Wells does January in its own way. No big gestures, no forced enthusiasm, just a steady run of things that give you a reason to leave the house and feel mildly pleased about it. This is a city where you can drift around a cathedral while music happens around you, set off on a nature walk knowing there will be coffee at the end, or spend a few hours finding out what local groups are actually up to these days.

It all kicks off on Friday 16 January, when the glorious acoustic of Wells Cathedral gets a full workout for the Tallis Voices Promenade concert. With chairs removed, audience members are encouraged to wander the building during a performance themed around Psalms of Penitence and Praise. Tickets are £15 and go towards supporting Wells Cathedral Choristers.

Then on Saturday 17 January, there's something for everyone across the patch. In Wells, the Guided Nature Walk sets off at 10.30am from outside the Bishop's Palace Café. Organised by the Wells Green Party and led by Nick Patel of Wilder Skies, it promises a gentle stroll with bonus coffee and cake opportunities either side. Meanwhile, just across town at Wells Cathedral, Community Day runs from 10am to 4pm – a chance to connect with local charities and community groups, or just enjoy a chat and a cuppa in a warm setting.

The Wells Lantern Festival also returns to the city, with the free evening event bringing light, colour and handmade creativity to the city centre. Lantern-bearers will gather at Wells Cathedral from 6.15pm ahead of the procession setting off at 6.30pm, with this year's theme, It Came From Outer Space, encouraging rockets, aliens, galaxies and plenty of interstellar imagination. The Bristol Ambling Band will lead the parade, with Samba Do Bispo Wells bringing up the rear, while food, music and dancing are planned throughout the evening.

Over in Glastonbury, it's a weekend made for mending – whether that's your household gadgets or your sense of community. The Repair Café returns to the Scout Hut on Benedict Street with help for everything from laptops to lamps. Sharpening, stitching and advice are all on offer, plus homemade cake and tea to sweeten the deal. The café runs every third Saturday of the month and relies on kind donations to keep going. It's practical, local, and a good excuse to finally sort that dodgy toaster.

On Sunday 18 January, Shepton Mallet steps in with something for the cyclists. The town's neighbourhood policing team is running a free BikeRegister event at the Skate Park on Old Wells Road between 10am and 1pm. Officers will be security marking bikes and helping people register them on the national database – a simple deterrent to theft and a useful step towards recovery if your wheels go walkies.

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Also on Sunday, Street will play host to a traditional Somerset Wassail at the Shoemaker Museum near Clarks Village. Taking place in the museum's historic grounds, the event features music, storytelling, theatrical performance and a tree-blessing ceremony. Wassailing is a centuries-old West Country custom, and this event gives families a chance to experience it close to home in a relaxed, informal setting. Visitors can arrive early for crown-making from 1pm, before the main celebrations run from 2.00pm to 4.30pm. The event is included with standard museum entry, and Shoemakers Café will be open throughout the day, serving the first taste of its new seasonal menu.

The cultural calendar keeps rolling into the week. On Monday 19 January, Wells hosts a thoughtful look back at post-war Britain with The Festival of Britain 1951 lecture at Caryford Hall. Matthew Denney will guide attendees through the design and spirit of that hopeful moment in British history. Coffee is £1.50, entry is free for members and £8 for visitors.

On Tuesday 20 January, the spotlight moves to Shepton Mallet with a second run of Denney's Festival of Britain lecture, also at Caryford Hall. Doors open from 10.15am, again with coffee available before the talk.

Then on Thursday 22 January, Shepton Mallet goes digital with a one-off online talk from the British Museum. Pompeii – Ephesus – Hawkedon sees curator Dr Anna Willi share insights into what gladiator graves, helmets and lamps reveal about life and death in the Roman arena. Tickets are £5 and include a booking fee.

Don't forget – if you've got something going on in your neck of the woods, you can list it for free:

Wells: https://wells.nub.news/nub-it/whats-on-create

Glastonbury and Street: https://glastonbury.nub.news/nub-it/whats-on-create

Shepton Mallet: https://sheptonmallet.nub.news/nub-it/whats-on-create

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