BRIDGWATER will be awash with colour, music and entertainment for the return of the Quayside Festival this Saturday (July 20).

Taking place from 11am to 5pm, the festival will be the biggest yet, with more than 100 national and local performers and musicians performing across the centre of Bridgwater in Blake Garden, Eastover, West Quay, Blakes Statue, Angel Place and King Square.

Some of the highlights include Dakar Audio Club, Rimski playing on his bicycle piano and one of the big hits of this year’s Glastonbury Festival and look out for Ocho the Giant Octopus travelling through the festival.

The bells of the Church of Saint Mary in the centre of Bridgwater will ring out at 10am announcing the start of the festival at 11am.

The Festival will celebrate both the traditional cultural roots of the town, present a programme of diverse and popular live music and performances and offer a selection of local food and drink.

In the Bridgwater Arts Centre, there will be an arts and craft market, in the Library a range of engaging activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing and there will be a Doodle Party at the Engine Room.

The whole event is free with activities for all the family.

The festival hosts live music, indoor and outdoor theatre, dance, circus and aerial acrobatics, puppetry with free workshops and activities, as well as stalls serving local food, drink and crafts.

In Blake Gardens there will be traditional games, Punch and Judy, circus workshops, with live music throughout the day with funk, jazz, ska, pop and rock music all coming from the bandstand.

King Square will host Changing Places, an outdoor exhibition which is the result of a collaboration between Bridgwater Arts Centre and the Kulturring in our twin town of Homberg, as well as living statues, storytelling and more.

Well-known local historian Chris Sidaway will lead two walks to explore Bridgwater’s intriguing and diverse past including robber barons, Medieval merchants, a shocking Lady, a General-at-Sea and a corrupt Duke, setting from King Square at 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

Meet in King Square at 1.30pm and 3.30pm

Blake Museum will be open for people to find out more about Bridgwater’s history, while there will be choirs in Angel Place and various performances by the Blake Statue.

Meet the stilt walking Space Girl welcoming you into Bridgwater Library for the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing, with plenty of activities going on inside to enjoy.

St Marys Church Tower will be open from 10am to 4pm with the bell ringers giving escorted tours during the day.

Head to the Engine Room and help draw Bridgwater’s biggest doodle.

Grab some mural chalk and make your mark on a massive scale.

Illustrator Sue Webber will be on hand to guide you as we re-create Bridgwater’s Quayside as a doodle.

Pick up a programme from the Bridgwater Town Hall, Arts Centre or from the information stall in Blake Gardens or from one of the festival makers.

Bridgwater Arts Centre is open all day with an arts and craft market and there will be a performance by Bridgwater Voices Community Choir at 3.15pm.

In the evening there will be a Soul Night of music to enjoy at The Arts Centre.

There will also be walkabout acts and roaming street theatre as you make your way around the town.

The Quayside Festival is organised by Fuse Somerset Outdoor Arts supported and funded by Arts Council England and commissioned on behalf of Sedgemoor District Council.

It is also supported by The Bridgwater Town Council and and the Bridgwater Cultural Partnership.

For more details visit bridgwaterquaysidefestival.uk.