WORCESTER brushed away the greyest of August skies at the weekend and came alive with vibrant festival colour.

From sizzling samba dances to fierce and fiery dragon boats, beautiful blooms and a giant cabbage, the city was filled with festival attractions that wowed the crowds and defied the weather.

The second weekend of the annual Worcester Festival kicked off on Saturday with a carnival of street theatre along the High Street and around the city centre, and the brilliant Brazilian beats of the Someone At The Door Samba Band.

The band’s latino rhythms may have originated on the sunny sands of the Copacabana, but they seemed just as at home down a drizzly Copenhagen Street.

Fortunately, the morning rain had just about dried up in time for the annual Worcester City Flower Show at Cripplegate Park, which drew hundreds of people from across the region to marvel at fantastic floral displays ranging from tropical orchids to desert-dwelling cacti.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic,” said show organiser Linda Ohlson. “It hasn’t rained on us and there have been hundreds of people here today; we’ve had a wonderful turnout. I’m delighted.”

A Gardeners’ Questions-style event gave people the chance to pick up hints and tips on how best to coax their gardens into bloom, and the crowds were also entertained by live jazz music, miniature steam engines, craft stalls and a display from beekeepers.

On Sunday, Worcester woke once again to the sound of drums, this time from along the river Severn, where the British Dragon Boat Racing Association was holding its national league event.

Crews from around the country brought their brash and colourful boats to compete for league points to the sound of beating drums, and large crowds were on the riverbanks to cheer the paddlers on.

The Worcester Festival continues throughout the month, culminating with a fireworks finale at South Quay on Monday, August 25.