Sarah Pickstone: The Rehearsal, exhibition at The Mercer Gallery, Harrogate, opens on Saturday

New paintings by London artist, Sarah Pickstone, inspired by a drawing in the Harrogate Art and Museums collection, Dame Laura Knight’s Ready for Rehearsal, explore themes of performance, dance and artifice as a metaphor for painting and plays with the feminine image of ballet. Runs until July 5. 01423-556188.

David Knopfler, Mickleton Village Hall, on Saturday, 8pm

David Knopfler walked away from being a rock star, but he never walked away from music. Back in 1977, Knopfler founded Dire Straits with three fellow Brits – his brother Mark, bassist John Illsley and drummer Pick Withers. The band had some quick success with its great song Sultans of Swing and was on its way to becoming much bigger when David Knopfler decided to walk away in 1980. Knopfler is a first-rate folk music balladeer. Tickets £15 in advance, £17 on the door. 01833-640854.

York Open Studios 2015, venues include Bootham School Arts Centre, on Saturday/Sunday.

Open Studios provides the perfect combination of discovering creative talent and enjoying the experience of wandering around the mediaeval streets of York in search of artists’ studios. Visitors can plan their route with the help of a free event guide and map, also available online from www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk, or email info@yorkopenstudios.co.uk. Take a look behind the studio doors of York’s artists, craftspeople and designers, also on April 25-26.

Family fun weekend, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate, this weekend, 10am-4pm

For National Gardening Week, Harlow Carr has loads of activities for all the family. Get creative by up-cycling your stuff into garden crafts, come and share stories and much more. Its drop in and free or charge once you pay to enter the garden. 01423-565418 or harlowcarrevents@rhs.org.uk

The Unlikely Dads, Village Hall, Kirkby Fleetham, 7.30pm

A new two-hander comedy from Kate Bramley that follows the unusual tale of two friends who become fathers late in life, under unusual circumstances. Their usual meetings at the club to discuss The Beatles and The Likely Lads are re-located to a more baby-friendly location as their old and new lives clash head on with hilarious repercussions, and a life-changing twist. Tickets £9.50, available on 01423-339168.