SKIPTON: England’s largest family puppet festival returns to Skipton later this year.

Skipton International Puppet Festival runs as a biennial event and this year's offering - which runs over the weekend of October 2 and 4 - will be the sixth edition.

As ever, it will be full of inspiration and magic for all ages.

And, so everyone can get involved, there will be drop-in puppetmaking workshops at Stepping Stones Nursery in Aireville Park over the weekends of September 19 and 20 and September 26 and 27.

The puppet festival is also one of the focuses of the current exhibition at Craven Museum and Gallery.

A Tale of Two Festivals showcases not only the puppet festival in October, but also the delights of the Yarndale Festival later this month.

Yarndale focuses on all things woolly and brings together an impressive selection of exhibitors, stunning exhibitions, skill demonstrations and a full programme of textile workshops.

And as a taster to the event on September 26 and 27, Yarndale has set up a woolly exhibition in the museum. Visitors can even become a living exhibit, by knitting and nattering in the gallery!

A Tale of Two Festivals will run until October 4 and for more details about the two events, visit yarndale.co.uk and skiptonpuppetfestival.co.uk.

* The singing group for people living with dementia or Parkinson’s Disease (formerly Singing for Fun) will meet fortnightly at Skipton Baptist Church from Tuesday.

Sessions will run from 2pm to 3.30pm and provide singing in a relaxed and supportive environment. If you have not been before, please ring the Alzheimer’s Society on 01423 813464.

* Skipton Folk Unplugged will hold a Singers Night on Monday.

The club meets at the Narrow Boat pub from 8.30pm and all are welcome.

SETTLE: The second Settle Folk Gathering will be held this weekend.

It will kick off with a family ceilidh tomorrow, with music provided by The William Small Small Orchestra and interval songs from Karin and Rosie.

There will also be late night dancing with Duncan McFarlane and The Rock 'n' Roll Folk Band.

Saturday is a day of street dancing with teams like Frook Morris and Craven’s own Flagcrackers performing in the cordoned-off town square.

There will be an Open Mic event at the Victoria Hall in the afternoon before an evening concert featuring Sheesham and Lotus and Son from the USA.

On Sunday, the Churchfitters will make a rare appearance from their base in Brittany and support will be provided by Roisin Dubh, a Leeds-based Irish band, and Flossie Malavialle, one of the best loved performers on the folk scene.

All events are free and tickets are available from the Victoria Hall on 01729 825718.

* The Gallery on the Green - housed in a converted telephone kiosk - is hosting a photographic exploration of the US Pacific Northwest by June Davies From Tiny to Tall features bugs, birds, flowers, beaches, sunsets and magnificent redwood forests from the Pacific Northwest and Northern California.

The exhibition will run until October 10. For more information, visit galleryonthegreen.org.uk.

* The Museum of North Craven Life is staging an exhibition, Community Skills, which tells the story of the potteries in Burton-in-Lonsdale, which were fired up in the mid 18th century and showcases around 60 pots from the museum’s collection.

It runs until November 1.

For more information, call 01729 822854 or visit ncbpt.org.uk/folly.

* Settle Music will hold one of its popular guitar sessions next Friday, September 11.

It will take place at Settle Primary School from 7pm to 9pm and the cost is £5.

Settle Voices Community Choir will resume after the summer break on Monday from 1pm in the Friends Meeting House, Kirkgate.

New members are welcome (no audition required) and for more information, visit settlevoices.org.uk or phone 01729 823777.

BURTON-IN-LONSDALE: Burton-in-Lonsdale Methodist Church will host a harvest concert by the Orton Male Voice Choir on Saturday.

It will start at 7pm and donations for chapel funds will be gratefully received. Everyone is welcome.

GLUSBURN: Locally-born international jazz star Clare Teal will be one of the highlights at Fallfest later this month.

Clare, who is originally from Kildwick, will be on stage for the Saturday night headline concert - and tickets have already sold out.

The fifth Fallfest Festival runs from next Friday, September 11, to next Sunday, September 13 and the main venue is Glusburn Community and Arts Centre.

However, some of the Saturday daytime events will take place in the field just across from the community and arts centre.

Events include a farmers and local crafts market with over 30 stalls, children's fairground, the great Fallfest Bakeoff and the weirdest veg competition.

And an outside stage will showcase some of the best in local up and coming music, including The Atiks, a local three-piece band from Cononley who have been friends since primary school.

For further information, visit fallfest.co.uk or call 08438 868949 GRASSINGTON: Baroness Shirley Williams will be visiting Grassington tonight to talk about her mother Vera Brittain, whose pioneering war memoir Testament of Youth was made into a hit film and continues to influence and impress.

The event at Grassington Town Hall marks an exciting new venture for Grassington Festival as it is being held outside the usual festival fortnight, which is in June.

It was prompted by Baroness Williams' postponement of the original date due to her attendance at the memorial service for former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy.

The event starts at 8pm and tickets for the original date remain valid and just need to be produced on the night. There are also a small number of tickets still available for sale, which can be purchased from the Festival Box Office at grassington-festival.org.uk.

* A craft fair showcasing the work of local artists and craftspeople will be staged at Grassington Town Hall.

It will take place next Saturday, September 12, from 10am to 4pm and entry is £1, which includes a cup of tea or coffee.

For more information, contact Pam Howorth on 07811 213716.