Bath Spa University's Department of Music is now holding a series of free lunchtime concerts every Wednesday during term at Newton Park.

The concerts feature visiting artists, staff and students from the department. All the concerts (and the parking) are free and everyone is welcome to attend.

The next concert is at 1.10pm on Wednesday, November 2 when Charles Wiffen performs Bach's Goldberg Variations.

Charles has performed extensively in Great Britain, Europe, North America, Israel, China and Southern Africa and has recently given recitals in London's Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room.

Landscape painter Alan Cotton is to give a free talk at the University of Bath on November 2.

Alan Cotton is an honorary professor of art at the university and has been represented internationally by Messum's Fine Art in Cork Street, London for the past 20 years, where his annual exhibitions have frequently sold out.

In his inaugural lecture, A Sense of Place, he will present stories about people and places from his travels, and, with illustrations of his work, show how his paintings are produced.

The lecture will be held in the East Building lecture theatre at 6pm. Tickets are free but advance booking is necessary. Go to www.bath.ac.uk/ icia.

Bath Animal Action the local animal rights lobby group which raises public awareness on topics of welfare and cruelty-free life is holding a vegan fair at the Percy Community Centre on Saturday from noon to 4pm in recognition of World Vegan Month.

Organisers will be providing samples, free, of vegan meals, running a workshop and showing a series of short films, and documentaries. In addition there is face painting, and a tombola.

A free Astronomical Star Party takes place on Saturday at 7pm in Royal Victoria Park in front of Royal Crescent.

The event is organised by the Herschel Museum in collaboration with the Wiltshire Astronomical Society and the William Herschel Society and supported by B&NES Heritage Services.

The evening focuses on Jupiter and Herschel's planet Uranus.

Astronomical observations are dependent on weather conditions so check the forecast earlier in the day.

But then on Tuesday, November 1 at the Building of Bath Collection there is a lecture on The Menace of the Universe, Byron's encounter with the comet and his epic poem Manfred. The lecture is given by Debbie James, curator of the Herschel Museum of Astronomy.

The lecture is at 1pm.

Call 01225 446865 to book tickets costing £6 and £4.

Today dragons are stalking the National Trust's sacred cloisters at Lacock Abbey.

Visitors to Dragons Day may meet Fire Drake, Phoebe or Sid, amazingly life-like puppets from Alchemy a puppet company who will also be telling stories at noon and 2.30pm and leading a colourful dragon procession at 1pm.

To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the Bath Natural History Society, which became a charity in 2004, is holding an exhibition in Bath Central Library in the Podium, from 1pm, on October 31 to November 5. Entry is free.