Something prepared earlier

Cookery demonstrations by Sophie Grigson, Brian Turner and other celebrity chefs, a "food sampling boulevard" and wine tastings are promised over the next nine days at York's Festival of Food and Drink, which opened yesterday.

Until September 23. Festival Food Theatre, St Sampson's Square. Most demonstrations free. yorkfestivaloffood anddrink.com.

Birmingham's finest

Salsa dancing in a Tesco's supermarket, excerpts from Swan Lake by the Birmingham Royal Ballet with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and a late-night DJ set are some of the 400 events at this weekend's Birmingham Artsfest.

In and around Centenary Square and Broad Street, and at mac (Midlands Arts Centre in Edgbaston). Today and tomorrow. Free. Various times - performances last 30 minutes. artsfest.org.uk.

Wheels of fortune

Billed as the country's biggest and best motorcycle race series, the British Superbike Championship takes place at Mallory Park this weekend.

Kirkby Mallory, off A47 between Leicester and Hinckley. Today: (qualifying) 9.30am - 5.30pm; tomorrow: warm-ups from 9.30am, racing from 11.15am. £10 adults today, £20 tomorrow, under-15s free. 01455 842931/2/3, mallorypark.co.uk.

City lights

Blues from Little George Sueref and the Blue Stars on a floating stage, a lantern procession along the river with illuminated sculpture and floats - and a concluding fireworks display - are all part of this London's Thames Festival.

Nearest underground/rail stations: Blackfriars or Waterloo. Today and tomorrow. Free. For times and locations, see ThamesFestival.org.

Ugly mugs

Face pulling goes to extremes at the World Gurning Championships today. It's part of the annual Egremont Crab Fair which dates from 1267. Plus Cumberland wrestling, greasy-pole climbing and dialect singing.

Egremont, Cumbria. Fair starts 10am. Gurning from 6pm. Free. crabfair.homestead.com/mainpage.html.

Wight on

Follow the trail of ghosts, let the kids go in search of bugs and assorted creepycrawlies - there's also a walking festival on the Isle of Wight. It starts today with a day of music and street theatre in Newport.

September15 - 30. 01983 813818, islandbreaks.co.uk.

Devon by foot

Follow the footsteps of Lorna Doone. North Devon's first walking festival, delayed from May by foot and mouth, starts on Friday. Guided and independent itineraries - including one taking in the haunts of RD Blackmore's heroine, range from 1.5 to 10 miles.

Central information point in Ilfracombe. September 21 - 24. 01271 336070.