Rare Breeds Show, August 16-17. See Irish Moils, Gloucestershire Old Spots, Longhorns, Kerry bob ponies and Indian Runner Trios. On August 20, see linen processed from flax to damask. Tel: 01232 428428.

SCOTLAND. ABERDEENSHIRE

The Storytellers Theatre Company is bringing Hansel and Gretel to Kemnay Village Hall (11am-12.10pm), tel: 01467 642177, and The Story of Pinocchio to Stewart’s Hall, Huntly (1.30-3.40pm), tel: 01466 792779. Anyone over four welcome. Tickets: Pounds 1.70p from the Hair Shop, Kemnay (Hansel) and from the venue (Pinocchio).

Last chance to catch “Tall ships - high tea”, an exhibition about magnificent clipper ships and the tea trade, at Aberdeen’s new Maritime Museum until August 23. It celebrates the Cutty Sark Tall Ships race. Tel: 01224 337700.

GLASGOW GALLERY OF MODERN ART

See a fusion of Scottish and Muslim dance, music, textiles, costume, film and food, August 21-22 from 6.30pm, Pounds 2. Booking essential. Complements the “Salaam” initiative comprising exhibitions and city celebrations presented by the Department of Performing Arts and the Muslim community. Tel: 0141 287 5853 or 0141 229 1996.

WALES. ST FAGANS: MUSEUM OF WELSH LIFE

Actors will recreate characters who lived in the Museum’s cottages in 15-minute performances, August 19-23. No extra charge. Free Welsh and English storytelling, August 18,22. Tel: 01222 397951.

CARDIFF: NATIONAL MUSEUM AND GALLERY

Fun and games with sand, clay and papier mache in 45-minute dinosaur art workshops for ages three upwards, until August 23 (four sessions daily). Tel: 01222 397951.

CARDIFF: TECHNIQUEST SCIENCE THEATRE

Lights, Camera, Action! show until August 31 (three sessions daily), explores how special lighting and sound effects can influence our mood and imagination. Volunteers can walk on the moon and listen to their voices changing beyond recognition. Tel: Sarah Vining-Smith, 01222 475475.

NORTHERN ENGLAND. CARLISLE:TULLIE HOUSE MUSEUM

Make and decorate 3-D masks at a family workshop, August 18 (10.30am-noon), Pounds 1.50. Under eights must be accompanied. At Martiny’s magic workshop, August 21 (10am-3pm), eight to 12s can learn magic tricks and do balloon modelling and face painting. Pounds 6, Pounds 8. Tel: 01228 34781.

SUNDERLAND MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

Make bean bag frogs and carp kites, August 18, or join in mosaic madness, August 19 (10.30am-noon; 1.30-3pm). Under eights must be accompanied. Tel: Jo Cunningham, 0191 565 0723.

DERBY MUSEUMS

Ages eight to 11 are invited to an 18th-century masked ball, August 19 (2-3.30pm) to make a mask, write an invitation and learn to greet guests. No booking needed. Other free activities linked to Derby artist, Joseph Wright’s, bicentenary include: “The orrery”, August 20, for four to sevens (10-11. 30am) and eight to 11s (1-3.30pm), where they will learn about the sun and earth by watching a replica orrery work and making one to take home; and, August 21, silk painting for eight to 11s (10-11.30am) and four to sevens (2-3.30pm). Booking essential. Tel: 01332 716660 HALIFAX: EUREKA! THE MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN

At the TacTic workshop, build a go-kart out of plastic tubing, connectors and wheels in up to 10 minutes before trying it out on the race track, Pounds 3.25 adults, Pounds 3.95 children, under-threes free. Other attractions include giant Chinese Tangram puzzles and park entertainers such as stilt-walkers and jugglers. Tel: 01426 983191.

SOUTHERN ENGLAND. SALISBURY AND SOUTH WILTSHIRE MUSEUM

“Teddies, toys and games: treasures of childhood” runs until September 27. All exhibits loaned by local people including a morally-uplifting board game dated 1811, an early, busty Barbie doll, toy soldiers, 19th-century dolls’ clothes, teddies, a fine early Ping Pong set, and three-wheeled Victorian dolls’ push chair. Tel: 01722 332151.

GLASTONBURY ABBEY

Brother Thomas Cleve, 16th-century Benedictine monk (actor Chris Laing), greets visitors to the Abbot’s kitchen every Saturday-Wednesday in August. He will explain the rules of monastery life, the details of day-to-day food and drink preparation, and answer questions about politics, religion and the like. Tel: Brigadier David Morgan, 01458 832267.

LONDON. SOUTH BANK CENTRE, SE1

It’s last waltz time at Ballroom Blitz with free workshops including traditional African-Caribbean dance, August 16 (2.30-4pm) and ballroom for grandparents and grandchildren, (11.30am-12.45pm; 2-4pm). At the grand finale, August 17, stars of ballroom including Peggy Spencer will host a coffee morning dance, tea dance, workshops and an evening ball.

The Great Outdoors festival has brought the soaring domes, radiant colour and labyrinthine experiences of Luminarium IV back to the Queen Elizabeth Hall roof until August 25, tickets Pounds 3 or Pounds 10 family. Tel: 0171 960 4242.

NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, GREENWICH, SE10. At the Old Royal Observatory, Mrs Herschel (a Spectrum Theatre Company actor) talks about her brother, William Herschel, discoverer of Uranus, and of her work as an astronomer, August 18-22, 26-30. For ages eight upwards. Plus “Dressing for the Stuart Court” sessions, August 20, 21, 28. Tel: 0181 858 4422 or 0181 312 6565.