographers, box office, ushers, stage managers, and I’m sure I’ve still forgotten somebody!

    You can find a full list of show times and dates here, but don’t dilly-dally, as tickets are selling fast and the dates in the weeks before Christmas will sell out. I’ve got mine for the Friday before Christmas and I can’t wait to see it!

  • Five Amazing Authors From Lancashire

    Five Amazing Authors From Lancashire

    Seeing as Autumn is the perfect time for curling up with a good book by the fire, as the longer nights have drawn in, I decided to take a look at some of the homegrown literary talent from the North. So, if you want to read some Lancastrian voices, check out the authors I’ve highlighted below – some are modern, others very much not, and there’s quite the range of genres represented, so whatever floats your literary boat, there should be something for you to enjoy!

    (Some of these authors were born in areas that are now outside of Lancashire due to new county creations in the 1970s, but they were Lancashire when they were born, so I’m counting it!).

    Note – if you choose to purchase anything by these authors, could I please request that you try and support either local and independent bookshops, or high street retailers, rather than that online behemoth that shall not be named. Let’s try and keep the British bookshop alive!

    Joe Abercrombie

    Joe Abercrombie is a bestselling author of fantasy books and was born in Lancaster. His first trilogy The First Law is an introduction to an epic fantasy world on the brink of an Industrial Revolution, but also a world at war. The world created by Abercrombie is full of magic, lore, demons, and incredible adventure. There are nine novels set in The First Law universe (split into two trilogies and one omnibus of three standalone novels), with more purported to be on the way. Definitely one I’m going to be adding to my reading list!

    The Blade Itself, the first novel in The First Law trilogy

    Josephine Cox

    Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, and published novels under her full name, Jo Cox, and also the name of her mother Jane Brindle. She is often listed in the top three “most borrowed” books by the UK Public Lending Rights figures (i.e. when people go to libraries, they’re often picking Jo Cox, which is pretty cool!).

    Often set in the Northern towns and areas in which she grew up, Jo’s books are full of Northern warmth and humour, as well as reflecting some of the struggles that these industrial towns have experienced throughout the twentieth/twenty-first century. Her books have human stories at the heart, with romance, family dynamics, and friendship woven throughout. A few of her most popular titles are Don’t Cry Alone, A Daughter’s Return, and More Than Riches. Jo published over 50 books in her lifetime, before passing away at the age of 82 in 2020.

    Willy Russell

    Yes, that Willy Russell. Famous playwright and author, Willy Russell was born in Whiston, Lancashire. I’ve actually acted in a Russell play before, Our Day Out, and thought he was a fantastic playwright with a wonderful grip on language and the theatre space.

    His works, including Educating Rita and Blood Brothers, are firmly lodged in the canon of “need-to-know” plays. Educating Rita was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1980 and starred Julie Walters and Mark Kingston. It went on to be made into a beloved film in 1983 with Julie Walters and Michael Caine in the lead roles.

    Willy Russell (who also writes music!)

    Jeanette Winterson

    Jeanette Winterson was born in Manchester in 1959. Probably most well known for her semi-autobiographical novel Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit of growing up as Lesbian in a Pentecostal community, and rebelling against the conventions that she had been told to live by. By 16 Winterson had left home, and applied to work at Pandora Press, a feminist imprint that published Oranges Are…, which went on to win the Whitbread Prize for debut novel.

    Alongside many other works, she has also written a short story The Daylight Gate, published in 2012, about the Pendle Witch Trials which took place in Lancaster. The novella was published to coincide with the four hundredth anniversary of the trials.

