Cheltenham Folk Festival

This weekend of entertainment will be preceded by a week of workshops for children to learn dances and songs that will be performed at the festival.

Information: 01242 521621 Box office: 01242 227979.

February 16-25

Jorvik Viking Festival

This annual festival features several events, with the main activities scheduled for February 17. Phone 01904 643 211 or visit www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk for details.

February 26- March 4

Bedtime Reading Week

This national initiative, to coincide with World Book Day on March 1, is dsigned to encourage families to read together. Events include a week of celebrity shorts on BBC1, with stars reading their favourite stories; a children’s writing competition; reading parties in bookshops and libraries and a national survey of the reading habits of children and adults. For more details of World Book Day events see page 40. See also www.worldbookday.com.

March 3-11

The Bath Literature Festival

Events for children include authors’ readings on a bus, storytelling sessions, a talk by illustrator Quentin Blake and much more. Call 01225 462 231 for more information.