Wondering what to do this weekend? Here's a few ideas

Fire Engine and Vintage Vehicle Show, Preston Park Museum, Eaglescliffe on Saturday/Sunday

WITH an impressive range of over 300 vehicles of all types on display – including the largest number of restored Fire Appliances in one place in the North of England – this fantastic event is not to be missed. 

There’s also a market area and packed central arena with live motoring displays and performances, including Big Pete and the Grim Reaper Monster truck show and the Xtreme Stunt team Motorcycle and bike show. 

Plus, plenty of family fun activities throughout the weekend. 01642-527820. 

The Northern Echo:

Leaf A leaf is Born… Middlesbrough Town Hall, on Saturday, 11am, 1pm and 3pm

It grows and glows in the sunshine and the rain Then the wind blows and it becomes colder The leaf changes colour In the snow, the leaf falls… But when spring comes, a new leaf grows…

Join us as we tell the life story of a very special leaf in this warm, intimate and playful new piece for under 3s inspired by nature and the seasons. Framed within an evocative soundscape, this is the perfect introduction to theatre for the very young.

Leaf is another heart-warming play created by Tam Tam Theatre, whose previous shows for very young children include Circles in the Sand and Curious. The company’s founder, Marleen Vermeulen, created Leaf in collaboration with director Joy Haynes.

At the end of the performance, children are invited onto the stage to play among the leaves and explore a landscape created by the changing seasons. 01642-729729. 

Great Yorkshire Art Explore, Mercer Art Gallery, from Saturday (until September 16)

YORKSHIRE'S cultural heritage through 50 great paintings from the region’s finest artists – past and present. Enjoy ‘Victorian blockbusters’ such as Atkinson Grimshaw’s world famous painting Silver Moonlight, exhibited with Fred Lawson's paintings of Wensleydale life and new work by contemporary artists including Jake Attree, John Creighton, Tom Wood and Graeme Willson. 

This major summer art exhibition puts the best of the Harrogate Fine Art collection and Yorkshire’s contemporary artists in the spotlight. Great Yorkshire Art has been designed to complement the Great Exhibition of the North in Newcastle/ Gateshead with a celebration of Yorkshire art, including paintings, prints, photography, drawings and sculpture by artists who have been inspired by Yorkshire, its landscape and, of course, its people. 01423-556188. 

The Northern Echo:

Great Northern Contemporary craft fair, The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle, on Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am-4:00pm.

IF you love the handmade, the beautiful, the unique and the unusual, then this event is for you, a must-see, when it opens at the Biscuit Gallery, as part of the opening weekend of The Great Exhibition of the North.

This is an opportunity to buy and commission work direct from over 50 of the UK’s best established and emerging artists and designer-makers, all selected for their excellence, featuring ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles, print, fashion design, furniture, lighting and decorative accessories. 07973-574735. 

The Northern Echo:

Romaldkirk Gardens open to the public, Teesdale, on Sunday, 1-5pm
A group of eight gardens of great variety. Most gardens are clustered around the village greens. Some are a short walk/drive to the edge of the village. Romaldkirk is an interesting, old, traditional village with a water pump, stocks and attractive church of St Romald. 

Some gardens are typical cottage gardens with herbaceous borders, another larger garden includes a pond and grotto, one has lawns, rockery and interesting shrubs. Another garden which is well established has an attractive design of lawns, lake, herbaceous borders, trees and shrubs. 
Home-made teas in The Reading Room, opp Rose and Crown Hotel. Refreshments in aid of The Reading Room funds. 1:00pm-5:30pm.