Here are 14 events that are coming up

Leigh Canal Festival is returning from September 13 to 15.

The free weekend event will be held at Leigh Miners Welfare Institute with canal cruises and a funfair included in the entertainment.

Traders boats will be stationed at the side of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and there will be 30 stalls selling crafts, food and refreshments and displaying information.

On the water the popular Kittiwake will be offering hour long canal trips for a modest charge and longer evening cruises will be available on Friday and Saturday evenings.

There is an opportunity for a longer cruise on the Friday to Worsley and back.

Canal cruises will begin today, Friday.

Narrow boats will be making a visit too.

The festival will start at 10am on both the Saturday and Sunday.

A number of bands will perform at the venue on the Saturday afternoon and evening at Leigh Miners with entry being free again.

A ladies demonstration rugby league match will also be held at the Kirby Road venue.

Photo gallery

Atherton and District Amateur Photographic Society (ADAPS) is holding an exhibition with more than 160 images at Leigh Spinners Mill.

It will be on display until Monday, September 30.

ADAPS has been in Atherton since 1938

The group meet on Thursday nights in Atherton. For more information visit www.adapsuk.org.

Library events

"The Law is an Ass" will the subject of Canon Robert Brunswick's talk at Tyldesley Library on Tuesday, September 17.

The Friends of Tyldesley Library event will start at 1.30pm.

Admission is £1.50 including refreshments.

Two days later, budding detectives may be interested in putting their investigative skills to the test at a Shetland murder mystery this evening, Thursday, September 19.

The event, Bannocks and Blood, will be held at the Stanley Street library.

People are asked to arrive at 7pm for a 7.30pm. Entry is £2.50 including refreshments.

Scarecrow fans

Residents are being invited to sign up to the Glazebury Village Scarecrow Competition

Entry forms for the contest can be picked up from Bents Garden and Home before the deadline of Sunday, September 29.

All scarecrows must be on display by Sunday, October 6 with the winner announced on October 13.

Bents has its own scarecrow treasure hunt planned with face painting on Saturdays October 5 and 12 and Sunday craft activities on October 6 and 13.

Model railway exhibition

Leigh Model Railway Society will be hosting its 42nd annual model railway exhibition on September 21 and 22 at St Joseph’s Hall.

There will be 12 working layouts of various gauges and sizes from all over the country and one travelling from South Wales at the Chapel Street venue.

Ten traders will be there with a full range of modelling items from train sets, locomotives, wagons, coaches, scenic items, glues, buses, books to soft toys.

There will also be a raffle costing £1 to enter and the prize is a large train set valued at around £170 donated by Sawyers Models on Bradshawgate. Lancashire Mining Museum and Leigh Spinners Mill will be at the event too.

Admission is £5 for adults and under 15s get in for free when accompanied by an adult.

Opening times are 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. There will be free parking in Mather Lane and nearby.

Refreshments will be provided by Sherringtons.

Lowton WI

Lowton WI will hold a coffee morning at Lowton St Mary’s Church Hall on Newton Road on Saturday, October 5 between 10am and noon.

The event will be in aid of a women’s refuge in Leigh.

The group will also have its annual general meeting on Thursday, October 3 at its monthly get-together at Lowton Social Club at 7.15pm.

At the group's September meeting members celebrated its 55th birthday with a buffet which was followed by a talk from Hilary Norton.

She entertained the members with tales during her time working in a ballet on tour.

Hilary is a wardrobe mistress who gave us a descriptive account of a working day backstage with a touring ballet company.

Her talents extend to her making costumes and she brought many of them on display at the event.

Hilary Norton with some of her costumes

Lowton WI member Norma wearing a headdress of a three-headed rat from The Nutcracker ballet

Members will start choir practice in October in preparation for the group’s annual carol concert Lowton St Mary’s Church on December 13 as well. The group will also be entering a garden-themed project at the Lancashire County Show on September 25 and 26.

For more information about Lowton WI contact Lin Hayes on 01942 207764.

Bents events

Bents’ Autumn Fashion Show will take place at its base at 5.30pm this evening, Thursday, September 19.

The latest collections from Joules, White Stuff, Barbour, Radley and more will be on show. Tickets are £10, which includes a welcome drink, complimentary gift, live music and 20 per cent off clothing and jewellery on the evening.

A coffee morning with live music and a charity raffle will also be held at Bents on Friday, September 27 from 8.30am to 11.30am.

A four-ball at the golf course at Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club an an adult’s mountain bike worth more than £200 are two of the prizes that will be included in the raffle. The event is in support of Macmillan Cancer Support’s Coffee Morning.

Coffee morning

A coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support will be held at Leigh Baptist Church on Saturday, September 14. from 10:30am to noon.

Members of the Vernon Street church will be serving tea, coffee, toast, crumpets and home-made cakes, in exchange for donations towards the charity.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Open day event

AN open day for a community group for retired or semi-retired residents will be held on Friday, September 20.

Leigh and District U3A’s free event will take place between 1pm and 3pm at Leigh Miners Welfare Institute on Kirby Road.

The group has more than 400 members that meet up for more than 28 creative and leisure activities every month.

It is part of a national charitable organisation.

The U3A group usually invites a speaker on the first Friday of each month.

And on the third Friday of every month a social gathering, sometimes with a quiz, takes place.

Entry for these occasions costs £1, which includes tea and coffee.

For more information visit www.leighanddistrictu3a.org.uk or contact 07941 479083.

Happy Days

Happy Days Special Needs Community Group meet up at the All Saints Church hall in Leigh on the last Sunday of every month from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

The group welcomes families with children who suffer with any type of disabilities to the Kenwood Avenue hall.

The events give children a chance to have fun and mix with other youngsters.

The gatherings also allow parents or guardians to share information.

The next event will take place on Sunday, September 29.

It was previously reported that the group meet on the last Thursday of every month, which is incorrect.

Talented musician

A musician will be showing off his skills with up to 15 instruments on Friday, September 20.

Simeon Wood will be providing a night of music, fun and laughter at Bedford Methodist Church in Leigh at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £6 for adults and children under 16 will get in for free.

Light refreshments will be served.

For tickets contact Audrey Davies on 07784 481176 or email audrey.davies1@ntlworld.com.

Dementia group

People living with dementia and other memory related illnesses will be able to meet up at a monthly social event.

Happy Timers CIC organises a hot two course meal at Astley and Tyldesley Methodist Church with live musical entertainment from 11.30am to 2pm on the last Wednesday of every month.

The next event will be held on Wednesday, September 25.

The food is provided by The Union Arms on Castle Street.

To book a place, which costs £3.50, contact Marlene on 07734 070203 or email happytimers1@gmail.com.

Carers and families are also welcome to attend the social occasions.

The group recently received a £1,000 donation from Bent N Bongs Beer Bash.