Distinctly Delicious - Darlington Festival of Food, around Darlington on Saturday/Sunday 
Producers market stalls, demonstrations from chefs, artisan food tastings and drop-in cooking workshops. 
FROM chocolate and cheese, to sausages and sundaes, the region’s finest food will be showcased at a popular family festival next month.
The third annual Distinctly Delicious Darlington - Festival of Food will return to the town centre on May 14 and 15 and looks set to be the biggest and best yet.
Throughout the two-day event, shoppers and visitors to the festival will be able to take their pick from more than 50 stalls at High Row and West Row, selling locally produced artisan and speciality food and drink.
Among the record number of producers, bakers, confectioners and street food vendors taking part are Darlington-based The Green Guerrilla, H Taylor & Sons butchers, Clervaux Café and Black Olive Deli.
Those coming from further afield include the Northumberland Sausage Company, The Moody Baker, Lottie McPhees Cupcakes, Weardale Cheese and Masons Yorkshire Gin.
Curry experts Spicymonkey, from Durham, are taking part for the first time and will be tempting visitors with their range of sauces from countries as far afield as Jamaica and Burma.
And this will be the third outing for Darlington chocolatier, Truly Tempting Chocolate, which has supported the event from the start and will be launching its peanut butter chocolate bars at the festival.
Also new this year will be a beer bar, run by Hole in the Wall and a gin bar by Hash Bar & Kitchen.
Throughout the two-day festival, Trixie and Tilly will be celebrating Britain’s passion for tea and all things vintage by serving festival-goers with their fine leaf drink from a special musical trolley and dancing to their favourite gramophone records.
In another first for the festival, musicians will play live sets on both days starting at 11.45am on Saturday, with acoustic folk singer and songwriter Jordan Grant.
Jordan will be followed at 1pm by acoustic covers duo, The Other Ones and, at 4pm, by indie acoustic artist Zack Hammond.
Then, on Sunday, pop and RnB solo artist Eric Hynes will get the ball rolling at 12 noon, before soul and gospel singer songwriter Eve Conway takes to the stage at 1.15pm.
Americana folk duo James Robson and The Lovely Burn will then round the live performances off at 3.15pm.
For more information visit darlofoodfest.org

The Northern Echo: In the Eyes of the Animal: Hamsterley Forest, Friday-Sunday
Ever wondered what it’s like to be an animal in the forest? To flutter like a dragonfly or jump like a frog? Discover the forest anew through this 360 degree cinematic experience, which immerses you in a vibrant world belonging to woodland creatures. Put on your virtual-reality headset and find yourself not looking at, but within, a fantastical 3D world. Feel the buzz of your wings as you are transported on an animated and sonic journey, thrust into the heart of the food chain. With your feet firmly on the ground, explore the forest from the floor to the tops of the trees through the eyes of three British species. FREE. Booking recommended visit andfestival.org.uk/eyes 

Push The Boat Out open day, Grassholme Reservoir, Mickleton, on Sunday, 11-4pm

Teesdale and Watersports Club invite you to try out some exciting dinghy sailing at Grassholme reservoir in beautiful Upper Teesdale near Middleton in Teesdale. Bring some old trainers, some extra warm clothes and experience the thrill and action in small boat sailing. More information on 01748- 850095. 

The Northern Echo: Curious Cake, ARC, Stockton, on Saturday, 10.30am, 12.30am and 2.30pm
Making gets messy in this perfect introduction to theatre, guaranteeing giggles galore for the very young and young at heart. Journey into a playfully imaginative world where kitchen meets garden, where dirt is good, and where messiness mischievously conjures the perfect birthday surprise. This intimate, light-hearted play for under 3’s reunites award-winning theatre director Sarah Argent and performer Marleen Vermeulen following their highly acclaimed touring production Circles in the Sand. A play with few words, Curious is a laugh-out-loud experience for the very young and the curiously inquisitive – a perfect introduction to theatre that explores cake making as you have never seen before. At the end of the performance, children are invited onto the stage to create their own recipes, by digging in soft, moist soil themselves. Tickets on 01642-525199. 

Little Ouseburn open gardens, York, on Sunday, 10-5pm
Little Ouseburn is a small North Yorkshire village lying about 12 miles North West of York. The village centre is a conservation area and the 12th Century Church is a Grade I listed building. The Thompson Mausoleum, associated with Anne Brontë and now in the care of York Conservation Trust, is situated in the churchyard and will be open for visitors to the Open Gardens day. Around 11 gardens open for the public so far. The gardens range from the grand to the jewel-like in size, from traditional to contemporary in design, all lovingly tended. We will also be offering home baking at the village hall which will be open for morning coffee, lunch and teas. Afternoon tea will also be served at one of the gardens accompanied by a local band/choir. Plus lunches and teas, plant stall, classic car and motorbike stand.