THE weather gods finally got the memo that it's summer - better late than never. Now it's time for parents to get their act together and make the most of the sunshine with their brood while it lasts.

Here is our selection of top attractions, days out and fun activities to keep the clan busy and suitably entertained for the foreseeable future.

The Swindon & Cricklade Railway Vintage Weekend

The team at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway don't mess about. Every year the Vintage Weekend gets bigger and this summer will be no exception. A motorcade of classic cars, tractors, military vehicles, motorcycles and even fire engines will roll into the venue for what promises to yet another spectacular automobile bonanza. Trainspotters and car aficionados will not be disappointed. There will be plenty of food and refreshing ice cream on offer. The event runs from August 13 to 14 between 10.30am to 5pm each day. Admission is £9 for adults and £6 for children. For more details visit www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org

Great British Food Festival

Take over 80 top artisan producers, a big serving of hot food, add a dash of real ale and wine bars, kids cookery lessons and lots of children's activities, top chef demos from the likes of Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, stir in a cake competition and the popular Men vs Food, with lashings of live music and mix together to make the Great British Food Festival. Held at Bowood House on August 20, this is the perfect recipe for a fun, foodie day out for the whole family. The festival starts at 10am. Tickets are £8.50.

Lacock at War

Between August 20 and 21 the sleepy village of Lacock will step back in time to 1940s Britain when the Blitz raged in the city and everyone rallied against oppression and tyranny. An array of military vehicles, both old and new, will be dotted around the playing fields and village. A marquee on the playing fields will be transformed into a wartime cabaret with singer Miss Madeline Brown belting it out while The Melksham Rock n Rollers teach revellers some swing and jive moves. DJ UXB will also get the ball rolling with a special setlist of authentic World War Two hits. The George Formby Experience will make an anticipated return along with the glamorous Dulcie Demure, who will be giving a lot of cheer with her family-friendly burlesque class. For the first time, visitors will be treated to a period fashion show courtesy of Lady She & Friends. The event runs from 10am to 5pm each day on Lacock Playing Fields, off the High Street. Entry is free.

Carnival Soap Box Derby

Trowbridge’s Carnival Soap Box Derby is back on August 21. The concept is simple enough. Participants hurtle downhill in purpose-built soap boxes against the clock. If you are thinking of entering the race, head gear, long sleeves and gloves are a must. Just turn up and register on the day. The event kicks off on Castle Street at 9.30am. Entry is £2 per driver.

Melksham Comic Con

From superheroes and lone crime fighters to favourite cartoon characters, Melksham Comic Con showcases the very best of comic books and graphic novels. A host of retailers will descend on the town centre with heaps of the hottest comics on the market. Guest artists, writers, and independent creators will also sell their work on August 27 and 28. A single day ticket is £7. A weekend pass is £10. For more information go to melkshamcomiccon.com.

Crofton Pumping Station Steaming Weekend

It's not every day you can see a pumping station in action. Situated six miles from Marlborough, this Grade 1 listed building houses two 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. Between August 27 and 29, visitors will have access to all parts of the station and experience close up the smell and sounds of these 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.

STEAM

If you don't fancy an hour of 'Are we there yet?' in a sweltering car, why not stay in Swindon and take the short walk or bus ride to STEAM? The STEAM experience starts in The Offices where, in the GWR's heyday, before the First World War, clerks toiled to support a workforce of more than 12,000. From The Foundry, Carriage Body Shop and Machine Shop to the Boiler Shop and Erection Shop little ones can get a real sense of the heat, grime and noise endured by workers. Leaving The Works, guests are taken on another journey, out onto the GWR network. A series of displays retrace the construction and growth of the railway. Coming down from the viewing stand, a reconstructed station platform with a short train comprised of Lode Star, Ditcheat Manor and a 1934 Buffet Car, awaits. Whistles, doors slamming and station announcements bring the platform alive with the sounds of travel. STEAM is open from 10am to 5pm daily. Tickets are £8.50 for adults and £6.30 for children.

Lydiard Park

Adrenaline-seekers will get their fix at the Jungle Parc, an aerial adventure set in Lydiard Park’s woodlands. Jungle Parc is split into two trails: the Children’s Adventurer and Xplorer courses.

Aimed at children over three, the Adventurer course boasts a dizzying high-wire tree-top trail next to the children’s play area. The circuit includes 50 different activities, including rope bridges, zip lines and cargo nets so children can experience the thrill of swinging, gliding and climbing through the trees and trekking across the woodlands up in the canopy. The Xplorer course is open to children over ten and adults. The minimum height is 1.35m. Admission to the Adventurer course is £14. The Xplorer is £18. To book visit www.jungleparc.co.uk or call 0844 879 4378.