IN just over a week's time, the first Worcester Festival will be underway.

For me, this is a very exciting development. Worcester's a thriving and growing city and deserves a festival.

It has the Three Choirs every third year, which is the oldest classical music festival in Europe.

Although it's a wonderful event, it's very specific in what it offers and isn't to everybody's taste.

The point about the Worcester Festival is that there's something for everybody.

It isn't a music festival, it isn't an arts festival, it's just a festival, a celebration of life, a celebration of anything you want to celebrate, a chance to put on a special event.

So what do we have? (Deep breath) Ladies and Gentlemen, we present the Band of the Coldstream Guards, free face-painting for kids, fireworks, Kenny Ball, Shakespeare at the Commandery, a fantastic CAMRA beer and cider festival - including a special Festival Ale - dance workshops, an antiques roadshow and special festival walks around the city.

That's not all, far from it. There's also a talk by a man who owns and will demonstrate an Enigma code-breaking machine, some Gilbert & Sullivan, a Sue Townsend play in the Swan Studio theatre, a race meeting featuring the Worcester Festival Maiden Hurdle, childrens' activity workshops, a Blondie tribute band and lunchtime concerts.

You can add a short-film evening, art exhibitions, childrens' theatre, poetry recital, writers' workshops, murder mystery, jugglers and fireaters, Butlins Redcoats showing off their skills, the English Symphony Orchestra, Royal Worcester exhibition, and much much more.

I believe there's something for everybody in the first Worcester Festival. If you haven't laid your hands on a brochure, call in at Huntingdon Hall or telephone 01905 611427.

If you want ticket information, call the same number. Come and enjoy the events and make it a memorable fortnight. It starts on Saturday, August 9.