From now until September 5

Malmesbury Carnival and Festival

The ancient market town of Malmesbury has been home to a carnival for more 90 years. Throughout August there will be a range of events to suit all ages and tastes including live music, poetry readings and storytelling, talks, walks and quizzes. This year the carnival procession will take place on September 5 at 6pm.

Tickets for events are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Malmesbury.

For a full list of events go to www.malmesburycarnival.co.uk.

From now until August 13

Superhero School, Roves Farm

Test your strength and agility as you duck, dive and dodge your way through our elite training course.

But what will your superpower be?

Dressing up as superhero is strongly advised.

Roves Farm is open from 10am to 5pm. Admission is £9 for adults and £7 for children up to 16. Under-threes go free.

August 12, 19 and 26

Wild Wednesdays, Avebury, 11am.

Children are invited to join Avebury’s rangers for outdoors fun in the Old Farmyard and tick off at least one of the 50 things they need to do before they turn 11 years old and three quarters.

There will be a different family activity on offer each week during the school holidays.

To find out more call 01672 539250.

August 8 to 9

Swindon & Cricklade Railway: Steam & Vintage Weekend.

The spectacular gathering of vintage steam and road vehicles will showcase cars, bikes, agricultural bygones and specialist collections.

Train spotters and car aficionados will not be disappointed.

The event will run from 11am to 5pm each day. Admission is £6 for adults and £4 for children.

August 14 to 15

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience, Wyvern Theatre, 7.30pm.

Waited upon by Basil, Sybil and Manuel, this is fully immersive, highly improvised and site-specific comedy theatre at its best.

With only a third of the show scripted, anything can happen as you take a seat in the Fawlty Towers restaurant. Expect all the best gags, shambolic service and a 1970s-style three-course meal. Just don’t mention the war!

Faulty Towers (there is no spelling mistake) The Dining Experience was born in Brisbane in 1997 and made its international debut in 2008 at the Edinburgh Fringe, where it has sold out every year since. It opened a residency in London’s West End in October 2012 where it continues to baffle ‘guests’.

Tickets are £45 and include a three-course meal.

To book visit swindontheatres.co.uk or call 01793 524481.

August 20 to 23

Hairspray, Wyvern Theatre.

Join the Wyvern Theatre for its Summer Youth Project production of Hairspray.

Set in 1960s Baltimore, the musical tells the story of teenager Tracy Turnblad, who dreams to dance on The Corny Collins Show. When Tracy wins a role on the local TV dance program and is launched to stardom, she uses her newfound fame to campaign for integration between the black and white dancers – all without denting her do!

The aim of Summer Youth Project is to offer up to 250 local young people, aged between nine and 21, the opportunity to work together in a professional theatre environment.

The show will run at 7.30pm each night. There will be two matinees on August 22 and 23 at 2.30pm and 1pm respectively.

Tickets cost between £12 and £14. To book visit swindontheatres.co.uk or call 01793 524481.

August 21

The Secret Garden, Lydiard Park Open Air Theatre, 6.30pm.

Join young Mary Lennox on her journey of discovery as she travels to her uncle’s house deep in the Yorkshire countryside, where unexpected friends and very magical creatures help her unlock the mystery of the secret garden.

Alive with music and song and an array of especially designed puppet creatures, The Secret Garden promises to capture the very spirit of summer and to be one of the highlights of the open-air garden theatre season.

Admission is £14 for adults and £10 for students and children.

To book in advance go to swindontheatres.co.uk or call 01793 524481.

August 22

Summer Spectacular, Hudson’s Field, Salisbury, 2pm to 10pm.

The free event is the family extravaganza by excellence with live music, fireworks, hot air balloons, a funfair, bouncy castle and even a motorcycle display.

Free shuttle buses will run from various locations around the city.

For further details call 01722 342860 or check the Summer Spectacular Facebook page.

August 26

Heraldry For You!, Salisbury Cathedral, 10am or 1.30pm

Create a stunning family heraldic shield to take home. Children between four and 12 years old will get to use special wax sticks and use different textures to build a personal coat of arms. To find out prices go to www.salisburycathedral.org.uk.