    Elizabeth Gaskell

    Okay, this one is a bit of a curve ball – Elizabeth Gaskell wasn’t born in Lancashire, shock horror! – the reason she is included in this list is that she wrote several of her extremely well known novels whilst residing in the village of Silverdale, Lancashire. She stayed in a tower folly that I have actually stayed in for a short break (you used to be able to find the tower for holiday rent, as it has since changed owners, I don’t know if this possible anymore). If you would like to see where she wrote North and South and parts of Cranford, just take a wander down towards Jack Scout in Silverdale, past the Wolf House Gallery, and you will see what looks like a medieval tower in a private garden. It’s not medieval, and was built in the early Victorian period, but was utilised by Gaskell when she wrote. It’s in a beautiful situation, and you can climb to the top and onto the terrace, for panoramic views across Morecambe Bay and towards the Lake District. You can see why Gaskell chose it as a bolthole to write!

    The novels themselves are an intimate look at “ordinary” life during the Victorian period, with a lot of focus on family dynamics, the struggles/lives of women in a world dominated by men, as well as stark looks at poverty and the lives of those who lived it during the nineteenth century.

    Several of her novels including Wives and Daughters, Cranford, and North and South, have been adapted for television by the BBC.

    I’ll be checking out authors from the other Northern counties I like to explore in posts yet to come!

  • Happy Halloween!

    Happy Halloween!

    It’s the spookiest time of the year if you celebrate Halloween, or one of the most important festivals – Samhain – if you’ve an interest in pagan or Celtic lore/history. Samhain traditionally marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter, where darkness overpowers day (in the Northern hemisphere at least) and communities look towards colder nights of enjoying the fruits that summer bore. It’s a time for the warmth of the fire, being indoors, and feasting. Sounds good to me!

    If you’re into the spookier stuff, plenty of Halloween events continue on into November, including plenty of ghost tours, ghost hunts, and haunted sleepovers, as I mentioned in my piece about Spooky Places To Visit.

    If that’s not your jam, then check out my foodie focused piece about how to cook up an amazing Autumn Feast using ingredients and produce from Northern suppliers.

    To be honest, I lean more towards the latter part than the former. Whilst I do love the lighter summer foods, and the brightness of the days, I do find myself loving the “winter” food that we can now enjoy on a colder evening; casserole and dumplings; roast chicken dinner with yorkshire puddings; more pie than can ever be considered a good idea, and plenty more calorific things like that!

    The fading of the year needn’t be a time for sadness, thinking that there nothing to look forward until the spring rolls around. Instead, I say we should lean in, and find the beauty in the dark and in the cold. Look out for wildlife that we don’t get to see at other times of the year; take brisk walks through countryside or along the beach, and enjoy the cosy fire (fake or otherwise) when you get home in the evening. Also, statistically, the better telly is on in the winter as well… so there’s always that!

    However you’re welcoming in the fading of the year, I urge it to be just that; a welcome. Embrace the chill, and look for the wonder!

  • Weekly Recommendation: Spider’s Web at Lancaster Grand

    Weekly Recommendation: Spider’s Web at Lancaster Grand

    Lancaster Footlights presents Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web at Lancaster Grand from October 3rd – 11th 2025.

    Clarissa, married to a top diplomat, loves to spin tales just like a spider spins a web. However, when someone is murdered right in her drawing room, that’s another matter! Live drama is so much harder to cope with! Her house guests help her try and dispose of the body before her husband gets back but they are interrupted by the arrival of Detective Brown who was told there has been a murder! Hilarity ensues […] “Spider’s Web” is Christie’s second most successful play (744 performances), surpassed only by the record-breaking “The Mousetrap”. 

    Christie is well known as one of Britain’s best loved authors, with her own estate claiming the title of ‘Queen of Crime’ for the writer. Her characters of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are known across the globe. Spider’s Web, however, was written for a specific actress, Margaret Lockwood, who had appeared in many films, but wished to increase her theatre repertoire, asking Christie to write a play for her. Must be nice to have that sort of clout and for a request like that to bear fruit!

    The cast have been having a lot of fun rehearsing, and are excited to bring the play to the stage.

