The Metal 'til Midnight event will feature live music from local metal bands, as well as a hog roast, a bar and a prize draw.

Metal 'til Midnight takes place from 5pm until midnight on Saturday February 6 at Hexham Racecourse.

Tickets, priced at £8, are available from Tynedale Hospice at Battle Hill, Hexham, and Core Music. Call 01434 604321 or visit www.metaltilmidnight.tk for more details.

Portraits of famous faces, including Audrey Hepburn and Holly Golightly, by North East artist Sue Liddle, will go on show at the cafe in the Forum Cinema in Hexham.

The exhibition will also be accompanied by a short film screening at 5.30pm, by local film maker Josephine Halbert.

The event, taking place in Hexham, will be led by professional artists and run a programme of drama, ending with two productions by participants, at the Queen's Hall Arts Centre.

The Northumberland Youth Theatre Festival 2010, is being hosted by the centre in association with the Royal Society of Arts.

The pantomime was originally scheduled to take place on January 9 and 10 at the Queen's Hall in Hexham but was cancelled for safety reasons because of the heavy snow.

Northumberland YFC panto- Charlottle Ridley, front, as Aladdin, with David Carr, the executioner, Geoff Hubbuck as Widow Twanky and Sarah Sparks as Wishee Washy

Northumberland County Show secretary Gaynor Shotton, who is in the chorus and has appeared in every one of the productions since 1992, said: "Everyone was making it through to the rehearsals but we are all farmers with four-wheel drives.

Hexham is to hold a special pancake themed Farmers' Market, with traditional pancake race, Mardi Gras carnival competition and live music from Mardi Gras band Tenth Avenue three days early on Saturday, February 13.

The market will be selling pancakes and eggs and butter for people to make their own on Shrove Tuesday.

To celebrate 25 years in practice, Hexham-based accountant Patricia Arnold is organising a series of free financial seminars entitled "Finding the Silver Lining".

They are designed to help local businesses stay ahead of the game in difficult times and the ever-changing tax legislation.

Organisers are looking for 500 people to help create the lights, which will stretch from one side of Britain to the other.

Artist's impression of the beacons lighting up Hadrian's Wall

Each of the volunteer "illuminators" will be part of a small team responsible for lighting one of the 500 individual points along the wall.

The Mid-Tyne Business Forum holds its inaugural event at Wark Sports Club on Wednesday, January 20 from 7.30pm.

The play will be at Wall Village Hall on the 22nd December at 6.30pm and at Newbrough Town Hall for a 3.00pm performance on 3rd January.

The cast includes NTC regulars Kim Evans and Gemma Clough and newcomers William Reay from Bellingham and Christopher Ranson.

Visit www.northumberlandtheatre.co.uk for a full list of performances and contact details for tickets.

Family Chiropractic will be offering free treatments to raise money for the Salvation Army's Christmas Present Appeal.

As part of their Toys for Adjustment week, Family Chiropractic's Dr Belinda Ambrose will be enthusiastically carrying out adjustments on her patients in return for a donation of a toy that will go to needy children.

The event will take place from Saturday until Christmas Eve at the Queen's Hall Arts Centre in Hexham, from 10am until 4pm.

For more details on the art sale, contact manager Annette Dickson on (01434) 652 476 or annette.dickson@queenshall.co.uk

The bid to post a Guinness World Record for planting the most trees in one hour will take place at a site in the Causey Hill area of Hexham on December 5.

Volunteers are being invited to help plant 500 English Oak trees as part of the attempt, which is being promoted by the BBC and supported by the county council's neighbourhood services team.

The two reindeer proved so popular at last year's Christmas Market that organisers Hexham Community Partnership have managed to arrange a return visit.

The Reindeer will be in the park in the centre of Hexham between 10am and 2pm, while Santa meets children in the nearby Queen's Hall.

The Christmas Fair @ Hexham returns to the town's Wentworth Leisure Centre on Saturday and Sunday following the success of last year's event.

Newcastle-based organiser Rival Arts will create a retail shopping mall meandering through the centre and ending in a tented indoor area.

The Hexham Debates were founded in 2007 by the Hexham Quaker Meeting and attracts audiences of between 100 and 250. It is currently in its third series with further debates planned for early 2010.

All debates take place on Saturdays from 11am to 12.30pm at St Mary's Centre, St Mary's RC Church, Hencotes. The first is on January 16 on the subject 'Britain and Afghanistan: is it worth it? Is it winnable?'