BEER, blooms, bands and a celebrity beh-eading are just a small taste of what is going on at this year's Worcester Festival.

Organisers had set their hearts on the second annual extravaganza in August being even bigger and better- and after last week's launch they are not disappointed.

"We had a fantastic turn-out and so many people who enjoyed the last festival came along wanting to do something this year," said festival director Chris Jaeger.

"It's going to be wonderful and is growing all the time."

However, with a call for pubs and restaurants to become involved being largely ignored, he appealed for the 150 or so venues to join in the ultimate publicity campaign for the Faithful City.

"We sent out 120,000 packs but no one from a pub or restaurant showed," he said.

"It doesn't matter whether they just do a quiz or have a live band."

The festival will open on Saturday, August 14 with Sambangra, an 18-strong street band of drummers and dancers with an Asian/Latino feel.

The CAMRA Beer Festival has once again signed up and on Sunday, August 15, a cast featuring Kate O'Mara re-enact the fraught relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots.

In the afternoon, Pitchcroft will host the Worcester Festival races, complete with bouncy castles, which is free for children and cheap for families.

The largest flower festival in the UK, with exhibitors from across the country, is also due to come along to Worcester Cathedral on August 19, 20 and 21, while the Whitehouse Hotel in Foregate Street plans to hold a masked ball.

Exhibitors

There will be three nights of Othello at Huntingdon Hall, performed by the Melting Pot Theatre Company, and flamenco at the Swan on August 21.

Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore will sail in to Huntingdon Hall, where audiences have the chance to learn the musical from scratch and join in the performance.

On August 28, there will be two sing-a-longs at the Swan - Sing-a-long-a-Joseph in the afternoon and the Rocky Horror Picture Show in the evening (adults only).

Spoof pop band The Barron Knights, who had hits in the 60s, will take centre stage on the last night, Bank Holiday Monday, August 30, before a massive fireworks display.

For more information on the full list of events or how to become involved, call Huntingdon Arts on 01905 611427.