1 Heritage Open Days, nationwide - Thursday to Sunday

The second weekend of this nationwide celebration once again lets the public see behind the scenes of some of England's best-kept secrets for free.

In Cumbria, there are out-of-hours guided tours of the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead, a visit to the Nenthead Mines, in Alston, tours of the belfry at Holy Trinity Church in Langdale, a peak inside the double boathouse at Wray Castle, trips on the steam yacht gondola on Coniston and much more.

2 Roundabout Theatre, Grasmere - Thursday to Sunday

Paines Plough Theatre's award-winning pop-up venue arrives in Grasmere for another year, bringing cutting-edge theatre, top class comedy and musical performances over four days.

Highlights include an opening night show by stand-up Justin Moorhouse, and showings of new play Sticks and Stones, written by BAFTA nominated Vinay Patel.

3 Kendal Torchlight Carnival - Friday and Saturday

The long-running event has, since 1970, lit up and entertained children and adults alike with a variety of carnival floats, dancers, bands and other processionists.

The Friday night parade lights up the streets of the town, while the carnival street party on Saturday brings various activities and events together.

4 Egremont Crab Fair - Saturday

Cumbria's best-established festival, now in its 751st year, it is known globally as the home of the World Gurning Championships.

A special event, Dancing In The Street, serves as a warm-up on Friday, with boyband Five headlining, before Saturday's main event takes over the festival field. A music festival, Crab Fest, also forms a major part of the programme once again, featuring renowned local bands.

5 Ocean Film Festival, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick - Sunday

The nationally-renowned Banff Film Festival brings its touring programme of films from both above and below the surface of the oceans to the Lake District.

The collection of short films celebrates divers, paddlers, surfers and oceanographers in a night of inspirational adventure films, starring seafaring adventurers surfing the world’s biggest waves, and venturing to barely explored depths of the planet.