Ilkley Lido reopens today for the summer, and to mark the event there's a free swimming event today, from 9am. Sessions throughout the day include an adults swimming lane, inflatables session for eight-to-15 year-olds, a two-hour wet 'n' wild' session for the same age group and a family swim. Grab that cossie and get in the swim.

It's all hands to the pumps in Skipton this weekend when CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) holds the town's first beer festival in 25 years. Sample more than 50 different cask-conditioned ales from local breweries, and a selection of British and foreign bottled beers. Organised by the Keighley and Craven branch of CAMRA, the festival opens between 12 noon and 10pm today and from 12 noon to 6pm tomorrow.

Dance fans are in for a treat when the Nederlands Dans Theater 2 rolls into the Alhambra. The young dancers - none of them older than 23 - fill the stage with extraordinary feats of virtuoso dancing, jumping higher and spinning faster than seems possible. This is the very best in modern dance - don't miss it. The show runs on Friday and Saturday, ring (01274) 432000 for tickets.

Dave Benson Phillips, below, wants you to get up and go - to St George's Hall to see his show. The children's TV presenter of such shows as Playdays and Fun Song Factory is coming to Bradford next week to entertain two to seven-year-olds. Dave will be joined by furry friend Big Bear in his Get Up and Go! show. The show is at St George's Hall on Wednesday. For tickets ring (01274) 432000.

Soap addicts will already have circled the date of Wednesday, May 30, in their diaries. That is, of course, when the British Soap Awards take place - and it's screened on ITV at 8pm. Here's hoping Bradford's Jack P Shepherd and Nikki Patel, who play David Platt and Amber Alahan in Coronation Street, get the gongs they deserve. And good luck to Yorkshire soap Emmerdale too!

Bradford Book Festival draws to a close tonight with an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Night of Kumba, which took place as part of Bradford's International Arts week in 1997. Poet Lemn Sissay joins an evening of live music, comedy, poetry and dance to acknowledge this milestone. Taking place at the Alhambra Studio from 7pm, it promises to be a vibrant and lively event.

Budding artists can get some expert advice from artist Ashley Jackson, right, as one of the highlights in the new season of events at Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre at Marsden, near Huddersfield. The workshop is open to beginners and experienced watercolour artists alike, and will include a break for lunch beside the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Limited to 30 people at a cost of £50 per person, the workshop is next Saturday. Further details from standedge.co.uk Music buffs, especially those who remember the days of vinyl with nostalgia, should head for The Corn Exchange, Call Lane, Leeds, tomorrow for a record and CD fair where traders will be selling and buying collectable vinyl, CDs.videos, DVDs and everything music-related. The event runs from 10am to 4pm.

There's plenty of traditional fun to be had at Beckwithshaw annual gala and car boot sale on Bank Holiday Monday, on the cricket field, starting at 1pm. Entry is £2 adults, under 16s free. The event starts at 1pm at the cricket field, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate If you can lever yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn (almost), why not discover the animals and birds around the garden at Harlow Carr, when all is quiet? Places must be booked and paid for in advance by telephoning 0845 6121253. Admission is £3 RHS members, non-members £9, children £2.