AN INNOVATIVE exhibition and city centre trail is coming to Carlisle this weekend.

Adam Russell, 29, a community dance artist, from Carlisle but now based in Newcastle, is staging Fairground Reminiscence based on family memories of the travelling fairground community.

The event will run from Sunday to October 5 and is based at a number of businesses and the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, on Castle Street.

Visitors will have the chance to interact with a number of exhibits and activities from the golden age of fairgrounds.

These include candy floss making and objects like posters, and other fairground paraphernalia - there will also be specialist talks.

Adam said that many of the exhibits were based on the experiences of his dad, Keith, 69, also from Carlisle, who grew up in the community before the family settled down.

Adam's mum Christine, 63, and sister Michelle, 46, both also from Carlisle, have also lent a hand.

The popular exhibition which has itself toured venues in the north east has been adapted to become a trail in Carlisle to help support local businesses.

Adam said: "We thought we'd do it as a trail to help boost footfall.

"The community was very close everyone knows everyone else, it was very special but it was a hard life an have a strong identity."

Mum Christine said: "Keith came from five generations of show people, it was a very strong family bonded community.

"They travelled until he was about 15 or 16 then settled down."

Other businesses taking part include John Watts coffee shop, The Thin White Duke bar, W. H. Walkers Barbers, The Bed Shop Carlisle, Carlisle World Shop, Casanova Menswear, Sharps Bedrooms, Crown and Mitre Hotel, Carlisle Cathedral Cafe, Bookcase bookstore, Cakes and Ale cafe, Castle Chocolates, Johnsons the Cleaners, Espresso Hub, the Assembly Room at the Tourist Information office, Millers Cafe and The Market Hall.