Five great things to do this weekend

There will be plenty of things to see and do across the day for people of all ages: Birds of prey, dogs show - entries on the day (£1 per dog), poultry tent, handy craft tent, children's entries, horticulture displays, vintage tractors, horse show, side Shows - tomobla, hook a duck, bouncy castle, fairground rides, cows including Highland & Shorthorn, sheep, local food & drink. Young Farmers, ferret racing, WI Displays, bar open till dusk.

The Dressing Room a Comedy Play by Bobby Ball, The Majestic Theatre, Darlington, on Saturday, 7:00pm

Featuring an all-star cast including Bobby Ball, Tommy Cannon, Stu Francis, Johnnie Casson and Ann-Marie. A new play written by Bobby Ball with an all-star cast including Bobby Ball, Tommy Cannon, Stu Francis, Johnnie Casson and Ann-Marie.

The Dressing Room gives the audience a sneak preview into life behind the scenes. Set backstage in the dressing room each act waits their turn to be called to the stage.

One by one they make their performance before returning to the hub of activity in the dressing room where gossip and misunderstandings continue. The audience gets to see what goes on both sides of the curtains and what a performer goes through in the dressing room.

Bobby says ‘I am really excited about doing the play and working with such great people and I am sure the audience will love it. It is part variety and part play so I like to call it a playriety.

The audience get to watch each star perform their own variety act as well as see the things that happen backstage that a audience don’t usually see, the gossip, what we think of the audience, how we think the show is going…and lots more’. 01325-482848. 

Autumn Flower Show, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, on Saturday/Sunday

Offers everything you need to create the perfect plot, plus spectacular displays, lots of live entertainment and a fantastic day out! Discover the darker side of gardening with a new attraction exploring horticulture as you may not have seen it before.

From the weird and wonderful world of carnivorous plants to the sinister secrets of the pretty and poisonous, the show will take visitors on a journey through the twilight zone, including hints and tips for creating an enchanted evening garden.

Also new for 2016 is Green Lane, a series of show gardens featuring the work of up-and-coming designers and landscapers, who will be offering a fresh look at creating great back gardens in a limited space.

Green Lane is supported by the Association of Professional Landscapers and adds to the show’s existing Inspiration Street attraction.

Rated in the top three British gardening events by Which?, the autumn flower is staged at the Great Yorkshire Showground and, after 18 months of building work, a brand new building will be open for this year’s event enabling nearly 100 nursery displays to be housed in one Plant Pavilion.

The amazing giant vegetable competition continues to get bigger as growers from all over the country compete for the title of heaviest and longest.

Many world records have been smashed in the past and visitors can look forward to another gargantuan battle again this autumn.

If it’s garden answers you seek, the show is where you will find them! Leading experts will be on hand throughout the weekend with a host of horticultural experience and advice in Kitchen Garden Live, the Dig-It Garden Theatre and the Garden Advice Bureau.

Children can join their perky little gardening friend, Pod, for lots of free fun with a range of hands-on activities to keep them entertained.

With great garden shopping, unique crafts, lovely gifts and specialist foods, this really is the perfect day out for garden lovers. See www.flowershow.org.uk for more information. 01423-546157.

Festival of Thrift, Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar, on Saturday/Sunday, 10-5pm

A cultural celebration for the people of the North East, the UK and beyond, where people find the fun in learning how to reuse, recycle and upcycle, saving both money and benefiting the environment.

As always it will feature thought provoking art, interactive entertainment, workshops, an array of tasty homemade food, fabulous stalls selling up-cycled, recycled and second-hand goods, activities, crafting, music and tips and advice.

A winner for the 2015 Arts & Culture Observer Ethical Awards, the Festival of Thrift is the UK’s only national celebration of sustainable living. 07855-855503. 

Infinite Folk, Stockton Arc on Saturday, 5-11pm 

A festival of acoustic, roots and lo-fi music, with Teesside duo Megson confirmed as headliners.

The line-up features: 9:15pm Megson 8:00pm The Mile Roses 6:45pm The Jar Family 5:45pm Little Mirrors 5:00pm Amelia Coburn As well as an exciting line-up of bands playing on stage in The Point, there will be live music throughout the evening in our No 60 café bar from 4pm, including Ian Smith & Philip Donegan, James Leonard Hewitson, James Kruman and James Gray Robson & The Lovely Burn.

Ceilidh 5 – 8pm The band Blind Stag are joining us for a ceilidh – put on your dancing shoes and enjoy a varied repertoire of dances and tunes, including jigs, reels and songs. 

You can join the ceilidh with your Infinite Folk ticket, but if you’d prefer to come to the ceilidh and not stay for the other bands, ceilidh tickets are available here.

Cider and sausages No 60 also have some delicious food and drink on offer on the day: sample one of 12 craft ciders from Hertfordshire, Devon and Somerset, including the tasty Bad Apple, and enjoy a sausage sandwich from our selection of speciality local sausages. 01642-525199. 

Roxloe Equestrian Centre Open Day, Aislaby Road, Eaglescliffe, on Sunday, 10-4pm

Roxloe Equestrian Centre is giving everyone the chance to get closer to horses for free with unique taster sessions as part of the national Give Horses a Go weekend.

Whether you have been inspired by the Rio Olympics, or are just looking for a new activity to enjoy with the family, you can go along to try out the sport on Sunday.

The activities will begin at 10am and will include free mini riding lessons so you can get a taster of horse riding, the opportunity to try out your riding skills on a mechanical horse simulator, watch Pony Club demonstrations, carriage driving demonstrations, farrier and horse dentistry demonstrations, show jumping and there will be opportunities to groom the horses and find out how to look after them.

For more information visit www.roxloe.co.uk or call 01325 337000.