THE second National Festival of Making is under way in fine weather in Blackburn town centre today.

The two-day extravaganza celebrates the town's history of manufacturing and crafting dating back to the 19th Century and before.

Last year's first ever such festival attracted more than 30,000 visitors to Blackburn.

With more than 140 attractions, orgnaisers hope that with the sun shining even more people will come to enjoy more than 140 attacrtuons, indoor and outside.

They include:

  • BBC Introducing Stage Music & Performance // Live music Cathedral Square Sat & Sun 3pm to 6pm Free Just turn up
  •  DO NOT DISTURB Performance // Outdoor theatre circus Cathedral Square Sat & Sun 2pm (50 mins) Free Just turn up
  • BBC Radio Lancashire - Live Festival Show Radio Lancashire Live Festival Show Cathedral Square Sat & Sun 12pm to 2pm Free Just turn up
  • Street Food and Routemaster Bus Bar Festival Food Court Cathedral Square Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm ££ Just turn up
  • Reg Johnson Competition Winner Cafe Northcote Cathedral Square
  • Talbot Talks Talks // Lancashire photography archive Blackburn Cathedral (Nave) Saturday only 11am & 2pm Free Book in adv. or just turn up
  • Talbot Talks Archive Exhibition Exhibition // Photography Blackburn Cathedral (Nave) Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Real to Reel Film // Crafts Council film screening Blackburn Cathedral (Nave) Sat & Sun Sat 11am to 6pm /Sun 12 to 4pm Just turn up
  • Swifty Exhibition Exhibition // Letraset-based works by Ian Swift Blackburn Cathedral (South Transept) Sat 11th to Fri 18th May - 9am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Cardboard Cinema Exhibition // AiM Blackburn Cathedral (The Crypt) Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Dawinder Bansal presents The Making of a South Asian Wedding Workshops, Performance, Demonstrations & Exhibition // AiM Blackburn Market - Church Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • STEAM Pavilion Workshops & Demonstrations // Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Maths at Ainsworth Street / Bus Depot Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre Workshops & Demonstrations // MANTRA truck with STEM Workshops Ainsworth Street / Bus Depot Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • The Teenage Market Market & Performance Ainsworth Street / Bus Depot Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm £ Just turn up
  • McNally Music Tuition Guitar & Drum Workshop Workshops // Guitar and drumming Ainsworth Street / Bus Depot Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Henry Holland Presents Festival Merchandise with Get Set Students Shop // Festival T-shirts and mugs Ainsworth Street / Bus Depot Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm £ Just turn up
  • Youth Urban Arts Foundation Workshops, Music, Dance & Performance Church Street / Bus Depot Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Book in adv. or book on the day
  • Less Waste : More Taste / Feast! Food & Workshops // Community cooking The Bureau Centre for the Arts Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Community Dining Space Food // Outdoor picnic and dining space The Bureau Centre for the Arts Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • The Bureau Cinema Club Film // Making-inspired screenings The Bureau Centre for the Arts Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Festival Street Food & Picnic Benches Food & Markets Town Hall Square & Cathedral Square Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm 
  • Nicola Ellis with Ritherdon Sculptural Installation and Film The Gatehouse, Corner of Radio Lancashire & Market St Lane Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Martin Ware Soundscape Audio Experience Tony's Ballroom - Town Hall Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm (30min session) Free Book at venue
  • Sarah Hardacre with Surface Print Exhibition 20 Town Hall Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Sarah Hardacre with Surface Print - Grace Sculptural Installation King William Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Liz West with Graham & Brown Colour Installation Cotton Exchange, King William Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • David Murphy with WEC Sculptural Installation Prism Gallery, Lord Street West Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Hannah Fox with Cardboard Box Company Theatrical Installation Cathedral Crypt Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Shane Johnstone with Blackburn Youth Zone Young People's Art Commission Radio Lancashire Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Pop Up Factory with The Alliance Project Workshops & Demonstration // Industrial sewing machines Festival Hub King William Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Folding Table Workshop & Installation // Paper plane folding Festival Hub King William Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Diamond Awl Workshop // Leatherworking Festival Hub King William Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm £ Book in adv. or book on the day
  • Supermarché Workshop // Screenprint your own retro packaging and products (70s) Festival Hub King William Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • ALPHAKNIT Typography + Set Dress Workshop & Demonstration // Typography knitting Festival Hub King William Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • This is Pewter Workshop // Pewter jewellery moulding Library Saturday only 10-1pm / 2-5pm ££ Book in adv. or book on the day
  • Adventures in Goldwork Embroidery Workshop // Goldthread hand embroidery Library Sunday only 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Tina Francis Workshop // Mandala stitching Library Saturday only 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Elmro Demonstration // Model railways Library Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Taste Lancashire Food Producers Tent and Demo Markets, Food & Demonstrations // Local producers Town Hall Square, King William St Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm £—£££ Just turn up
  • Make with Manufacturer Workshops // AiM heritage skills Town Hall Square, King William St Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up

