Shaun LowthorpeA feast of sporting and cultural events are to take place across Norfolk and North Suffolk at the weekend to mark the two year countdown to the London Olympics.Shaun Lowthorpe

A feast of sporting and cultural events are to take place across Norfolk and North Suffolk at the weekend to mark the two year countdown to the London Olympics.

Across Norfolk there are a wide variety of activities as part of the Looking Forward to 2012 event.

In Hethersett the village will be hosting a series of events including 'Hethersett's Got Talent', at the Village Hall at 7.30pm on Friday.

The next day sees as Sport in the Park Event between 11am and 4pm at the Memorial Playing Field with events including cycle speedway, football, athletics, bowls, badminton, and tennis

Sunday will see the recreation of a two-mile 'run the square' fun run around the village and at the same time there is a girl's five-a-side football competition from 11am,

At 10am there will also be a multi-denomination Olympic themed Churches Together service for Hethersett and surrounding villages, at Hethersett High School and at 7.30pm the Pulham Orchestra will be taking part in a classical concert at St Remigius Church.

Events taking place across the rest of the county include, Barbershopera II, at the Playhouse, Norwich, between 8pm and 9.45pm on Friday.

North Walsham Library and Harleston Library, will both be hosting Space Hop, a summer reading game for children on Friday, while event moves to Sheringham library the following day. Harleston will also be challenging families to try to build the biggest and best spaceship out of newspaper.

On Saturday there is a family and friends Four Sport challenge at Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre between 10am and noon and 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

At the Green Quay in King's Lynn there is a drop in session where you can create your own ocean scene and find out about what lives under the Wash, between 10am and 4pm.

Breckland Council has also joined up with Creative Arts East to offer the chance to watch memorable theatre in towns and villages across the district. Voluntary promoting groups will host regional and national theatre companies, performing some fantastic shows for all ages.

Saturday also sees the Norwich 12 Challenge where you can follow the clues to discover 1,000 years of city history while also getting some exercise.

On Sunday there is a Holkham beach clean and recycled art event between 10am and 5pm.

In Norwich, would-be artists can create a graffiti wall at the Millennium Library, while there is a picnic in the park at Carey's Meadow by the River Yare off the A1242, Yarmouth Road.

At Norwich Castle Museum there is an Olympiad 'artathon' where you can join the queue to help make the longest bus ticket.

The weekend will also see a range of events at the Norwich Big Screen at Chapelfield Plain on both days, while at the new Norwich Skate Park, the city council has organised two action packed days of skateboarding and BMX with competitions, demos from professional groups, and a chance to learn new tricks between 1pm and 5pm.

Norwich Puppet Theatre will also be hosting the first public performance of the Chalk Giants at 2.30pm on both days, ahead of its international premiere at the Edinburgh Festival.

Fun and games will also be on offer on Lowestoft seafront on Saturday between 10am and 4pm with a main arena showcasing events headlined by the Waveney Gymastics Club, and a side arena featureing a dog show and other stalls and attractions.

Derrick Murphy, cabinet member for Cultural Services at Norfolk County Council, said: 'Norfolk is embracing the opportunities linked to the 2012 games, and I'm delighted to see such a varied programme of events taking place during the Open Weekend. I hope people will come along, feel inspired to get involved and perhaps try something new and above all, enjoy themselves.'

For the full Norfolk programme in Norfolk log on to full programme available by visiting: www.norfolk2012.co.uk. For details of the Lowestoft event visit www.funonthegreen.co.uk