Parade of puppets to mark opening of Lichfield Festival

Crowds are expected to line the route on Saturday as the puppets, which have been created by local groups working with professional artists, wind through the city accompanied by music from local performers.

The Festival Animal Puppetry Parade sets off at 6pm from Market Square.

The procession finishes at the Cathedral where the evening’s concert sees local young musicians and singers join forces with Chetham’s School Symphony Orchestra to enact the story of Noah and his ark in Benjamin Britten’s children’s opera Noye’s Fludde.

The concert also includes a centenary performance of Holst’s much-loved suite, The Planets, with its famously menacing ‘Mars, Bringer of War’ and exciting ‘Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity’.

Earlier in the day, there’s a chance soak up the atmosphere as the Florette Festival Market takes over Cathedral Close, Pool Walk and Dam Street with over 130 stalls from local crafters and food producers along with live entertainment and activities throughout the day.

Lichfield Festival begins on Wednesday with a free event in the outdoor setting of the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas.

Trench Brothers commemorates the contributions of ethnic minority soldiers during the First World War.

It features professional performers, including MOBO-nominated jazz singer Cleveland Watkiss, stunning puppetry and support from 120 local schoolchildren.

Another free event is Pop-Up@lichfieldfest on July 14, when performers will take over unusual spaces across the city – from shops to corridors and waiting rooms.

There are plenty of family-friendly shows to look forward to throughout the festival including Ballet Cymru’s enchanting Cinderella which combines circus elements and classical dance (July 6); The Ministry of Biscuits, a hilarious musical comedy satire (July 7); and a music, dance and laughter-filled adaptation of The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark (July 11).

For older children, Goldfield Productions’ Hansel and Gretel (July 13 and 14) takes the words of internationally-renowned writer Simon Armitage, chamber music by Matthew Kaner, shadow play and hand-carved wooden puppets to create an evocatively eerie, darker slant on the familiar fable.

Lichfield Festival draws around 40,000 visitors annually with its trademark mix of music, theatre, comedy, dance, talks and fun for the whole family.

Highlights include Strictly Come Dancing stars Neil and Katya Jones, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, comedians Tom Allen and Mark Steel, restaurant critic and jazz pianist Jay Rayner, Ballet Cymru, The Malachites, Fascinating Aida star Liza Pulman’s Liza Sings Streisand, international soprano Lucy Crowe with La Nuova Musica and folk singers Kris Drever and Julie Fowlis.

There’s also a celebration of Bernstein and Gershwin and a series of events celebrating #ExtraordinaryWomen through music, theatre, literature and film.

For more information visit www.lichfieldfestival.org or call 01543 412121.