THE Worcester Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary when it starts next week.

The festival, which runs from Friday, August 17, to Monday, August 27, is packed full of exciting and innovative events, many free and suitable for the whole family.

This year’s festival will be shorter in length to previous events, but just as jam-packed with things to do.

Chris Jaegar, chief executive of Worcester Live, said: “I’m always excited just before the festival, the anticipation of the buzz as it were, and I think the festival is as exciting as ever.

“There will be at least 500 events and probably more in a short period of 11 days.

“We’re trying to make it a bit more intense. I’m always excited that there’s lots of things for everybody.

“The Worcester Festival is a celebration of life in Worcester and it embraces all sections of the community, not just the arts, but sport, the river and the people.

“Most of the events are free for people to have a great time in Worcester. I’m always really proud of that.”

This year’s festival will include old favourites Percy the Peacock, Funky Faces Face Painters, the artists’ market and the Gugge Band, as well as new attractions such as the street theatre competition which has been designed to seek out creative hidden talent in the community.

The competition will be running everyday throughout the festival featuring different acts on each day.

A panel of arts professionals will narrow down the final 10 who will compete together on the last Saturday of the festival for the first prize of £750 and a professional booking for the 2013 festival.

There will also be a range of live music from up-and-coming folk bands in the park to singing sensation Elkie Brooks at the Swan Theatre and the million-selling soul band the Christians at Huntingdon Hall.

For those interested in some history and heritage there will be a host of exhibitions, walks and performances happening across the city suitable for all ages and interests.

Children’s events will in-clude arts and crafts, dance classes, singing courses, mu-sic lessons, a children’s ghost walk, a puppet theatre in CrownGate Bell Square, a drumming workshop in Angel Place and a teddy bears picnic in College Green.

The festival will finish on Bank Holiday Monday with the iconic free firework display.

Hundreds are expected to gather along the river at South Quay to enjoy live music from the Sauce City Jazz Band and a hot pork roll from Borely Farm Pig Roast to eagerly await the biggest, most spectacular free firework display in Worcester.

For more information, see your Worcester News , visit worcesterfestival.co.uk or call 01905 611427.