DROITWICH is gearing up for the annual St Richard’s Boat and Car Festival this weekend, which promises to bring everything from medieval entertainment and activities to street markets and classic car and boat displays to the town.

Festival events run from 5.30pm on Friday, May 2, right through the Bank Holiday weekend to 5pm on Monday, May 5 with live music and a real ale bar in Vines Park, canal boats on display along with static engines, community and craft stalls, and boat trips on the Pamela May.

The festival is being organised by Wychavon District Council in conjunction with Droitwich Spa Classic and Vintage Car Rally group and the Worcester, Birmingham and Droitwich canal Society with support from local businesses and organisations.

Janet Yates, the Droitwich Spa Area Partnership manager, said: “St. Richard’s Boat and Car Festival provides a brilliant day out over the bank holiday weekend, with the range of activities and entertainment on offer to suit all ages. The event has been going for eight years and it’s great to see how it is grown to become a major attraction for the town.”

On Saturday, May 3 the Plantagenets Medieval Society will be putting on a display featuring squire training, musicians, dancing and armour demonstrations in Vines Park, and classic and vintage cars will be parked throughout the town centre for visitors to take a closer look.

Saturday also sees the return of the popular Italian market, with a craft and farmers market in Victoria Square and Morris dancing.

Excerpts from Dads Army are being performed in Gurneys Lane, and there will also be an exhibition showing the history of St Richard in the High Street.

Sunday brings an activity zone courtesy of Aztec Adventure, which has recently taken over management of Upton Warren Outdoor Centre, and people can try their hand at everything from orienteering to surfing, with the chance to win prizes, whilst elsewhere in the festival there will also be judo demonstrations, canoeing, and a travelling museum showcasing items from the first and second world war.

Street performers will be out in force with stilt walkers, jugglers and puppet shows adding to the fun, as well as a full programme of entertainment in a marquee on site including local bands The Rambling Jacks and Swing 42, as well as Appalachian dancers and local choirs.

Vines Park is playing host to children’s activities on Monday, May 5, with painting storytelling and singing workshops as well as an animal zone, a display of model boats and a duck race at 4pm.

The markets open at 9am on Saturday with the main festival starting at 10am each day. Full details of the festival can be found at strichardsfestival.co.uk. Programmes are available from venues around town.