RESIDENTS across East Lancashire are gearing up for a full weekend of events.

Today Darwen Youth Festival will be held in the town’s centre and features live bands and dancers along with a climbing wall, bouncy castle and facepainting.

From 11am to 4pm, the talented youngsters will perform at the Darwen Youth Theatre in an event they built themselves.

Darwen Cllr Pete Hollings, speaking ahead of the event, said: “We have given the children complete creative control and a budget of £3,000 and I am very much looking forward to seeing what it is like.

“I initiated the festival because we felt that younger people often go unrepresented and this was a good chance to give the children the freedom to build a show themselves and attract others into the activities they do.”

Runners can enjoy Pendle Running Festival all day today with a selection of a half-marathon, 10k or leisure trails for prices between £10 and £17.

Blackburn Cathedral will get a special visit from the Archbishop of York on tomorrow at 4pm. He will cut the ribbon on the place of worship’s new cloisters.

Those who attend are advised to be at the cathedral for 3pm to avoid interrupting a service.

Parents seeking to have a day out with their children can head to Witton Park for a family-orientated fun day.

Tomorrow between 11am and 4pm, entertainment on the day include live music, an animal roadshow by Wellybobs, a rodeo bull, crazy golf and a slide roller coaster.

Pedal car enthusiasts are also invited to head down and watch Darwen’s Pedal Car Race tomorrow from 1pm until 4pm.

Elsewhere eclectic music festival Beat-Herder is back with a wide selection of artists to perform all weekend.

Local group The Lancashire Hotpots return to the Dockber Farm-based event near Sawley along with several up-and-coming bands.

A spokesman for Beat-Herder said: “Today Berlin-based duo Booka Shade headline the main stage, while over at the Toil Trees Marshall Jefferson, Jesse Rose and Format B will be playing into the small hours.

“Tomorrow there’ll be some new talent on offer at the Maison D’etre including Nimmo, Georgia and The Vryll Society and local favourites The Lancashire Hotpots are on from 10pm.”

A spokesman for the Met Office said residents can expect a band of cloud and rain today, clearing to reveal brighter and fresher conditions, while tomorrow is expected will be brighter and fresher, with perhaps the odd shower.