FUN and games will bring people flocking to the riverside next weekend for this year's Evesham River Festival.

Those afloat on Saturday can take part in raft races and boat handling competitions as well as 'best dressed' and illuminated boat parades, while those with their feet firmly on land enjoy the spectacle.

Meanwhile, there will be music and comedy in the Workman Gardens on Waterside, with performances by Themantics, the Invisible Men and Planet Abba, as well as Punch and Judy shows and line dancing.

The festival will open at 11am, with trade and craft stands, together with a fancy dress parade on the theme of Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes, giving plenty of scope for everyone's imagination.

This will be followed at 12 o'clock by a parade of best-dressed cruisers and narrowboats, on the same theme.

Entertainment will continue throughout the day and there will be a pig roast for hungry visitors, starting at 3pm.

During the evening there will be riverboat trips on the Handsam Too, with a jazz band to keep the tempo upbeat.

Saturday's events will draw to a spectacular close with an illuminated boat parade at 10pm, followed by a big firework display.

On Sunday morning, the fun will continue, starting at 9.30am with a boaters' breakfast on the river bank, which must be pre-booked.

Then there will be family games, including fender-wanging, egg-throwing and a mighty tug of war.

The Sea Cadets will provide a guard of honour for the arrival of the Mayor of Evesham, Coun Frances Smith and her consort, John Smith, at 11.30am and this will be followed by the presentation of prizes and plaques.

In the afternoon there will be a brass band concert in Abbey Park from 2.30pm.