THE bands are booked, the brochures are out and Worcester’s official summer festival is just around the corner.

The city’s annual extravaganza will start on Saturday, August 14 with the sound of Worcester Territorial Army’s 214 Battery gun salute and end on Monday, August 30 with a spectacular fireworks show.

Over the course of two weeks there will be hundreds of events - and most of them free of charge. Streets and venues will come to life with drama and comedy, live music and art. This year there is a children’s book festival, a film season dedicated to Alfred Hitchcock and appearances by high profile actors including renowned thespian Timothy West, Olivier Award-winning actress Abigail McKern and Robert Powell, star of Jesus of Nazareth and TV comedy The Detectives.

There are family shows, such as Dangermouse Saves the World at the Swan Theatre and the ever popular puppet theatre at CrownGate Shopping Centre; interactive events, like Jon Gomm’s acoustic guitar masterclass and afternoon tea with Antiques Roadshow expert Henry Sandon, and one-off crowd-pleasers like An Evening of Burlesque direct from the West End.

“I am really excited about this year’s Worcester Festival,” said festival director Chris Jaeger, chief executive of Worcester Live.

“There’s a huge range of events taking place in August - genuinely something for everybody and plenty of free events too.

“This is a festival for the people of Worcester. We’ve got some fantastic events and really hope that everyone get involved.”

The festival, while overseen by Worcester Live, is run by residents of Worcester. Some of the events are organised by the Swan Theatre and Huntingdon Hall, but the majority are put on by individuals and other groups - the Worcester Beer, Cider and Perry Festival is organised by CAMRA, the Worcester Music Festival is run entirely by volunteers and the Riverside Artists’ Market is arranged by Worcestershire artists.

The free Worcester Festival brochure was delivered with our sister paper, the Berrows Journal, last week, but is also available in various locations such as Huntingdon Hall box office, Tourism Information Centres and numerous shops and cafes.

Full listings are also online at worcesterfestival.co.uk.

Call 01905 611247 to book tickets now.