A FANTASTIC week of events for all the family kicks off on Saturday with the Old Town Festival, which promises an action-packed line up.

From the parade to the fairground rides and the dog show, the festival is run by volunteers and sponsors to provide week-long entertainment.

This year the festival is supporting TWIGS (Therapeutic Work in Gardening) in Swindon, a charity that helps to reduce the stigma of mental illness and make recovery a reality.

The Old Town Festival is supported by the Commonweal School, Screaming Media, Swindon Advertiser and Swindon Radio 105.5

Saturday’s first event is Let’s Sing, a showcase of popular choirs staged in the Commonweal Performing Arts Marquee on the Lawn from 2-5.40pm. Choirs performing are U3A, Swindon Cooperative Ladies, Swindon Choral Society, Cresendo Choir, The Pewsey Belles, Great Western Harmony, Blue Notes, Cirencester Male Voice Choir and The Big Sing Thing.

In the evening there will be line dancing and a hog roast, also in the marquee, with prizes for the best dressed cowboy and cowgirl.

A Family Fun Day starts in Wood Street at 10am on Sunday where there will be fairy tale princesses to greet children before a variety of songs from Kathy Hobson and Graham Davison, soloists from the Kentwood Choir. There will also be an opportunity to have a picture taken with Teen Miss Glamorous Beauty UK Nicole Cox.

Commonweal School will be entertaining the crowds as they wait for the parade with a selection of street theatre and at 10.30am Swing Out Swindon will give a dance demonstration.

The parade starts along Wood Street, into Devizes Road, then Newport Street and back to the Lawn. Speeches will be live on 105.5 Community Radio.

The rest of the day offers a funfair and a dog show where Drove Vets are looking for pooches who can sing, dance or do tricks.

Anyone who would like to enter should submit a video of their dog performing to marketing@drovevets.co.uk and the top six artists will be invited to perform ‘live’ on the Swindon 105.5 stage at 4pm. The winner will be chosen on the day by a panel of judges.

There will also be a climbing wall and a mini fete amongst myriad other attractions including the College of Chivalry members who are already sharpening swords, painting shields and taking aim with their arrows in preparation for sword fights, archery and tournament fights.

The festival ends on June 18. For a full line up of events throughout the week go to www.oldtownfestival.co.uk