    “The Spider’s Web has been great fun to rehearse and the cast have all been brilliant to work with. The show itself has all of the usual murder mystery trappings – secret passageways, invisible ink, and more than a few red herrings! What I’ve particularly enjoyed is the humour, as there is much more to be found in The Spider’s Web than in most other Christie plays!” – Ian Brown, Inspector Lord

    Tickets are selling fast. Get yours at Lancaster Grand – Spider’s Web.

  • Massive Wagons @ Lancaster University Great Hall

    Massive Wagons @ Lancaster University Great Hall

    Massive Wagons is Lancaster’s very own hard rock band and one of the city’s biggest music exports, with their latest album from 2024 Earth to Grace reaching number 4 on the UK album charts, and their last four albums having reached number 1 on the UK Rock & Metal Album Charts. Formed in 2009, the band have been steadily growing a following, both UK based and internationally, for the last sixteen years, releasing seven albums and consistently touring to support those albums and get their music out there.

    Lancaster, the hometown of the band, has a great music culture, with lots of indie artists on the circuit regularly throughout the year, and there’s always music to be found somewhere. The city hosts the Lancaster Jazz Festival in September, the Music Festival (sadly not on in 2025, but hopefully returning next year!) and up until last year, Highest Point (again, hoping this will return with vengeance soon), as well as a huge amount of musical artists performing at Lancaster Grand, The Dukes, Kanteena, the Town Hall, and many other great venues throughout the city, supported by organisations such as Lancaster Music Co-op.

    But back to Massive Wagons!

    Right up front I’ll admit, when I bought the ticket to see Massive Wagons at Lancaster University, the most I knew about this Lancaster band was the enormous mural on the side of The Pub in the centre of town, and one popular song that I’d put on my playlist from Spotify… but by the time I left the gig on Friday night, I was definitely a fan. They are a fantastic live band, really tight musically, along with great crowd interaction, and Barry Mills has incredible energy and connection with the audience. I didn’t know too many lyrics, but I was able to pick it up and was soon singing along/hollering with everyone else. My early favourite was the song ‘Asshole’ where Barry had the crowd competing in an impromptu spelling bee; shouting “A-SS-HO-LE ASSHOLE” throughout the bridge of the song, as well as some light roasting of the crowd (“just dim the lights on that side of the crowd, especially the bald fella with the big head… super ugly”)… got to love it!

    Photo courtesy of Massive Wagons website

    The band also touch on some really important topics through their music; ‘Night Skies’ deals with mental health, particularly men’s mental health, and encouraging men to talk to each other/speak out if they’re struggling. This is so important, particularly in the era of the “men’s loneliness epidemic.” This is a little off topic, but I believe that it is other men who are going to be the driving force in helping their friends through that, and men need to see good role models and calls to action, like this song, to look out for each other; confirming that men confiding in other men is not weakness in any way, and it needs to be encouraged. It’s great to see a Hard Rock band embracing this, and firmly aligning men’s mental health with strength, hard rock, and acceptance.

    ‘I’m impossible to make unhappy
    ‘Cause I’m the happiest of happiest guys
    But I struggle trying to find a smile that fits my life    …’ – Night Skies by Massive Wagons

    Another important issue the band have tackled is bullying. The song ‘Forget The Haters’ (or F**k The Haters in the non radio friendly version!) was written by Barry and lead guitarist Adam Thistlethwaite about their own struggles with bullies when they were at school. They’ve been visiting schools throughout Lancashire to spread the message to children that bullying is not okay, and what to do if they are experiencing bullying. Again, seeing positive male role models encouraging open communication, empathy, and strength through kindness is so so important, as kids (especially boys) are being exposed to a lot of other foul content that tells them the exact opposite (I refuse to mention his name on here, but hopefully you get the gist of who I’m talking about). Barry and Adam are also ambassadors for Metal For Good, a charity that aims to use the positive energy of UK music subcultures to change communities for the better; promoting mental health campaigns, representing minority voices, and advocating for positive change.

