Friday

MUSEUMS

Bolton Museum, ART GALLERY & AQUARIUM, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton. Tel: 332211. www.boltonmuseums.org.uk Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Admission free.

Exhibitions

Celebrating Boxes - runs until August 30

This summer at Bolton Museum & Art Gallery we are Celebrating Boxes with a major international exhibition, bringing together the breathtaking skill and inventiveness of over 60 box-makers from Britain, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany, Denmark, Austria and Israel. It was researched by British box-makers Peter Lloyd and Andrew Crawford, who both share a love of wood and a commitment to craftsmanship, along with a fascination with the mystique of boxes of all kinds.

Exquisite workmanship is only a starting point as the designers let you into their world, sharing their thoughts, desires and aspirations. From the lasting appeal of the classically designed jewellery box to the modern wooden hinged chest, the wide range and diversity of the collection is stunning, from finely sculpted and intricate creations to joyous pieces that are blatantly quirky and amusing, bringing an immediate smile to the face.

This breathtakingly intricate exhibition organised at Tullie house, Carlisle before touring at the Oxo Tower in London, the Collins Gallery, Glasgow and the Usher Gallery, Lincoln.

Cllr Laurie Williamson, Executive Mmeber for Culture added: "I am particularly looking foward to this exhibition and am pleased to see that Bolton Museum and Art Gallery is able to bring to Bolton contemporary art of the highest quality and originality".

Jon Finch, Collection Services Manager explains: "Bringing the nationally renown Celebrating Boxes exhibition to Bolton is a tremendous opportunity for the Museum. Not only is the exhibition of a high calibre, but it also provides a wonderful opportunity for families to have lots of fun".

Secret spaces, anticipation and excitement are all part of the wonder of a box, and by building on this we hope to create magical workshops which will inspire and challenge young people.

Exciting workshops will run on Tuesdays and Thursday throughout the summer holidays exploring the themes Magical Boxes, Nature's Boxes and Arty Boxes.

Bolton Aquarium

There are fantastic fish on display from all over the world, some highly threatened in their natural habitats. From Piranhas to Pufferfish, huge Catfish to tiny Tetras, there are hundreds of fish to come and see in an aquarium designed to allow the fish to behave as they would in the wild. There is now the unique chance to name our new Lungfish from Queensland, Australia, which will be on display in the very near future.

HALL I'TH'WOOD MUSEUM, Green Way, off Crompton Way, Bolton, tel: 332370

The Museum is now open for the spring and summer season Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-5pm and Bank Holiday Mondays. Admission is £2 for adults and £1 for children and concessions, £5 family ticket (2 adults and 2 children), joint Hall i'th'Wood and mithills family ticket £10.

Smithills HALL AND HISTORIC HOUSE, Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, tel: 01204 332377

The Hall is now open for the spring and summer season with guided tours available throughout the season. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-5pm, Sunday, 2pm-5pm (last admission 4.15pm), closed Mondays except Bank Holidays. Admission is £3 for adults, £1.75 for children and concessions, £7.75 for a family ticket (2 adults and 3 children) or £10 for a Smithills Hall and Hall i'th' Wood family ticket. Come and visit this beautiful historic house, browse through the gift shop and visit the outstanding formal gardens.

LEISURE, SPORT AND KEEP FIT

BOLTON EXCEL, Lower Bridgeman Street, Bolton, tel: 334456.

DEANE COMMUNITY LEISURE CENTRE, Junction Road, Deane, Bolton, tel: 334432.

Little Lever COMMUNITY LEISURE CENTRE, Church Street, Little Lever, tel: 334177.

Sharples COMMUNITY LEISURE CENTRE, Hill Cot Road, Sharples, with swimming pool on site, tel: 334224.

HARPER GREEN COMMUNITY LEISURE CENTRE, Harper Green Road, Farnworth, tel: 334234.

Turton COMMUNITY LEISURE CENTRE, Chapeltown Road, Turton, with swimming pool on site, tel: 334440.

HAYWARD COMMUNITY LEISURE CENTRE, Stack Fold Lane, Bolton, tel: 334233.

