By Chris Jaeger, former Worcester Live chief

Another two weeks gone by, and still no news of the £1.57billion from the government for the arts. Over five weeks now since the announcement. No hurry, guys, you keep thinking about it while theatres die.

The Worcester Festival is going ahead despite all the odds, with a huge number of live and virtual eclectic events, from the 15th to 31st of August, the vast majority of them free.

There really is a huge amount to do for children, for families, for everybody. All the events are on the website and there is a virtual brochure there. (If you want to register an event in the period, it’s not too late – it won’t get into the brochure but it will get on to the website and in the daily diary.) See www.worcesterfestival.co.uk

Some of the things you can access during the festival include:

•Comedy Shakespeare festival

•colouring competitions

•wildlife photography

•family walking quiz

•zumba, knitting

•Ecobriks

•Percy trail

•Battle of Worcester walks

•face painting videos

•violin recitals

•Shulah Oliver family concert

•phone photography workshops

•bellringing

•storytelling

•Taekwando

•festival bands

•open days

•Blobbie Williams

•craft workshops

•sweet tasting

•arts workshops

•Strava art event

•children’s entertainers

•puppet workshops

•dance workshops

•singing workshops

•cake decorating

•art exhibition

•teddy’s bear picnic

•baking competition

•Canal & River Trust plastic challenge

•recipe competition

•family sports day

•Tudor Games

•calligraphy

•Hauntology

•festivals’ symposium

•bird-box making and much more.

Enjoy and have fun!