    “If we can help one child then the last few years has been a success” – Barry Mills, Massive Wagons lead singer

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    Barry and Adam as Metal for Good Ambassadors. Photo courtesy of the Massive Wagons website.

    The two shows on 19th/20th September 2025 were also part of a long legacy of music at Lancaster University. Sadly, this legacy had well passed it’s heyday by the time I attended in the early 2010s but, if you can believe it, the Great Hall once played host to rock titans such as Pink Floyd, U2, Queen, The Kinks, The Jam, Blondie, The Who… all of which is documented in the excellent book ‘When Rock Went to College’ by Barry Lucas and Paul Tomlinson. It would be incredible to see the Great Hall back as a go-to venue for rock bands on the UK circuit, as once it was, and Massive Wagons choosing to record their live DVD there at the weekend could be a step in that direction. Terri Chapman, of Rock People Management, is leading the charge in the hope that this vision could become a reality.

    Massive Wagons are on tour later this year in Europe on the Blood and Bone Tour 2025. As for me, I’ll be waiting eagerly for them to come back to the North West or to play a hometown show again – see you there!

  • 32 Places I Want To Visit Or Want To Do… (Part 3/5)

    32 Places I Want To Visit Or Want To Do… (Part 3/5)

    So my birthday has come and gone, and I am now 32, heading off into another year-long journey around the sun. I decided to celebrate that I’d do a list of thirty-two places I’d like to visit in the North, or things that I would like to experience or do. This is not a list of things I’m going to do in the next year, as a sort of checklist, some of these are pie-in-the-sky dream places I want to go, whilst others are more attainable and I have concrete ideas and plans to actually do. So, that being said here’s my list of things I’d like to do in the North, just to illustrate how many things there are to do, and how amazing this region is!

    Go to a Dark Skies event in Northumberland

    Parts of Northumberland are an International Dark Sky Park, and it is one of the best places in the UK to see all that the night sky have to offer. I’ll be doing a longer article in October about the Dark Skies experience in November, and how the Hideaway Huts could be the perfect bolthole to have a Dark Skies experience, so stay tuned for that!

    Do a Ghost Tour in York

    I did a ghost tour in York many many years ago, probably when I was about nine, and I remember it scaring the beejeezus out of me then… I suspect it might be a little less terrifying these days, but the stories and historical insights that come with a ghost tour are still fascinating. As York is a city steeped in history, from Pre-Roman, Roman, Viking, Medieval, Georgian, and into the 20th century, there are plenty of ghouls and ghosties hiding around the corners to be learned about. Perfect for spooky season!

    Make sure you go with a reputable company in order to get the best value for money. I would recommend the Original Ghost Tour who have been doing tours through the streets of York for over fifty years!

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    See Red Squirrels in Northumberland or Cumbria

    I’ve spoken about this a few times, but seeing red squirrels in the wild is one of the top things I really want to do. I’ve seen red squirrels abroad, and I’ve seen them in protected wildlife sanctuaries, but never seen them in the small enclaves in the north where they are bouncing back. Can’t wait until the moment I first see one in the wild, it’ll be magical!

    Stay at Rothay Manor, Ambleside

    I have to admit, I have a bit of a vested/personal interest in this one. Both my nana and my mum worked at Rothay Manor, many moons ago, in the 1980s. I remember going to Rothay for my nana’s 70th birthday lunch and it being very lovely, but I was a bit young to really take it all in. My nana has since passed away, so I would love to take a trip down memory lane and go back to the hotel where both she and my mum worked.

    Go and see the Lancaster Footlights Pantomime!

    It’s coming towards that time of year again, when Christmas Pantomimes are putting on their spectacular shows! I was lucky enough to be cast in the Lancaster Footlights Panto last year, but sadly missed out this year. Nevertheless, I will be enthusiastically cheering them on from the side-lines (or the wings!) because it is a fantastic show and I know it’s going to be blummin’ amazing. This year Footlights Presents Snow White, doing an array of shows across late November and throughout December. A good friend of mine, Annie Hughes, is taking on the title role, and with a voice like an angel I know she’ll smash it. Tickets will sell out, so if you want to go and see this great production, I strongly suggest you get in early!