Art In Manufacturing -

  • Girls Girls Girls - Suffragette Workshop Workshop King William Street - Town Hall Sq Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Remember Me Workshop // Artist video King William Street - Town Hall Sq Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • National Saturday Club Workshops & Exhibition King William Street - Town Hall Sq Saturday only 9am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Best In Show Performance Space King William Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Make It Up Music & Performance King William Street Sat & Sun 2.30pm / 4pm Saturday (30mins), Free Just turn up
  • Myerscough Floral Dresses Exhibition & Workshop King William Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Blackburn People's Choir Performance Music & Performance King William Street Sat & Sun Saturday 12pm / Sunday 11.30am (30 mins),Free Just turn up
  • Art in Manufacturing Legacy Exhibition Exhibition Blackburn Museum Sat 12th May to 20th Aug 2018,  11am to 6pm on festival weekend, free Just turn up
  • Artist Musician, Lawrence Leith Demonstration // Heritage skills Blackburn Museum Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Julia Swarbrick Artist Workshop // Printing press Blackburn Museum Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Get Crafty Workshop // Children's activities Blackburn Museum Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Bobbin Lace Making Exhibition & Demonstration // Lace bobbin Blackburn Museum Saturday only 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Handling boxes Exhibition & Demonstration // Museum collection Blackburn Museum Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Design Lab Nation Exhibition // V&A museum collection Blackburn Museum Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Conversations with Northrop Engineers Talk Blackburn Museum Saturday only 11am to 4pm Free Just turn up
  • Clayground Collective Workshop // Clay sculpture Museum Street Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Sarah Hicks Artist Workshop // Upcycle a bird feeder Museum Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Katie Duxbury Artist Workshop // Upcycled bottle-cap necklaces Museum Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Shane Johnstone Artist Workshop // Origami Museum Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Make Your Way To Health & Well Being Workshop // Lavender Bags Museum Street Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Myerscough College Workshop // Flowers Museum Street Sunday only 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • The Making Rooms with FabLab Workshops, Demonstrations & Talks The Making Rooms, King William St Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Salvaged Gardens Workshop // Build your own air plant or cactus terrarium Liz n Lil's (Northgate) Saturday only 11-1pm / 2-4pm ££ Book in advance
  • Makers Market Curated by Hopeful & Glorious Market // 50+ makers and artists King Georges Hall Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm £—£££ Just turn up
  • Crafts Council Directory Ones to Watch Awards Award // One to Watch & Best Visual Merchandising Award at the Makers Market, King Georges Hall Saturday only 12 noon Free N/A
  • Crafts Council 1-1 Sessions Talks // Maker portfolio advice sessions King Georges Hall Saturday only 12 noon Free Book in advance
  • Real to Reel Film Festival Film // Crafts Council film screening King Georges Hall Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Blackburn College Fashion Students exhibition Exhibition King Georges Hall & Cathedral Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Restore Shop Demonstration // Townscape Heritage Blakey Moor Terrace Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Darwen Terracotta Exhibition Exhibition // Townscape Heritage Project 29 Northgate Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Community Clothing - Slogan T-Shirts Workshop // Screen Printing Community Clothing, Lord St. West Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm ££ Just turn up
  • Community Clothing Quilt Exhibition & Talk Community Clothing, Lord St. West Sat & Sun 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • UCLan & Gawthorpe Hall Hidden Treasures Exhibition & Workshop // Fashion styling The Mall Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Stitched Pendant Workshops Workshop & Exhibition // Perspex & textiles The Mall Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Kantha Stitch Workshop Workshop // Traditional Kantha stitching The Mall Sat & Sun 11am to 6pm Free Just turn up
  • Gacko Trunk Performance & Music // Storytelling from a magic trunk King William Street Sat & Sun Various Free Just turn up
  • Best In Show Music, Performance & Talks // Blackburn People's choir, Make it Up, Myerscough Flower Dresses, King William Street Sat & Sun Various Free Just turn up
  • Boom Bikes Music & Performance // Outdoor & roving King William Street Sat & Sun Various Free Just turn up
  • Pif Paf - Fly cycle and Submercycle Music & Performance // Outdoor & roving King William Street Sat & Sun Various Free Just turn up
  • Pif Paf - Bee Cart Music & Performance // Outdoor & roving King William Street Sat & Sun Various Free Just turn up
  • Age UK One Digital Programme Workshops: Online support for the over 50's Age Concern, King William Street Saturday only 11am to 5pm Free Just turn up
  • Creative Lancashire Conference Conversation in Creativity - Graphic Means Preston Continental - Post festival event 16th May Various £ Book online
  • Creative Lancashire Conference Business Innovation for Growth Conference Blackburn Cathedral - Post festival event 17th May Various £ Book online
  • Creative Lancashire Conference Conversation in Creativity - Martyn Ware Blackburn Cathedral - Post festival event 17th May Various £ Book online
  • Creative Lancashire Conference Conversation in Creativity - Art in Manufacturing Blackburn Museum - Post festival event 21st May Various £ Book online