Festival Diary

TODAY: Art on the Streets, Newport Street, town centre, 10am to 5pm -- open air art exhibition; music at Lunchtime at Art Gallery, town centre, 12noon to 1.30pm -- Carousel String Quartet; Max and Moritz at Bolton Little Theatre, 7pm, tickets £2.50 -- slapstick tale of the pranks of two mischievous boys; Ukrainian Independence Day 10th Anniversary Concert at Albert Halls, 7.30pm, tickets £5 and £3 concessions -- featuring Orlyk.

TOMORROW : Art on the Streets, Newport Street, town centre, 10am to 5pm -- open air art exhibition; Music at Lunchtime at Art Gallery, town centre, 12noon to 1.30pm -- Amy Liptrot plays the harp; A History of Bolton, Lecture Theatre, Bolton Central Library, 2pm, free admission -- Slide show and talk by Barrie Parker, Halliwell Local History Society; Paderborn Dancers, Art Gallery, town centre, 2pm to 4pm, free admission -- young dancers and musicians from Paderborn in costume performing a selection of dances from periods in history; Crazy Creatures Day, Victoria Square, 11am to 4pm; Max and Moritz at Bolton Little Theatre, 5pm and 7pm, tickets £2.50 -- slapstick tale of the pranks of two mischievous boys; "Capriole", Smithills Hall, Smithills Dean Road, 7.30pm, tickets £8.50 -- historical German dance and chamber music group performs court dances in costume from four centuries; An Evening with Ken Dodd, Albert Halls, 7.30pm (sell out).

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26: Town Hall Tours, free admission, but booking required -- a behind the scenes look at life in the Town Hall; Forgotten Village Walk, 2pm, free admission, to book telephone 597644 -- a 90 minute walk round Barrow Bridge led by Clive Walsh, Halliwell Local History Society; Festival History Day, Smithills Hall and Country Park, Smithills Dean Road, 11am to 5pm -- family fun day out; Festival Shorts, Bolton Little Theatre, 7.30pm, £4.50 -- performance of winning plays from this year's one-act playwriting competition presented by Launchpad; An Evening with Haydn, Albert Halls, 7.30pm, tickets £7 -- classical concert featuring Bolton Festival Orchestra and Chorus.