    Ride the Railway from Lancaster to Carlisle via Millom

    The quickest way (when it’s working properly) to go from Lancaster to Carlisle is straight up the West Coast Main Line, but if you’ve got a little bit more time, the ride around the coast via Arnside and Millom is a beautifully scenic ride. I mean, the ride up the main line is quite pretty as well, but riding along the coast and up past the Solway Firth is seriously beautiful, but it’s definitely not the quickest way to get from A to B – definitely one for the day you’ve got more time to ride.

    Try Archery at Muncaster Castle Weapons Hall

    Do you have what it takes to be a Medieval Knight? With a regular ticket to Muncaster you can go along to the Weapons Hall and “have a go” with a limited number of arrows/axes, but if you’d like to give it more of an in-depth go, you can upgrade to an unlimited ticket so you can get more tries. I’m pretty sure that I’d be terrible at this, but I think it’d be a lot of fun to have a go!

    Go to the top of Blackpool Tower

    On a nice day, the view from the top of Blackpool Tower stretches for miles and miles, as far as the Borders one way, and the Welsh Mountains in the other direction. I went up to the top of the tower once at night, so you could see all the illuminations stretching away down the front, but it would be nice to go up on a clear day and see how far the horizon stretches.

    .

    So there you have it – seven out of thirty two of things I’d like to do – we’re up to nineteen out of the thirty two – stay tuned for the final thirteen! This is going to be a bit of a long series I guess, but there are just so many things to do around the North and if I did them all in one go (or even in three articles) it would end up being so long you’d never reach the end! If you had to pick three places to go in the North, where would it be? What should be on my list? I guarantee there will be places you love that I won’t even know about, so drop me a comment below or an email at bryony@thenorthishlass.co.uk and let me know what I should feature!

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  • What’s On In September: Cultural Calendar

    What’s On In September: Cultural Calendar

    As we head into September and the days start getting a little cooler, there’s still absolutely loads to do in around Lancaster, Morecambe Bay, and the wider region. The list below is not intended to be exhaustive, it’s just a snapshot of some of the amazing things to get up into in the month of September. Is there anything you’re planning to go to? Is there anything I absolutely need to feature in October? Let me know!

    When?What?Where?
    Entire MonthIn Bud & Bloom (Exhibition)Rheged Centre, Penrith
    2ndThe Ladyboys of BangkokThe Grand, Lancaster
    3rdWitchcraft 1612 – Lancaster Walks, Talks & ToursDeparts Lancaster Castle 2pm
    5thHal CruttendenThe Grand, Lancaster
    5thUK Foo FightersThe Platform, Morecambe
    5th – 6thGreystoke Beer Festival 2025Penrith
    6thMorecambe RNLI Open DayMorecambe
    6thShire Yard Sounds, Food & Music at HolkerHolker Hall, Cark-in-Cartmel
    6thBeyond Radio Big Night OutThe Grand, Lancaster
    6thWings Over WindermereWindermere
    6th – 7thLunesdale Arts Trail
    7thThe Shakin’ Stevens StoryThe Grand, Lancaster
    8thThe Northish Lass’ Birthday (:P)The North
    8th – 12thMorecambe Bay Golf FestivalMorecambe Golf Course
    10thRage on the PageGregson Centre, Lancaster
    10th – 11thWestmorland County ShowNr. Kendal
    10th – 14thLancaster Jazz FestivalLancaster
    12thShakeItUp Shakespeare, Comedy TheatreBowness-on-Windermere
    12th – 13thGreenside FestivalRavenstonedale
    13thCreative writing with Emma ThompsonRheged Centre, Penrith
    13thWorld Fireworks Championship BlackpoolBlackpool
    13thHeritage Open DayThe Grand, Lancaster
    13thCreedence Clearwater ReviewThe Platform, Morecambe
    13thRosie Jones: I Can’t Tell What She’s SayingThe Grand, Lancaster
    16thStained Glass Course (10 Week Course)Gregson Centre, Lancaster
    17thThe Meadow/Bayard (Music/Storytelling)The Dukes, Lancaster
    19thOpera Boys (Music)The Grand, Lancaster
    19th – 20thMassive Wagons @ Lancaster University Great HallLancaster University
    20thThe Specials LtdThe Platform, Morecambe
    22nd – 28thLancaster Food and Drink weekLancaster
    23rdMr Lowry & FriendMuncaster Castle, Eskdale
    23rd – 27thMorecambe Warblers Presents: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatThe Grand, Lancaster
    25thBuffy Revamped (Stage/Comedy)The Dukes, Lancaster
    26th – 28thMorecambe Gospel BayfestMorecambe
    26th – 28thHamilton (Cinema)The Dukes, Lancaster
    27thContemporary Gilding Workshop with Amelia BedsonRheged Centre, Penrith
    27thKendal Torchlight ProcessionKendal
    27thBig Green DayGregson Centre, Lancastr
    28thOne Ocean Film TourRheged Centre, Penrith
    28th – Jan 2026Wallace & Gromit in a Case at a MuseumThe Harris, Preston
    One Ocean Film Tour @ Rheged Centre, Penrith

