ORGANISERS are expecting a big day of fun for all the family as they announce more acts for Swindon’s Big Arts Day.

Dinosaurs, puppets and lobsters are all in the line-up for this year’s celebrations which promises to have something for everyone.

The free festival at Lydiard Park, which takes place on July 14, not only includes musical acts, drama and workshops, but brings a great selection of professional artists ready to entertain the thousands expected to attend.

There will also be a new Children’s Zone to ensure all the family is catered for.

More than 90 applicants applied to perform at the event, which attracted more than 25,000 people last year.

Joining 42 talented musicians who were selected from auditions, will be Tiny the Dinosaur, a life-like Stegosauras, which is fully interactive, and walking around the park giving green-fingered advice will be the comical Strolling Gardeners.

The Van Dunk Brothers will delight crowds with their award-winning dry-land synchronised swimming display, while Jason Maverick does his superb mime and robotics.

Visitors will also have the chance to have a 1930s-style seaside snapshot taken with three puppets who have just jumped out of their sepia photograph.

Local hip hop artist AJ will headline this year’s main stage after returning from a tour of Australia.

He will be joined by artists who have also performed at the town’s Big Weekend: Bully, Takura, Bozo, Daine and friends.

Helen Miah, head of cultural services at Swindon Council, said the performance standard was extraordinary.

“We picked as many as we could squeeze in. We tried to pick a cross section of music from across all genres, everything from punk and ska to brass band,” she said.

“We’re really thrilled that AJ will be headlining. He’s just come back from his world tour so it’s perfect timing.

“It’s going to follow the same format as last year. A mix of community and professional performances with lots of different activities for people to take part in.

“I think we are going to have even more stages than we did last year.”

The day will run from noon to 11pm. Visit www.bigartsday.co.uk.