NOW in its ninth year, Gunnislake Festival has established itself as a unique celebration of life in the Tamar Valley.

Local artists, historians, businesses and organisations come together from Wednesday, July 29 to Festival Day on Saturday, August 1 to make the village a vibrant hub of activity, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Opening the week's musical entertainment is the 'Out to Grass' who play live at the Rising Sun on Wednesday evening. There is live music in the open air on festival day from noon until 6pm, along with a multitude of stalls, games, displays and activities throughout the afternoon.

The Festival Group of Artists, exhibiting in St Ann's Church Hall, display a range of talents. The local history exhibition, with its many photographs of the mining and horticultural from years gone by, is always popular.

The festival opens with a talk and slide show about the old Tavistock and Callington railway line by retired railwayman Bernard Mills, from Buckland Monachorum.

Then, for the first time, at the Crusade Fellowship building there will be an open day on the 1st Century AD Roman fort at Calstock on Saturday, August 1.

Dr Chris Smart, the archaeologist who led the dig which revolutionised the accepted view of the Romans in the far south west, will be displaying the artifacts uncovered and will be on hand to answer questions.