Thursday
Dancers from across the globe will converge at the Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool, for the annual Blackpool Dance Festival. Competitors from as far afield as China and Russia are expected to take to the floor to showcase some fancy footwork. The event, now in its 83rd year, promises to be better than ever, as it has been extended from a week to nine days. There will be 122 British couples and 1,742 pairs from abroad taking part in the championships, which start today and run until May 30.

Children and young people from local schoosl will give a concert in aid of third world countries. St Joseph's Church, ansdell. Adults £4, children£2. All proceeds to CAFOD.

Friday
Dig out those fancy dress costumes for a competition in Kirkham. Ronnie the Leprechaun is hosting the fancy dress event on the Fleetwood Road green, next to the Blue Anchor pub, today at 8.30pm. First prize is £50, second prize is £30 and third prize is £20. The competition costs £1 to enter. For more details, call (01253) 836283.

Saturday
St Annes Operatic and Dramatic Society is to present the musical, Jekyll and Hyde, at Lytham's Lowther Pavilion, starting next week.
The show is being staged today and then from May 26 to 31. It is the Fylde Coast premier of this fabulous Broadway musical, featuring epic songs such as This is the Moment and Facade.
End of the pier entertainment is back as theatre students join professional Pierrots to wow the crowds on North Pier, Blackpool, today. The Sheffield Strollers will perform a piece of street theatre. International Pierrot troupe The Pierrotters will also be on hand to offer their own particular brand of good, old-fashioned seaside entertainment, including music hall routines and rock 'n' roll. Performances take place between 11.30am and 3pm.

Sunday
The Pierrotters will return to Blackpool's North Pier, this time appearing alongside students from Blackpool and The Fylde College, for another series of traditional seaside shows from 11.30am to 3pm. This event is the latest in the Admission All Classes series that has been taking place to celebrate the history of entertainment in Blackpool.

Monday
Bank Holiday Monday sees an exhibition entitled Sankofa: Ceramic Tales From Africa take place at the Manton Room of the Peter Scott Gallery, within the Lancaster Institute for Contemporary Arts at Lancaster University. It runs until May 30, Monday to Friday, from 11am to 4pm (open till 9pm on Thursday).

Tuesday
Lancashire Wildlife Trust is calling on children aged eight to 14 to join in a series of environment activity days. The Mad May Eco Days will be held today and on May 28, 29 and 30 at the Environment Education Centre in Howick Cross Lane, Penwortham. Activities will include games, art and outdoor adventure from 9.30am to 4pm. Call (01772 )751110 or e-mail educationteam@lancswt.org.uk

Wednesday
Final day of the cask ale festival at The Ship and Royal pub, on Clifton Street, in Lytham. There will be lots of different English cask ales to choose from, as well as the opportunity to sample some locally brewed ales. The local ales include the pub's own namesake, Ship and Royal Ale – brewed by Hart Brewery at The Cartford Inn at Little Eccleston. Ship and Royal is a "mid-strength, full-flavoured ale with malty notes on the palette and a smack of hops in the finish".