Great days out this weekend
The Ugly Animals Roadshow
Life Science Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Find out about some of the world’s weirdest-looking, endangered animals at this one-off show hosted by the Channel 4 presenter Simon Watt, with scientific demonstrations and crowd participation.
Saturday 2pm-3pm; adult £14, child £8; life.org.uk
Polesden Lacey Food Festival
Great Bookham, Surrey
Sample a range of local food, play garden games and enjoy fairground rides. Listen to live music and storytelling, and watch demonstrations from expert chefs.
Saturday and Sunday 10am–5pm; adult £13.60, child £6.80, free to National Trust members; fantasticbritishfoodfestivals.com
Forest Showcase Food and Drink Festival
Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
Try a range of food from stalls, listen to live music, join in with arts and crafts and circus-skills workshops, and learn to make pizza in family-cookery workshops.
Sunday 10am-4.30pm; adult £5, child £2, under-5 free; forestshowcase.org
Lancaster Fun Palace
Market Square, Lancaster
Have a go at glass-painting, juggling, chocolate-making or participate in a dance workshop along with a range of other activities at this pop-up DIY and science festival.
Saturday 10am-10pm, Sunday, noon-4pm; free; funpalaces.co.uk
The Family Pet Show
Event City, Manchester
Bring your family pet along to fun competitions and explore the different areas where you can watch dog shows, learn how to groom your pets and take them to the play zone.
Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm, Sunday 9.30am-5pm; adult £11.50, child £9.50; thefamilypetshow.co.uk
Digital Workshop
The British Museum, London WC1B
Take inspiration from the Greek and Roman objects in the museum to write stories and scripts, learn to use tablets to create short films and deliver your own news or sports reports.
Sunday 11am-2pm; free; britishmuseum.org
Autumn Show and Game Fair
South of England Showground, Sussex
Watch shows and competitions in the main ring including falconry and terrier racing, try local food, watch puppet shows and have a go at activities including fly fishing, archery and clay-pigeon shooting.
Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm; adult £10, child free; seas.org.uk
Birds of Prey Days
RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey
Meet some of the UK’s birds of prey, including eagles, owls and falcons. Watch falconry demonstrations and hear how we can help to ensure their survival.
Saturday and Sunday 9am-6pm, displays at 11am and 2pm; adult £13, child £6.50; rhs.org.uk
Family Fun Day
Wycombe Swan Theatre, Buckinghamshire
Join in with backstage tours of the theatre, meet actors and find out how plays are put together, along with arts and crafts activities and biscuit decorating.
Sunday 11am-3pm; free; wycombeswan.co.uk
Build-a-body
World Museum, Liverpool
Put your questions to scientists from the University of Liverpool and find out what animal and human bodies are made of, how they have evolved, and how they change as we age.
Saturday10am-4pm; free; liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Volcano Fun Day
Holyrood Park, Edinburgh
Find out how volcanoes form, what the difference is between those that are extinct, dormant and active, join in with mini experiments and climb up Edinburgh’s volcano, Arthur’s Seat.
Saturday 11am-3pm; free; list.co.uk
Family Fun Day
Chickenshed, London N14
Enjoy a range of family activities including games and competitions, face painting, theatre performances and interactive children’s theatre workshops, live music and a mini sports day.
Sunday 11am-4pm; free; chickenshed.org.uk