August 29 to 30

Melksham Comic Con

Melksham Comic Con is a sequential arts festival held right in Melksham town centre. It showcases the very best of the comic book industry courtesy of a host of retailers, guest artists, writers, and independent creators selling their own work. A single day ticket is £7. A weekend pass is £10.

August 29 to 31

Crofton Pumping Station Steaming Weekends, Marlborough

Situated in the Wiltshire countryside, six miles from Marlborough, this Grade 1 listed building houses two magnificent Cornish beam engines, one of which (the 1812 Boulton and Watt) is the oldest working beam engine in the world still in its original engine house and capable of actually doing the job for which it was installed.

Visitors will have access to all parts of the station and experience close up the smell and sounds of these wonderful relics of our past in operation. Crofton Pumping Station is located at Crofton, Marlborough, SN8 3DW. The station will open between 10.30am and 4.30pm. Tickets cost £8 for adults. Children under 16 go free. For more details go to www.croftonbeamengines.org.

Treefest at Westonbirt Arboretum

Treefest celebrates nature, trees and woodcraft with fun family activities, stalls and live music.

Visitors will have a chance to meet skilled craftspeople and see expert carvers in action on a grand scale. Families will also get to take part in a range of hands-on activities or catch a falconry demonstration.

Day tickets are between £8 and £10. Camping tickets cost between £60 and £70. Children go free.

August 30 to 31

Blenheim Palace Festival of Transport, 10am to 5.30pm.

Sunday 30 will feature a Classic Car Show and Monday 31 August will include not only the Classic Cars, but also motorcycles, Minis and VW's, Customs, Hot Rods and Americans, Kit and Sports Cars. This two day event has the added bonus of vehicle judging and an experienced motor commentator to talk visitors through the days’ events. This is a truly unmissable event for petrol heads and a great day addition for those who happen to visit the Palace.

Admission is £13.50 for adults, £10.20 for concession and £6 for children.

Grand Medieval Joust at Old Sarum, 11am to 5pm.

See sparks fly and feel the heat of the contest as magnificent knights on horseback clash at the greatest event of the Middle Ages. Cheer on your favourite in this thundering battle of bravery and honour. Soak up the medieval way of life in the colourful encampments and be entertained by the naughty court jester while your budding young knights test their strength in the field.

Admission is £7.20 for adults and £4.30 for children up to 15 years old. To book go to www.english-heritage.org.uk.

Swindon & Cricklade Railway Children’s Treasure Hunt

Hop on the treasure trail and uncover a priceless bounty at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway Children’s Treasure Hunt. Wannabe detectives will nned to use their investigative skills to discover 30 engine cut-outs peppered all around the railway and finally unearth the treasure. The event will run from 11am to 5pm each day. Admission is £6 for adults and £4 for children.

September 4

Swindon & Cricklade Railway Murder Mystery Night, 7.15pm.

Bring a group of friends and enjoy a fun murder mystery evening aboard the trains at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. This is the perfect event for amateur sleuths to hone their investigative skills and work out whodunit.

To find out prices and book email randallchri@yahoo.co.uk or visit www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org.

September 5 to 6

Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, Wyvern Theatre

From the makers of Peppa Pig, the BAFTA award-winning television animation is now coming live on stage.

Holly is a young trainee fairy princess still learning how to fly; and her magic doesn’t always go quite according to plan.

Her best friend, Ben the Elf, neither has wings nor does magic, but he runs very fast and flies on the back of Gaston the Ladybird. They live in the Little Kingdom, a tiny land where flowers and grass rise high above them and every day is an adventure.

Join Ben, Holly and their friends on this exciting, enchanting and magical musical adventure packed full of games, songs and laughter.

The show will run at 1pm and 4pm on September 5 and at 10am and 1pm on September 6.

Tickets cost between £14.50 and £16.50. Children get a £2 discount. They are available on 01793 524481 or at swindontheatres.co.uk.