Stuck for ideas? A fun day out is the sweetest solution

One of the sweetest celebrations in the Cornish calendar comes around again this week when the streets of Callington will be buzzing with people in search of the finest local honey.

Callington Honey Fair is one of the largest one-day street fairs in the region, with dozens of stalls, a town crier competition, live music, fun-fair, children's art exhibition, beekeeping demonstrations and the town's famous honey cream teas.

The event dates back to at least 1267, when the East Cornwall town was granted a market charter by Henry III, who gave permission for a weekly market and annual festival. Although it died out after the Second World War, the fair was revived in 1978 by local man John Trevithick.

The slopes of Kit Hill, which overlook the town, once sustained a major beekeeping industry. Although today there are far fewer hives, the making of honey continues.

One producer said: "As well as spreading it on splits and scones, honey has been long acknowledged for its curative qualities, put on wounds as a natural antiseptic and used as a remedy for a range of ailments. The Greeks and Romans used honey to fortify their wines, while honey mead was used in Cornwall as a tonic as long ago as the Middle Ages."

This Wednesday marks the 34th year of the modern fair. Entry is free and there is free town-centre parking.

Meanwhile, at nearby Caradon Hill on Saturday, noted historian Mark Camp will lead a walk around the former industrial sites at Minions, Cornwall's highest village. Using the engine houses and dressing floors as a starting point, he will use contemporary accounts and poetry during a leisurely walk among the mine buildings, explaining the story of how Cornish mining took over the world. Meet at Minions Post Office at 10.30am on Saturday, October 6.

OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEK

BABBACOMBE

Babbcombe Theatre: The Bay City Rollers with Les McKeown. Thurs 8pm.

BISCOVEY

St Marys Church: Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday 11am family sung Mass followed by refreshments, all welcome. Donations of non perishable food for St Austell Kitchen and the Food Bank.

BOVEY TRACEY

Methodist Church Hall: Coffee morning, bric a brac, books etc. In aid of RNLI. Thurs 10-11.30am.

BUDE

Crescent car park: Charity walk for the Bude branch of the British Heart Foundation, Sat 10am. Circular route of about eight miles. Shorter level walk for mobility scooters and families with pushchairs. Sponsor forms ring 01288 352176.

CALLINGTON

Methodist Church: Exhibition: The Seasons from 10am-6pm on Honey Fair Day (Wed) also Thurs 10am-4pm. Home made crafts, cakes, cards, refreshments.

CAMBORNE

Paish Church: Animal Blessing Service. Sun 2.30pm.

Church Hall: Camborne committee of Cancer Research UK coffee morning. Christmas cards, bring and buy, cakes. Admission £1.20. Wed 10am-12pm.

CAMELFORD

The Acorn Room, Camelford Hall: The Camelford Floral Society AGM. Wheelchair friendly. Visitors welcome. Wed 7.30pm.

DARTINGTON

Meadowbrook Community Centre: Country Music Steely Grey (£6). Doors open Sat 6.30, music 8pm-11.15pm. No line dancing.

DARTMOUTH

Flavel: Telemann and Friends, classical music concert Sat 7.30pm.

EXETER

White Ensign Club: Meeting of the SW Group National Service (RAF) Association. Tues 11.30am.

Politmore House, Project Centre: New Volunteer Coffee morning, Sat 11am-1pm. Help is needed, guides, stewards, fundraisers etc.

Westpoint: The Caravan and Motorhome Show plus The Static Caravan Show. Sat-Sun.

New Theatre: Adaptable Theatre presents Double Dickens. Tickets £10 (U16 £8). Fri-Sat 7.30pm.

Northcott Theatre: Tim Key: Masterslut (idiosyncratic poetry and prose). Mon 8pm.

EXMOUTH

Withycombe Methodist Church Hall: Exmouth Folk Dance Club with Ted Farmer. Thurs 8pm.

FEOCK

Methodist Church: Concert in the church by the Goonvrea Singers. All welcome. Fri 7.30pm.

Church Hall: Art and Crafts Exhibition. Preview Fri 7pm, £5 including refreshments. Sat-Sun, 10am-6pm. Admission £1.

GERRANS

The Royal Standard: Euchre Drive. Mon 8pm.

GOONHILLY

Meet Free car park: St Day Historical and Conservation Society meet for walk led by the renowned Geoff Purcell. Walk of about three miles, on flat ground. It is the first turning right off the B3293 after the Satellite Earth Station. Torches could be useful. Sat 2.30pm.

