Hunton Steam Gathering, on Saturday/Sunday
Now in it's 31st year and still growing in size and popularity. There is a wide display of full size and miniature steam engines. The Rally also boasts a large display of vintage tractors, cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hunton steam gathering also hosts a large auto jumble, food market and craft marquee showcasing the goods of many local businesses. Other attractions over the weekend include fairground rides, musical organs, a range of displays including falconry, bicycle trials and live music. Details on 07850-863153. 
 

Grow Up Grandad, Arc, on Saturday, 2pm and 7.30pm 
Teesside based award-winning writer Gordon Steel (Like a Virgin, Studs, Dead Fish, A Kick in the Baubles) returns to ARC with his powerful, poignant and hilarious play. When Poppy, a ten-year-old girl finds herself living with her cantankerous grandfather, a man she neither likes nor loves sparks fly. Something of a hermit; a man living in the past who sees very little good in anything or anybody, her ‘Grandad’ is suddenly and unexpectedly confronted by a tornado of energy who can’t sit still and asks too many questions. Their developing relationship is volatile, very funny and has moments of real tenderness. Heart-breaking and humorous in turns, Grow Up Grandad, is an intergenerational story that deals with love and loss and hope and sadness, as the relationship between Poppy and her Grandad is thrust together and torn apart. Tickets on 01642-525199. 

Big Little Gigs: The Andy Lawrenson Trio, The Witham, on Saturday, 2pm
Relaxed family gigs to inspire a love of music. The Andy Lawrenson Trio - foot tapping gypsy Jazz and Balkan folk music trio playing the songs of Grappelli,Reinhardtand and more, featuring jazz violinist Andy Lawrenson. BIG Little Gigs is a fun live music experience for 0-10 years and their grown ups. Since their first show in Darlington last October, they have brought gypsy jazz, Northumbrian folk, string quartets, ceilidhs, ska, New Orleans Jazz and latin to sellout audiences. Through high quality performance, BIG Little Gigs hopes to inspire a life long love of live music in your little ones and maybe even inspire them to start learning an instrument for themselves. We bring a diverse mix of bands and artists to a child friendly environment for a fun, interactive, relaxed performance so your child can dance, move around, singalong or just sit and take it all in and because all our musicians are high quality you get to enjoy a brilliant live music experience too. A truly enjoyable, family time that unites generations through music. 01833-631107. 

The Northern Echo:

The Original Print Show, Zillah Bell Gallery, Thirsk, opens on Saturday
A chance to see remarkable new work by leading and emerging artists specially selected from this years Royal Academy Summer Show by Norman Ackroyd CBE RA. Celebrating its third year, The Original Print Show will include every genre of printmaking: from etchings, engravings, lithographs and screenprints to digital prints, guaranteeing a colourful and wide range of work from some of the most celebrated names in the art world to lesser known printmakers. Runs until October 22. 

We Are Family music festival, Hartlepool Marina on Saturday, 12noon
Hartlepool’s premier music festival, We Are Family, returns to Hartlepool Marina to celebrate and showcase some of the North East’s top talent. Following the sell out success of last year’s inaugural event We Are Family returns for a second year with an impressive line up that represents the wealth of talent currently making the North-East scene so vibrant. 
The festival will again be curated and produced by Hartlepool collective The Jar Family and will feature exciting performances from their pick of the greatest musicians from the area. Showcasing over 16 artists, a diverse range of talent, 2016 will see the return of Sunderland’s rootsy psych pop outfit Hyde & Beast, alongside hailed indie quartet Kingsley Chapman & The Murder, and Hartlepool heroes The Jar Family themselves. Newcastle favourites Little Comets will headline the main stage with Teesside’s Cattle & Cane topping the bill on the outdoor stage completing a superb lineup of breaking talent and special guests.