TALENTED artists, musicians and performers will be filling Chagford again when the arts festival gets underway for another year of entertainment.

There will be pre-festival workshops, offering a range of dance workshops, in the Jubilee Hall, for people who want to take part in the opening street dance parade at the festival on Friday, July 10.

The parade will offer family and friends the chance to don their favourite ball gown or flamboyant flamenco frock and join in the fun for an evening of dance.

The workshops will include a freestyle dance session for those keen to practice funky moves, to American tribal belly dancing.

There will also be a workshop in Capoeira, a Brazilian art form which involves acrobatics, dance, and martial arts, for those who want to learn how to walk on their hands and do backflips!

The festival kicks off on Friday, July 10, when children under five can enjoy a picnic for free at the Big Oak Pre-School gardens and adults can feel the beat with a performance from ZubopGambia, a collaboration between London-based worldbeat music group Zubop and the West African master musicians.

On Saturday, July 11 the day's festivities will start with a silent bell-ringing marathon.

The marathon will see father and son team Laurence and Stuart Bennie attempt a non-stop sponsored silent ring of the tenor bell to help raise vital funds for works in the bell tower.

Festival goers can enjoy a day packed full of activities from open studios in local artists' own homes, to live music from local musicians.

There will also be a chance to watch a film by the Chagford film-making group and ask questions on how to get involved with film making.

Families can bring their own picnic and enjoy the gardens and swim in the lake at Millpond, where lifeguards will be on duty.

The festival will draw to an end with the traditional comedy night, with award winning comic Hattie Hayridge and George Egg.

Director of the festival Kate Wilson said the events will be for everybody.

She said: 'We are very much looking forward to the festival and all the events we have on offer.

'There is something for everybody — that has always been our motto and it is what we aim to provide.'

The pre-festival will run from Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5, followed by the festival itself on Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12.

For full programme details visit www/chagfordartfestival.com or phone 01647 281681.