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY, AUGUST 27: Art on the Streets, Newport Street, town centre, 10am to 5pm -- open air art exhibition; Victorian Charity Street Market, Le Mans Crescent, 10am to 5pm; Family Fun Day, Victoria Square, 11am to 4pm; Plautus' The Pot of Gold, Festival Halls, Town Hall, 7.30pm, free admission -- a Bolton Multicultural Arts Production; Neil Smith Classical Guitarist in concert, Smithills Hall, Dean Road, Smithills Dean Road, 7.30pm, tickets £8.50; Chris While and Julie Matthews, with Kristina Olsen and Auld Triangle, at New Pack Horse Hotel, 7.30pm, tickets £8 -- an evening of folk music.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28: Are You Sitting Comfortably? Children's Library, Central Library, town centre, 10.30am to 11.30am, free admission -- children's storytelling for five to 11 year olds; Meet The Tudors, Hall i' th' Wood House and Grounds, Green Way, off Crompton Way, 11am to 4pm -- Fun-filled Sixteenth Century day out with Tudor games, music, dancing and quizzes; Sports Day, Victoria Square 11am-4pm -- Interactive sports activities and demonstrations' Music at Lunchtime, Art Gallery, Town Centre, 12pm-1.30pm, free admission -- Carousel String Quarter; The Dream Concert Summertime Special Concert, Albert Halls, 2pm, tickets £6.50 -- Here'Say (The Popstars Tribute) and Westside (The Westlife Show) Britney and Ronan; Yoroshiku Ne, Art Gallery, 2.30-4.30pm, free admission -- Insight into Japanese words, music and play; Bill Naughton Walk, 6.30pm, free admission -- Literary walk of two hours including refreshments; Reach Out!, Albert Halls, 8pm, tickets £11, concessions £9 -- Smash hit Motown tribute concert from USA; 1000 Years of Popular Music by A Tapestry of Music, Smithills Hall, Smithills Dean Road, 7.30pm, tickets £8.50 -- Spectacular musical journey from medieval to the baroque period played on traditional instruments.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29: Are You Sitting Comfortably?, Children's Library, Central Library, 10.30am-11.30am, free admission -- Children's story telling for 5-11 year olds; Music at Lunchtime, Art Gallery, Town Centre, 12pm-1.30pm, free admission -- Carousel String Quarter; Yoroshiku Ne, Art Gallery, 2.30pm-4.30pm, free admission -- Insight into Japanese words, music and play; Aquarium Tours, Museum and Art Gallery, Le Mans Crescent, free admission -- Go behind the aquarium tanks, book a place by phoning 01204 334400, children under 16 to be accompanied by adult; Evening Ramble, Smithills Country Park, Smithills Dean Road, 7pm, meet at Smithills Hall -- Stroll around the park and learn about the ranger service, duration 1 1/2 hours; Bat Walk, Hall i'th' Wood, 7.30pm, free admission -- Duration 1 1/2 hours, book place by phoning 01204 332193; Trotters, Bolton Little Theatre, 7.30pm, tickets £5.50 -- Return of the popular nostalgic look at the events and people that have shaped Bolton; Hope and Glory, Smithills Hall, Smithills Dean Road, 7.30pm, £8.50 -- An Evening of Victorian Ballads.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30: Are You Sitting Comfortably?, Children's Library, Central Library, 10.30am-11.30am, free admission -- Children's story-telling for 5-11 year olds; Animal Sculpture, Art Gallery, Le Mans Crescent, 1pm-4.30pm -- Come and help artist Win Hunt create exciting animal sculptures using driftwood and stone, all ages welcome; Trotters, Bolton Little Theatre, 7.30pm, tickets £5.50 -- Return of the popular nostalgic look at the events and people that have shaped Bolton; Smithills Tramway and Bleachworks Walk, 7pm, free admission -- A 1 1/2 hour walk starting at the top of Halliwell Road, book a place by phoning 01204 597644; Celebrity Choice, St Andrew's and St George's, St George's Road, 7.30pm, tickets £7 -- A collection of words and music chosen by Bolton celebrities and performed by local musicians and actors.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31: Are You Sitting Comfortably?, Children's Library, Central Library, 10.30am-11.30am, free admission -- Children's story-telling for 5-11 year olds; Aquarium Tours, Museum and Art Gallery, Le Mans Crescent, free -- Go behind the aquarium tanks, book a place by phoning 01204 334400, children under 16 to be accompanied by adult; Music at Lunchtime, Art Gallery, Le Mans Crescent, 12pm-1.30pm, free admission -- Carousel String Quarter; Trotters, Bolton Little Theatre, 7.30pm, tickets £6.50 -- Return of the popular nostalgic look at the events and people that have shaped Bolton; Oxford concert Party Baroque 'n' Roll, Bolton School Arts and Conference Centre, Chorley New Road, 7.30pm, tickets £11.50 -- 1998 Edinburgh Pick of the Fringe winners, 300 years of music from around the world, infused with humour; King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys, Festival hall, Albert Halls, 7.30pm, £10 -- One of the most in-demand jazz/blues acts in the world.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1: September on the Square; Victoria Square, 11am-4pm -- Artists and performers that will delight and surprise; Shree Swaminarayan Temple Dancers, Art Gallery, Le Mans Crescent, 2pm-3pm -- Indian dancers aged 4-11 in traditional costume; Trotters, Bolton Little Theatre, 7.30pm, tickets £6.50 -- Return of the popular nostalgic look at the events and people that have shaped Bolton; Lancashire Artillery (v) Band Concert, Albert Halls, 7.30pm, tickets £7 -- Well-respected band whose credits include playing in front of the queen.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2: Magistrates Court Tours, Le Mans Crescent, free admission -- Visit and mock trial, please book by phoning 01204 334400, children under 16 to be accompanied by an adult; Sarah Jory in Concert, Albert Halls, 7.30pm, £10 and concessions £9 -- Country vocal entertainer and multi-instrumentalist who appeared with Eric Clapton. Special guest local singer-songwriter Nick Bold; Songs of Praise, Bolton Parish Church, 6.30pm -- Bolton's answer to the popular TV programme, supported by the choir of Bolton Parish Church and Salvation Army Band.