Horwich LEISURE CENTRE, Victoria Road, Horwich, with swimming pool on site, tel: 334488.

Kearsley COMMUNITY LEISURE CENTRE, Springfield Road, Kearsley, tel: 334141.

FARNWORTH LEISURE CENTRE, Brackley Street, Farnworth, with swimming pool on site, tel: 334477.

Westhoughton COMMUNITY LEISURE CENTRE, Bolton Road, Westhoughton, with swimming pool on site, tel: 01942 634810.

JUBILEE POOL, Darley Street, Bolton, with swimming pool on site, tel: 334443.

WITHINS LEISURE SERVICE, Newby Road, Breightmet, tel: 334133.

BADMINTON COACHING, suitable for adults and children, classes throughout the Borough, tel: Ray Schofield on 667498 or 01257 480961.

Friday

HILTON TABLE TENNIS CENTRE, Nuttall Avenue, Horwich: table tennis for over 50s, 1pm-3pm. Tel: 419781.

BOLTON YMCA, 125 Deansgate: junior football, 6.15pm.

GREAT LEVER COMMUNITY CENTRE, Parkfield Road entrance, Ju-Jitsu and Kempo Karate for ages six to 15, 6.30pm-8.30pm. Tel: 656513.

CASTLE HILL GYMNASIUM, Castleton Street, Tonge Moor -- Tonge Ju-Jitsu Club 6pm-7pm, 6 to 16 year olds 50p. Details 01204 399147.

CLUBS & GROUP MEETINGS

Friday

HORWICH RESOURCE CENTRE, Beaumont Road, Horwich, tel: 668157: Busy Bees Playgroup for 2 -4 years, £3.50 per session, 9.15am-11.45am; Friday Lunch Club, Friday Social Club, Afternoon Tea Dance, £1.50 per session, 2pm-4pm; Women's Fitness Class, 6.30pm-7.30pm.

WESTHOUGHTON COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTRE, Central Drive, Westhoughton, tel: 01942 634700: How to be a Tour Rep (15 week course), 9.30am-12 noon; Confidence Building and IT Skills, 9.30am-3pm; Hair and Beauty, 1pm-3pm.

LUNCHEON CLUB, Trinity Methodist Church, Bury Road from 12 noon. Details 0161 772 1921, one week's notice required.

LUNCHEON CLUB, Barlow Park Community Centre, off Dunoon Drive from 12 noon, admission £1.50.

LUNCHEON CLUB, Springfield Gardens Community Centre, Kearsley at 12.15pm, admission £1.50 including lunch. Details 432091.

YOUTH CLUB, for ages 13 to 18, Little Lever Youth Club, Herbert Street, 7pm-10pm.

CHILDREN'S CLUB, Zion Christian Fellowship, Slater Street, 6.15pm.

BRIDGE GROUP, Beckett Suite, St Thomas of Canterbury, Lonsdale Road, Heaton, 7pm-10pm. Details 0161 724 5670.

OTHER EVENTS

Friday

ZAC'S CAFE BAR, 71 Market Street, Farnworth, 11-14 years, 7pm-9.30pm.

PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP, Salvation Army, King Street, Farnworth, 9.30am-11.30am. Kids Alive for children aged five to 11 years, 6.30pm-8pm.

COFFEE MORNING, St Paul's Church, Deansgate, 10am-12.30pm.

DRAMA WORKSHOP YOUTH THEATRE, YMCA, Bolton: The Company for 16+ years, 4.30pm-6.30pm. Tel: 431395 or 07931 337764.

music & DANCE

Friday

AGE CONCERN, Movement to music. Farnworth Learning Centre 1pm-2pm. Details 382411.

IRISH DANCING LESSONS, classes for 3 to 15 year olds, St Edmunds Church Hall, 5.30pm-6.30pm.

ST PAUL'S AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY, rehearsals, St Paul's Church, Seymour Road, Astley Bridge, 8pm. Tel: 307187.

BOLTON CHORAL UNION, rehearsals, tel: 492301.