BRIDGWATER'S Quayside Festival returns this weekend and will see the town packed with activities and entertainment for all ages.

After the storming success of last year's inaugural festival, the fun will return to a whole host of venues across the town from 11am to 5pm on Saturday (July 21).

The festival celebrates culture and diversity and Bridgwater’s roots as an historic riverside port and hosts live music, indoor and outdoor theatre, dance, circus and acrobatics, film, carnival, aerial trapeze, puppetry with performances from local and national artists with free workshops and activities to suit all the family. 

Enjoy local food and drink from local produces, as well as art and craft stalls. 

Here is all you need to know about what it going on, and where:

BLAKE GARDENS

Free shows, a Pliosaur cinema for children and families to enjoy, Musical Box Follies by The Lone Arranger, aerial circus, arts activities, face painting, food and craft stalls, ice creams, medieval games and inflatables as well as live music. There is something for eveyone to enjoy in Blake Gardens.

11am Garden of Delights Living Statues

11.15am Claude Sandiford

12noon Tori Aerial Circus Show

12.15pm Lucinda Zimmer Hoop Show

12.35pm Beware of Pirates

1pm Mitchell and Vincent Folk Musicians

1.30pm Big Noise Street Band

2pm Yvette Staelens Choir

2.30pm Maypole Dance

3pm Tori Aerial Circus Show

3.15pm Jazzical Swing

4pm The Maybeats

Also visit the Horace the Pliosaur Cinema, open all day with show times at 12noon to 1.30pm and 2.30pm to 4pm.

Pick up free show tickets in advance and come early to avoid disappointment.

BLAKE MUSEUM

Bridgwater's historical museum is open with exhibitions all day while the cafe will be serving refreshments.

Learn more about the town's fascinating history and archaeology.

BRIDGWATER LIBRARY

The library will be home to 'Make & Take Juggling Balls' from 10am to 4pm, with Learn to Juggle workshops taking place between 12noon and 4pm.

Storyteller Michael Loader will be presenting Traditional Tales and Spontaneious Stories for ages five to 10 years at 11.45am, 12.45pm and 1.45pm.

BRIDGWATER ARTS CENTRE

Bridgwater Arts Centre presents a fun and immersive piece of family carnival theatre.

Performed at the Blake Statue, Monkey Business mixes colourful costumes with circus skills, magic and dance.

You can also take part in the Minecraft Challenge at Bridgwater Arts Centre, The Engine Room and Blake Museum.

ANGEL PLACE

Angel Place will host three spectacular performances of the Circus Acrobatic Cyr Wheel Show at 12.45pm, 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

In between there will be performances from the Yvette Staelens Choir at 1pm and Beware of Pirates at 2.30pm, while Sedgemoor FM will be broadcasting from the shopping centre for the duration of the festival.

WEST QUAY

West Quay Records will be opening its doors wide and bringing music to the riverside, as well as a vintage scooter display.

Entertainment includes:

12noon Mermaid Living Statue

12.30pm Mr John Maybe

1pm Mermaid Living Statue

1.30pm Sea shanties with the Barnacle Buoys

2pm Mermaid Living Statue

2.30pm Mitchell and Vincent Folk Duo

3pm Mermaid Living Statue

4pm Beware of Pirates

EASTOVER

Take a walk over the town bridge and discover New Road where there will be music, activities, stalls and a great festival atmosphere.

11.45am Floral Vines Stilts Walkabout

1.15pm Beware of Pirates

1.30pm Beware of Pirates

3pm Yvette Staelmens Choir

KING SQUARE

Well-known local historian Chris Sidaway will be giving history walks with tales of robber barons, medieval merchants, a general-at-sea and a corrupt Duke.

BLAKE STATUE/FORE STREET

House of Funk will be in Fore Street by the Blake Statue and there will be plenty going on here throughout the day.

11am Big Noise Street Band

11.30am Circus Acrobatic Cyr Wheel Show

12noon Mitchell and Vincent Folk Duo

12.30pm Ben Cornish - The Juggler and the Festival Town Crier

1pm Garden of Delights Living Statue

1pm Children's Carnival Parade arrives/Mandinga Arts 'Monkey Business'

THE ENGINE ROOM

Pick up a copy of the Bridgwater Cultural Passport here.

There will be a Belong In Bridgwater exhibition, a film called The Great Bridgwater Tunnel Adventure made especially for the Quayside Fesitival and Street Printing Activities with Sue Webber.