Wherever you are this weekend, you can't miss Open Weekend, an explosion of challenges and activities marking the two-year countdown to the London Olympics.
Here are ten of the best we've picked from the campaign website's listings...
Samba Fusion Workshop
Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham, Saturday
Led by a boogie dynamo, this easy session will mix elements of Brazilian and Cuban rhythms to produce energetic, colourful music drawing on patters and phrases from Samba, Maracatu, Samba Reggae, Ijexa and Candomble (Brazil) and the Cuban specialities of Bata drumming, Rumba, Conga and Salsa. Bring your own surdos, repiniques, snares, tamborines, timbas, agogos, cowbells and shakers. 10am-1pm workshop; 1pm-2pm lunch; 2pm outdoor sharing. Admission free, booking essential. Visit www.lakesidearts.org.uk.
Aerra Lida
Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield, Saturday
Celebrate the incredible Staffordshire Hoard in the very town where an amateur detectorist found it last summer. This Midsummer festival launches with a treasure hunt, racing around the historic city in pursuit of nine photographic clues. It also stars a gang of re-enactors, inviting you to experience 8th century life at an Anglo-Saxon encampment with firemaking, leather working, traditional music, skirmishes, storytelling and crafts. 10am – 4pm. Admission free. Visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/anglosaxonfestival.
Next Generation Taster Sessions
National Portrait Gallery, London, Saturday and Sunday
Where better than the NPG to explore “all aspects of painted portraiture”? Join artists inspired by the Gallery’s annual Portrait Award for a range of drawing activities and experiments in various mediums, testing different approaches to self-portraiture and collaborative art-making for 14-19-year-olds. 11am – 1.30pm and 2.30pm-5pm. Admission free. Call 020 7312 2483 or email youthbookings@npg.org.uk to book.
Glasgow Merchant City Festival
Various venues, Glasgow, until Sunday
The excellent City Festival has traditionally taken place in September, but it moves to July for the first time this year. From Portuguese street theatre to Russian and Scottish photography, live bands, fashion, tours and puppet making workshops, this is a real treat for anyone within cartwheeling distance of Glasgow. Visit www.merchantcityfestival.com for full listings.
Flashmob Dance
Laugharne Castle, Laugharne, Saturday
Scare (or at least surprise) the unsuspecting public after learning an ensemble dance in this mass tutorial challenge for all ages. The plot is being simultaneously co-ordinated with other heritage sites across Wales, at Denbigh Castle, Caernarfon Castle and Caerphilly Castle. 2pm – 4pm. Admission free. Visit www.cauldronsandfurnaces.com.
Cornwall 2,012 second activity Challenge
Various venues, Cornwall, until Sunday
A united physical front in the South-West, where dozens of leisure venues are challenging enlistees to win pride and prizes by embarking on an exertion last at least 2,012 seconds (34 minutes). That’ll be non-stop sprinting or holding your breath out of the picture, then. Visit www.london2012.com/map.php and check out Cornwall for all the venues taking part.
Northern Ireland Bog Snorkelling Championships
Peatlands Park, Dungannon, Sunday
When the Northern Irish suggest hands-on activities, they mean it. Apparently anyone over 12 with good physical fitness is ripe to have a go at swimming along a 120-yard bog drain against friends, families and fellow hardy plungers. Categories include Men’s, Women’s, Juniors, Fun Run and Fancy Dress and Relay, set in a precious ancient habitat rich in wildlife. Fun, games and activities are even open to those not braving a snorkel. 11am – 5pm. Admission free. Call 028 3885 1102 or visit www.wonderfulni.info for more.
Challenge Day at The Big Screen
Big Screen Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, Saturday
Portsmouth is taking a slightly different numeric approach to 2012, asking visitors to complete a series of fun challenges within 20 minutes and 12 seconds. Highlights include Oriental flexibility demonstrations, portraits of Portsmouth and a double decker bus with a VIP lounge, tech area and chill-out zone. 12pm – 3.30pm. Admission free.
Cool Runnings
Castle Square, Swansea, Saturday
It might lack the conceptual clout of Leonardo Di Caprio marauding through peoples’ dreams, but it would take a phenomenal feat of churlishness to deny Cool Runnings’ place in cult cinema history. Telling the story of the Jamaican bobsleigh team who took on the world, the 1993 classic gets the big screen treatment here. Starts 5pm. Admission free. www.swanseabigscreen.com
Played in Tyne and Wear Challenge
Bessie Surtees House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Saturday
This House is normally closed to the public at weekends. This time, however, it’ll be a riot of local sporting heritage and traditional games such as cup and ball, quoits, whipping tops and bat and ball with prizes and quizzes. 10am – 4pm. Admission free.
