AN ARRAY of family fun activities and events are set to take place across the city this month when the 15th annual Worcester Festival kicks off this Saturday.
Running right through to the August Bank Holiday, this year’s festival programme is packed with walks, talks, workshops, exhibitions, arts and crafts, markets, quiz trails, live music, tours, performances, open days, competitions, classes and more.
Festival regulars can expect the return of all the event favourites, including festival mascot Percy the Peacock, who will be out and about handing out balloons and posing for pictures, the Funky Faces Face Painters, live music on the High Street every Saturday, the Swan Theatre Summer Fête and the annual St Richard’s Hospice Duck Race.
Academy Theatre Arts will be holding a summer school offering dancing, singing and acting, whilst Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum and The Commandery will both be playing host to exhibitions and activities aplenty.
This year also sees the return of the Worcester Show at Gheluvelt Park, and the launch of the Swan Theatre Pantomime, Sleeping Beauty.
A Family Prize Quiz Trail is back for the third year running, as is the CrownGate Percy Trail, where residents are encouraged to look out for Percy’s face in shop windows throughout CrownGate Shopping Centre.
Also, new for this year, there will be a Percy colouring competition for youngsters wanting to get their artistic hat on.
As always, the festival will come to a close with the St Richard’s Hospice Festival Fireworks display on the August Bank Holiday, with entertainment down on South Quay from 9pm, before the display starts at 10pm.
Chris Jaeger, director of Worcester Festival, said: “August is always an exciting time in Worcester, and this August will be no exception. The Worcester Festival offers a wide range of eclectic events for all the family, and many of those events are free.
“It’s also a great opportunity to try an event at a venue you’ve never been to, or perhaps to try something you’ve never done before. We really hope as many people as possible come along and get involved.”
Visit www.worcesterfestival.co.uk for more information.
