It's almost here. What will you do?
BIRMINGHAM
STREET LIFE
Street features a collection of art focused on where we live, work and shop. The exhibition will celebrate the diversity of the urban environment as well as looking at its darker side. 20 July-15 September; free; The New Art Gallery Walsall, Gallery Square, Walsall, WS2
ROMEO, ROMEO...
The Old Joint Stock Theatre has teamed up with playwright Frank Bramwell to bring the Alternative Shakespeare Festival to the stage. See adaptations of Ophelia, The Tempest and Romeo And Juliet. Until 28 July; from £7; The Old Joint Stock Pub and Theatre, 4 Temple Row West, B2
FORTIES FUN
Pin up those victory rolls for a knees up at Black Country Living Museum’s 1940s evening. Browse the clothing and memorabilia market, watch street performances and finish with a sing along in the Bottle & Glass Inn. 21 July; 6.30pm; £16.50; Black Country Living Museum, Tipton Road, DY1
BIG BANG SWING
New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, will close Birmingham Symphony Hall’s 21st Anniversary Festival, with an evening of big bang swing at one of the city’s most stunning venues. 20 July; 7.30pm; £16.50-£32.50; Broad Street, B1
CURIOUS CARGO
Let the Lost Luggage Porters transport you to a bygone era of silent films as they stage a trip through the modern landscape in search of the railway station. 21 July; free; 1pm at Birmingham Hippodrome Piazza, B5; 3pm at The Mailbox, Wharfside Street, B1; 5pm at Brindleyplace, B1
LEEDS
OPERA IN THE PARK
The annual Opera in the Park festival returns with Lesley Garrett singing music from operas such as La Traviata, La Bohème, Tosca and musicals such as My Fair Lady, accompanied by the Orchestra of Opera North and Leeds Philharmonic Chorus. 21 July; 6pm-10.15pm; £10; Temple Newsam, LS15
LITERARY WEEKEND
The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival opens this weekend with events and talks around Harrogate, including a special guest evening with Labyrinth author Kate Mosse tomorrow. 20 July; 8.30pm; £12; Old Swan Hotel, Swan Road, Harrogate, HG1
INDOORS FESTIVAL
Bringing together local bands, actors, dancers and artists, the On the Edge Festival descends on Temple Works for two days of entertainment, food and stalls. Importantly, it doesn’t matter if it rains! 21 and 22 July; £5; 2pm-late; Temple Works, Marshall Street, LS11
CATHEDRAL CIRCUS
Part of the London 2012 Festival, How Like An Angel is a touring show by Australian circus company Circa and vocal ensemble I Fagiolini, taking over Ripon Cathedral tonight and tomorrow. 19 and 20 July; 9pm/8pm/10pm; £20; Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road, Ripon, HG4
AVENUE Q
The critically acclaimed, and naughtier than it looks, puppet musical Avenue Q is finally touring after five successful years in the West End. See it at the Grand until Saturday. Until 21 July; various times; £17-31.50; The Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, LS1
MANCHESTER
MODERN OPERA
Having worked with The xx and Micachu, avant-garde producer Kwes [left] teams up with Go Opera for Opera di Peroni, a series of immersive concerts featuring his take on the likes of Verdi and Puccini. 19 July, 7pm; £7.50; Media City, Salford, M50
TOP HATS
Couture fans won’t want to miss Hot Heads: Inspirational British Millinery, an exhibition of 10 cutting-edge British milliners including Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones as well as royal favourite, Sylvia Fletcher. Until 31 December; Free; Hat Works Museum, Wellington Mill, Stockport, SK3
NEW SKIN
Indulge in a luxurious face massage from cult Japanese beauty brand Suqqu to improve circulation and leave skin brighter and firmer. A perfect pre-holiday prep. Until 22 July; £40 booking fee redeemable against purchase; Selfridges, Exchange Square, M3
WORLD PREMIERE
Taking inspiration from the Olympics, Sound Games is a new commission from multi-instrumentalist Pete Moser for Manchester Jazz Festival. It combines improvisation, composition and music that responds to athletic movement. 20 July, 6pm; £7; Festival Pavilion, Albert Square, M2
360-DEGREE SHOW
Images and footage exploring the concepts of conflict resolution and truce will be projected on to the walls of Imperial War Museum North’s exhibition space to create The Big Picture Show: Build The Truce. 21 July-31 August; free; Salford Quays, M50
LONDON
PHOTOBOOTH FUN
Take part in The World’s First Photobooth Festival. Choose from Warhol-esque photos to 3D portraiture, while the Powderpuff Girls help beautify and Rough Trade DJs provide the sounds. Wind machine optional. 21 July; £10 per person; 7 Ezra Street, E2
EVENING FOOD MARKET
Street Feast is a night food market where you can eat everything from stag burgers from Wild Game Co to Homeslice’s wood-fired pizza. Oh, and you can buy art from Shoreditch gallery Beach London. Fridays, until end of August; 5pm-midnight; free; Thames House, Hartwell Street, E8
BE A CULTURE SEEKER
Join London Cultureseekers Group and discover the capital’s history and culture with like-minded types every week. This week they’re having a late-night guided tour on writers and poets at the National Portrait Gallery. 21 July; 6.30pm; from £8; 2 St Martin’s Place, WC2H
BREAKFAST MEETING
Ideas For Breakfast is a new monthly event where you can breakfast with innovators. First up is digital product designer Ben Redford who’ll bring gadgets such as a robot that gives you sweets when you’re tweeted. 22 July; 10.30am; £25; W London, 10 Wardour Street, Leicester Square, W1D
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
Catch the final screenings of disco classic Saturday Night Fever with Everyman Cinemas and The Old Vic Tunnels. There will also be live music, dancing, food and drink. White flares are optional. Until 21 July; 7pm and 9.30pm; from £15; The Old Vic Tunnels, Leake Street entrance, SE1
SCOTLAND
LIKE NO OTHER QUIZ
The most aptly named night out It’s Funtime returns with an Olympics theme. Part Seventies game show, part quiz – and the winning team dress up as robots. 21 July; 7.17pm; £15; The Bongo Club, 37 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8
THOSE SUMMER NIGHTS
Missing summer? Head along to King Tut’s Summer Nights. They can’t promise good weather but they do have some hot bands, including Holy Esque. Until 26 July; 8.30pm; £6; King Tut’s, 272a St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2
RUGS AS ART
Putting our cross-stitching to shame is Weaving The Century, with over 60 impressive tapestries, each made between 1912 and 2012, on display. Until 7 October; free; Dovecot Studios, 10 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1
SHAKE A FEATHER
Sunday sees samba, drums, dancers and brass bands take over Princes Street Gardens for Edinburgh Festival Carnival. On Rose Street, you’ll also find musicians, jugglers and trick cyclists. 22 July; 2pm-4pm; free; Princes Street, Princes Street Gardens and Rose Street, Edinburgh
INSPIRING FILM
As part of Express Art For All, watch Town Of Runners, a film following the paths of two girls from the Ethiopian highland town of Bejoki, home to some of the world’s greatest athletes. 21 July; 2pm; free; Pollok Civic Realm, 27 Cowglen Road, Glasgow, G53
