The Northern Echo: Swaledale Festival, starts on Saturday and runs until June 10

The award-winning Swaledale Festival is an annual celebration of music and arts in the beautiful landscape of the three northernmost Yorkshire Dales - Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale.

This year, as always, the festival offers an eclectic and inspiring mix of world class classical, folk and jazz music, exceptional young artists, entertaining groups, drama, film, dance, art exhibitions, workshops, talks and guided walks in the beautiful Dales landscape. 

Includes appearances by the vocal group VOCES8, pictured, pianist Stephen Hough, the London Mozart Players, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Red Priest, the Unthanks, Urban Folk Quartet, Northern Monkey Brass Band, the cellist and reigning BBC Young Musician of the Year Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and a trio of world-renowned guitarists: John Williams, John Etheridge and Gary Ryan.

This year, for the first time, people under the age of 25 can buy tickets to every event (except one) for £3 each.

The Northern Echo: The Red Arrows perform a display at the Skylive Airshow at Durham Tees Valley Airport. Only eight of the nine performance plane flew after one struck a bird on take-off. Picture: TOM BANKS

Skylive Airshow, Durham Tees Valley Airport on Saturday

The second Skylive show includes a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and troupe of poppy-decorated planes to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

Last year’s inaugural event attracted a crowd of about 18,000 people and included the Red Arrows and the Falcons parachute display team, which returns this year.

Come see The Huey Helicopter – used to transport troops and equipment during the Vietnam War, as well as limited support and attack missions – will also be in the air. And 29-year-old aerobatic display pilot Lauren Richardson will be displaying in her biplane at low-level, along with the Global Stars flying in formation in front of the crowd.

A Boeing Chinook will be in the air, and a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight involving an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane, will be performing an aerial display.

Wingwalkers will be performing acrobatics and handstands while strapped to biplanes and the Bronco Demo Team, based near the former First World War battlefields, will perform demonstrations with its new “poppy” livery.

Along with a British Army ground display. There will also be a fun fair, live music and a food village at the show.

Dino Jaws, Centre for Life, Newcastle, opens on Saturday

Don’t miss Dino Jaws, an amazing exhibition from the Natural History Museum, featuring life-size animatronic dinosaur heads – including the terrifying T Rex. 

Explore the sometimes gruesome, always fascinating, subject of dinosaurs and their food; from the notorious flesh-eating habits of T Rex to the vegetarian tastes of Iguanodon.

In this exhibition you can also explore intriguing fossil evidence, hands-on exhibits and scientific insights that reveal everything we know about what and how dinosaurs ate.

  • Dino Jaws will be at Life until 7 January 2018. 0191 243 8210.

Tattoo Show, Spa Grand Hall, Scarborough this weekend

Following on from last years successful Tattoo convention. The Spa will house over 50 award winning tattoo artists, who will be on hand to tattoo your every whim all weekend. Each hand picked and many award winning artists will be tattooing in their unique styles so if its a new piece of ink or a continuation to an existing tattoo. These guys and girls will do your skin proud.

As well and a plethora of talented tattooists, the Scarborough Tattoo Show will showcase some of the best alternative clothing, jewellery and interesting ephemera that there is to offer. From Taxidermy to Tiaras and everything in-between.  01723-821888. 

The Northern Echo: ROCK ON: Tribute band Bon Jovi Forever at the Wannasee festival in Bishop Auckland Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

Wannasee Tribute Festival, Heritage Park Stadium, Bishop Auckland, on Saturday/Sunday

Wannasee Live Music Festival is back for its fourth year in County Durham, with a stunning line up of World-class tributes, to many of music history’s most popular acts, past and present, that you could never dream of seeing all at once.

These bands offer the closest possible live tributes to the artists they represent, in stunning detail, guaranteeing a huge open air live music stadium experience and non-stop hits, from start to finish.

With tributes to Queen, Thin Lizzy, Coldplay, Kasabian, Green Day, REM, Duran Duran, Pink, The Who, The Commitments and many more, Wannasee weekend is the perfect way to enjoy fantastic live music at affordable prices.

Full details at: http://www.wannaseefestival.com 

Plants, gifts and food fair, Raby Castle, Staindrop on Sunday, 11-4pm
Quality plants for sale, along with unusual gifts and jewellery and food stands. Plus wander round the gardens. All held outside the cafe next to the gardens. A great day out for all.

  • Admission £5, children free, dogs welcome on leads. 01833-660202. 

The Northern Echo:

Fairy Tale Week, Crook Hall and Gardens, Durham, on Sunday-Wednesday, 10-5pm

Once upon a time in the far away land of Durham City, there was a a beautiful and enchanted Medieval manor house with wondeful gardens called Crook Hall and Gardens.

Crook Hall was a magical place where dreams come true and little visitors and their families could meet their favourite fairytale characters and see them brought to life….

Families are invited to come along and explore the magic as the fariytale characters step out of the storybooks and visit Crook Hall and Gardens in celebration of our Fairytale Week.

A perfect event for families with young children, packed with inspiring fairytale events to take part in. Including the special treasure trail, it your quest to explore the Hall and Gardens and find all of the clues. On completing your adventure you will receive a treat from Little Red Riding Hood.

But please be aware of the Big Bad Wolf nearby, he has promised to be on his best behaviour. Children are invited to come along dressed at their favourite fairytale character. Tel. 0191-3848028.

The Northern Echo: thornton hall

Thornton Hall, Darlington, open gardens and plant fair, BH Monday, 11-4pm

Gardens open and also many specialist nurseries selling rare and unusual plants in the Hall courtyard. Chain saw carving demonstration of an owl. Light lunches and afternoon teas available in the Bowes tea room. Entrance £7 per head.

Situated 2 miles west of Darlington on the B6279 Staindrop Road DL2 2NB.

Country fair, Duncombe Park, Helmsley, on BH Monday
Includes dog show, terrier and lurcher show, plus racing. Clay pigeon shoot and archery, hound show, mini grand national, gymkhana, show jumping, farmers market, craft tent and stalls.