SOME exciting activities have been lined up as Worcester gears up to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Motor Festival.

This year’s free event on Saturday May 14, in partnership between the Worcester News and Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), will include a Pit Stop Challenge in Reindeer Court and the Army Careers Service climbing wall in the Cornmarket.

A Power Maxed BTCC car and a selection of special Shelsley Walsh single seater race cars will be showcased in the High Street. Visitors should not miss the opportunity to see the Empire Wraith driven by Guy Martin as he prepared to tackle Pikes Peak in 2014.

Established favourites include around 40 of the latest dealership cars from 15 manufacturers and a trip down memory lane will be delighting visitors when viewing more than 100 rare historic vehicles from the 1920s to the 1970s displayed throughout the city centre. Visitors can also expect to see retro street rods, a selection of historic motorcycles and even a prototype beach car used by the Queen at Windsor.

Internationally renowned artist Ian Cook from PopbangColour will be returning to Worcester to demonstrate how to paint quirky pictures using remote-controlled cars and display his specially wrapped Morgan 3-wheeler #3WheelArt.

Visitors can even test their own racing skills and challenge their friends to a race at the Scalextric racetrack in Broad Street and the popular F1 simulator in CrownGate’s Chapel Walk.

There will be interactive feature and community displays by West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Service as well as a selection of Harley Davidsons courtesy of Heart of Worcestershire College, who are also running the Festival at the Fountains on South Quay.

Kids will also enjoy free face painting, a car trail, PopbangColour workshops and colouring competitions.

The entertainment programme features walkabout racing drivers on stilts, traditional dance performances and live music by local bands and musicians will be adding to the vibrant atmosphere.

Nadja von Dahlen, Worcester BID Marketing and Events Manager, said: “The Motor Festival has become a firm fixture in Worcester’s busy event calendar, going from strength to strength and attracting thousands of new and repeat visitors every year. The event started in 2007 as an on-street dealership car display in High Street. Over the years we have started to invite classic cars, which now feature in 12 streets throughout the city centre.”

People can even find out about the driving jobs, latest motor insurance deals, and engineering courses when visiting the event.

Twenty three businesses will compete for the best dressed window with a motoring theme. Visitors are encouraged to cast their vote to support their favourite businesses to be in for a chance to win £50 to spend at a participating business.