Revellers enjoying the next big open air festival concert can also do their bit for charities helping to fight the country’s commonest form of cancer.

Along with the fun, games and entertainment this August, Ilkley Summer Festival will take on a more serious note for the second time, when it raises money for breast cancer charities.

Following the success of a similar event last summer, the Cabaret on The Grove on Saturday will again donate money to the cause.

The issue is of great personal significance to festival director and founder of the Ilkley Summer Festival, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth.

She said: “As many people know, a routine screening in the autumn of 2007 revealed I was in the early stages of breast cancer.

“Speedy surgery means that my prognosis is excellent. I’m so grateful for the screening. I hope we can collect a large total for breast cancer charities, which are the festival’s charities again this year. I hope everyone will let the moths fly out of their wallets.”

The concert will see the return of Dominic Halpin and the Honey Bs, with their mix of Rat Pack and swing, plus the Tre Tenori – by kind permission of Opera North – who will add an Italian flavour to the event with a variety of songs from Hollywood and opera.

Admission is free to those standing, but there will be a special collection for breast cancer charities. New for this year is the option of securing a prime spot for the evening by booking a table for eight for £50. Ten pounds of this will go to breast cancer charities.

The festival directors hope those enjoying the event will give generously to the collection, and have also suggested a walk up to White Wells on Ilkley Moor, where money is also being collected for the charities, as a prelude to the evening.

Another festival event will lend a helping hand to charity.

A three-day exhibition of work by renowned local artist Graeme Willson, at Christchurch, The Grove, will contribute to the NSPCC. A selection of Mr Willson’s work, including studies prepared for a mural at Wimbledon, can be seen in an exhibition held for the summer festival, from August 27 to 29, between 10am and 5pm.

Mr Willson has agreed to donate a percentage of the proceeds of his exhibition to the children’s charity.

The festival is now building up to its finale, the Last Night of the Proms open-air concert, on Saturday, August 29.

In the mean time, fun and space exploration combine for children today, as the WOW Space Bus blasts onto The Grove. From 11am, youngsters can climb aboard the bus to find out more about space and space travel.

From 11am, children will be able to enjoy a space-age experience. Young astronauts can experience a space flight simulation, visiting landscapes of the Moon and Mars.

Science experiments, activity pods and other activities all combine fun with an exploration of educational science, technology, maths and engineering.

Moving through time instead of space, the Rombalds Revels, presented by the Friends of the Manor House, Olicana History Society and Ilkley Playhouse, will bring some medieval-inspired entertainment to Ilkley.

Theatre workshops at Church House, Church Street, and Ilkley Playhouse will culminate in lively theatre performances and entertainment with its roots in the Middle Ages, on Saturday August 22.

Budding actors taking part in the adult and junior theatre workshops will perform their plays – based on Medieval mystery plays – on Saturday.

But the Rrevels, in the courtyard of the historic Manor House Museum, Castle Yard, will provide so much more for visitors to see and do. Urban street theatre stilt walkers, fire eaters and jugglers promise to keep even a modern audience entertained.

There will be puppet shows, magic and music on offer, plus a chance to sample sweet delights made to medieval recipes, and buy some of the plants used in cookery and medicine of the period.

A modern twist will be given to morris dancing too, with an unusual mix of traditional melodies, jazz and popular modern tunes.

Another heritage guided walk, and the fourth visit to Joy Godfrey and Chris Bailey’s art studios, will be on offer on Sunday.

Anyone interested in a closer look at Ilkley’s heritage is invited to meet at the Beanlands Parade gates of Ilkley Cemetery at 2pm. The walk will look at some of the history of town’s cemetery and its chapels.

The art studios, on Back Nelson Road, will be open from 2pm to 4pm. The artists will be on hand to show and discuss their work, and give art lovers an insight into their techniques.

The final heritage walk of this year’s Ilkley Summer Festival takes place on Wednesday. Walkers will get another chance to learn more about what Darwin saw when he came to Ilkley 150 years ago. The walk will start in the car park at Darwin Gardens Millennium Green, Wells Road, at 2pm.

Michael Rose and singer Shirley Britton will take everyone down Memory Lane in the festival Tea Dance at the Winter Garden next Thursday afternoon. Betty’s Café Tearooms will be laying on refreshments at the event. Admission will be £4 on the door.

Tickets for events can be booked in person or by phone at Ilkley Tourist Inform-ation Centre, 01943 602319.