Welcome to the Fylde Five - five things worth knowing about the Fylde Coast this week.
THE ONE TO BOOK
Fancy seeing behind the curtain?
If you’ve never been inside Blackpool Grand Theatre beyond the auditorium, this is a lovely chance to explore one of the town’s most iconic buildings - and find out a bit more about the history behind the red velvet.
Thursday 17 - Sunday 20 September
Blackpool Grand Theatre
Free
Guided tours available
Booking required
Our tip: If you’ve walked past the Grand a hundred times but never really looked at it, this is your excuse.
THE ONE YOU MIGHT MISS
Chrome, character and a bit of showing off.
If you like old cars, shiny things or simply an excuse to wander around Lytham Hall, this one is worth a look. Expect classic cars and motorbikes, plenty of character and a lovely setting.
Saturday 5 September
Lytham Hall
10am-4pm
£5 adults - under 16s free
Our tip: Give yourself time to look around the Hall and grounds too - you’re getting more than just a car show.
THE CHEAP ONE
Big screen, tiny price.
Fancy a cinema trip without the usual damage to your wallet? This weekend, participating cinemas across the UK are dropping tickets to just £4.
National Cinema Weekend is Saturday 5-Sunday 6 September, with £4 tickets at participating cinemas; some venues may vary slightly.
Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 September
Participating cinemas across the UK
£4 tickets
Our tip: Pick your film first, then check your local cinema - the £4 offer applies at participating cinemas and individual programmes vary.
THE FOOD ONE
Come hungry. Leave happy.
Sometimes the best thing in the diary is simply somewhere good to eat. Imli is a smart little St Annes Indian restaurant with a menu that gives you plenty to choose from - and there are some particularly good-value set menus if you time it right..
33 Wood Street, St Annes FY8 1QG
Early Bird: £13.95-£18.95 Monday-Thursday, 5pm-7pm
Sunday Special: £13.95-£18.95 Sundays
Our tip: Go early and make the most of the set menu - you get the Imli experience without making dinner a big spend.
THE WILD CARD
The sky is about to get weird.
If you’ve never been to the St Annes International Kite Festival, put this one in the diary.
From 4-6 September, St Annes seafront will fill with giant display kites, sports kites and flying teams, with five flying arenas and an illuminated kite display on Friday evening.
And yes - it’s free.
St Annes seafront
4-6 September
Free
Our tip: Go on Friday evening if you can. The illuminated kites should be spectacular.
OUR PICK
Four days. Three venues. A lot to watch…
If you fancy something a little different from the usual trip to the cinema, this is the one we’d pick. Lytham International Film Festival brings four days of independent films, Q&As, workshops and masterclasses to venues around Lytham - with films from emerging and established filmmakers.
Thursday 3 - Sunday 6 September
Lytham - three central venues
Tickets from £18
Our tip: Don’t just pick a film and go home. Check the programme for Q&As, workshops and masterclasses too.
NEXT FRIDAY
The Great Nurdle Hunt - Fleetwood
Friday 11 September - 3:30-5:30pm
One for next Friday’s diary: Fancy doing something useful without making it feel like hard work? The Great Nurdle Hunt is a chance to get out on Fleetwood beach and search for tiny pieces of plastic pollution that are easy to miss. It’s surprisingly satisfying - and a good one for families, too.