THE stage is set for the biggest arts festival Okehampton has ever seen and now it is up to you to make it a success!
Attendance levels will determine the festival's ultimate fate but the team behind the event are keeping their fingers crossed that the hours of planning will pay off.
The programme, described as 'absolutely brilliant' by the town's Chamber of Trade, is set to put Okehampton on the map as a centre for art and music.
But festival chairman Alan King is on the edge of his seat as the big opening day approaches.
'It is exciting but it is nerve-racking as well,' said Alan King. 'We see this festival as a launchpad but the success of it will depend on how many bums we get on seats.
'The programme includes a combination of high quality international performers with exciting local talent and delivers a package unsurpassed by any previous event.'
Last year a small key festival was revived to whet the appetite of the public but this year's event promises to be something really special.
'It is not often Okehampton gets the likes of Georgie Fame, the Ten Tors Orchestra and professional jazz musicians here all in the space of one week,' added Mr King.
Tickets have gone on sale for the many events in the nine day festival which range from puppet theatre for the kids, jazz, blues and rock for the adults and a tea dance for the senior citizens.
'We wanted everybody to have access to the festival and thanks to local sponsorship and a grant from Villages in Action we have managed to keep everything under £10,' said Mr King.
Popular local acts including Hannah and the Madding Crowd and The Hard Place Band will also be performing making the festival a balanced blend of local and imported talent.
'Everybody feels it is a very professional programme and although people say it is ambitious they also say it is just what Okehampton needs,' added Mr King.
With a print run of 17,000 programmes, Mr King has been on a mission to publicise the event far and wide.
'Programmes have gone out to Tavistock, Plymouth, Crediton and Exeter and I am asking anyone who has not got a poster in their shop window in Okehampton to put one up so everyone in the town is aware of the fact that a festival is on,' he said.
'All the acts that are performing are top quality and no matter what you choose I can promise a wonderful evening's, day's or weekend's entertainment.
'For less than £50 you can be out every night and even every day of the week doing something within the arts festival.'
Okehampton Chamber of Trade chairman Ian Bailey said the programme looked 'absolutely brilliant.'
'The committee has done a magic job in putting together this festival and it is something we as a town can be really proud of — it will really lift the profile of Okehampton and lift the spirits of people who live here.'
Mr Bailey said events of this nature had far reaching effects because once people witnessed what Okehampton had to offer they would be back.
'The town has had bad press over the years — before the bypass was built it was always known as the place to avoid because of the traffic snarl ups but events like this help to show Okehampton in a good light and attract people here.
'There have been plenty of times at one or other event when people have said to me they did not realise there was so much going on in Okehampton or what a nice place it was.'
Children of Okehampton Primary School and The Leaze Day Centre have created around 60 vibrant banners which will be hanging in the streets during the arts festival which runs from July 8-16.