HAYLE

Methodist Church: Harvest Festival weekend, Sat barn dance and pasty supper 7pm, Sun service at 10.45am and 6pm.

ILMINSTER

Arts Centre: Marsyas Trio (flautist, cellist, pianist). Fri 8pm.

INDIAN QUEENS

Methodist Church Vestry: Coffee morning for church funds. Wed 10.30am.

KINGSBRIDGE

Harbour House: Boogie Nights, oil paintings by Jon Woolfenden. 10am-5pm. Until Oct 7.

KINGSKERSWELL

Community Centre: Kingskerswell Natural History Society with Dr Tegwyn Harris on Mud Glorious Mud. Newcomers welcome. Tues 7.30pm.

LANNER

Village Hall: Community Fayre. Wheelchair access. Sat 2.30pm.

LAUNCESTON

Central Methodist Church Hall: Harvest Tea Mon 5.30pm. Service 7pm and sale of produce. Tickets £3.50 from 01566 772821.

St Stephens Community Hal: Book sale, wheelchair friendly, in aid of St Stephen the Martyr Church. Sat 9am-noon. Doors open 8.30am.

LIFTON

Church Hall: Coffee morning and bumper book sale. Refreshments. Sat11am-2pm in aid of Launceston & District Cats Protection.

LOSTWITHIEL

The Community Centre: Antiques and Collectors Market. Fri 11am-3pm.

MILLBROOK

The Tanyard: Local Produce Market. Sat 10-2pm.

MODBURY

Devon Rural Archive, Shilstone: Illustrated talk on garden design over the past 400 years given by Letta Jones. Thurs 7pm.

PAR

The Good Shepherd Church: Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday 9am family sung Mass; 1pm Harvest Lunch; 3.30 Evensong. Donations of non-perishable food for the Salvation Army.

PAR GREEN

Gott Hall: Homemade soup n sweet lunches £4. Monday 12-1.30pm. Facilities for wheelchairs.

PLYMOUTH

Devonport Lecture Theatre, Portland Square Building, Plymouth University: Talk on New Light on West Devon in the Early Middle Ages by Prof Andrew Fleming at Plymouth & District Archaeological Society. Mon 7pm. Non-members £4 towards expenses.

The Royal British Legion Club, Crownhill: Mark Nightingale with The Craig Milverton Trio. Members £6. Visitors £8. Sun 7.30pm.

Minster Church of St Andrew, Royal Parade: HMS Pinafore in concert by the Plymouth Gilbert and Sullivan Fellowship in aid of the RNLI. Tickets £9 from 01752 829176. Sat 7.30pm.

Athenaeum: Victor Hugo – much more than the man who wrote the Hunchback of Notre Dame. With Peter Greenhalgh. Thurs 7.30pm.

Theatre Royal: Frantic Assembly and the National Theatre of Scotland present Beautiful Burnout. Until Oct 6.

REDRUTH

Jubilee Hall: Cornish Postcard, Postal History and Book Fair. Sat 10am-4pm.

SOUTH BRENT

The Old School Centre, Totnes Road: Art and craft exhibition. Sat 2-5pm, Sun 10-5pm (also Mon 8, 10am-4pm).

ST NEOT

Methodist Chapel: Buffet salad lunch. £5. Sat from 11.30am.

TAVISTOCK

Methodist Church: Stannary Brass Band patron Angela Rippon will host the Proms Concert with guests Loveny Male Voice choir on Sat 7.30pm. Tkts £6 adults, £1 under-18s, from Ward and Chowen Estate Agents, Tavistock and Yelverton.

TIVERTON

Comedy Hall, New Hall: Stuart Goldsmith, Steve Bowditch, Craig Campbell. £10. Mon 8pm.

TOPSHAM

Wixels, Ferry Road: Exhibition and sale of art by the Alpha Group. Sat-Sun 11am-4pm.

TORQUAY

Princes Theatre: Blue/Orange (cancelled); First News: Diamond Kids Regionals Sun 6pm.

TOTNES

Civic Hall: Totnes Folk Club Folk Danc with Jane Thomas and the Weston Country Band. £6, members £5.50. Sat 7.30-11pm.

TRURO

Cathedral: Colin Andrews (Indiana University, USA) free lunchtime organ recital. Friday 1.10pm; Sunday Eucharist and Harvest Festival 10am.

Hall for Cornwall: Wah! Wah" Girls. Until Oct 6.

Hall for Cornwall: Truro Country market. Tues 9.15-3pm.