  • What’s On In August: Cultural Calendar

    What’s On In August: Cultural Calendar

    When?What?Where?
    All Month‘Dave – A Barrow Lad’ Exhibition about Dave MyersDock Museum, Barrow-In-Furness
    1st Swift & Styles: Taylor Swift & Harry Styles Tribute Show (Music)Lancaster Grand Theatre
    1stThe Ultimate Commitments And Blues Brothers Experience (Music)The Platform, Morecambe
    1st – 14thFour Letters of Love (12A) › The Dukes (Cinema)The Dukes
    1st – 24thThe Wizard of Oz at Williamson Park (Theatre)Williamson Park/The Dukes
    1st – 26thSummer Fun At Lancaster City Museum (Family)Lancaster Museum
    2ndBellyBeFit – Egyptian Bellydance (Dance)The Gregson Centre
    2nd – 3rdThe Morecambe 1940s Revival (Festival)Church Street, Morecambe
    3rdScreenwriters Group (Workshop)The Gregson Centre
    3rdRock n Roll Dance (Dance)The Gregson Centre
    4thAct One Summer School 2025 (Family)Lancaster Grand Theatre
    4thCharity Quiz Night (Family)The Gregson Centre
    4thAdult Acting Classes with Three Left Feet (Theatre)The Gregson Centre
    6thPlayreading Club (Theatre)The Dukes
    7thLake District Sheep Dog Trials at Ings 2025 (Family)Hill Farm, Windermere
    8thLion Earth Launch Party (Music)The Gregson Centre
    9thFinish Your Sh*! (Workshop)The Gregson Centre
    9th – 10thBlackpool Air Show 2025 (Family)Blackpool Promenade
    15th – 17thThe Goonies (Cinema)The Dukes
    16thMorecambe Maritime Festival (Family/Festival)Morecambe/RNLI Station
    16thThese Wicked Rivers (Music)The Platform, Morecambe
    16thIntro to Ecological Film Making Workshop (Workshop)Kendal
    16th – 17thHearts of Darkness (Cinema)The Dukes
    19th – 23rdLancaster Art Fair 2025The Storey
    22nd – 24thOne More Bite Food Fest At Lancaster Castle (Festival)Lancaster Castle
    22nd – 24thMaterialists (Cinema)The Dukes
    24th – 25thAn Outdoor Photography Exhibition (Exhibition)Barrow-In-Furness
    31stTony Christie: Farewell Tour (Music)Lancaster Grand Theatre