Royston is in for a real treat over the coming days as the town’s annual arts festival gets into gear.

Royston Crow: Tom Ryder.Tom Ryder. (Image: Archant)

This year the theme of Royston Arts Festival, which starts tomorrow, is Illumination, and there will be plenty of activities to lighten up the mood in town, with many activities free of charge.

Les Baker, the spokesman for Creative Royston, the organisation which runs the festival, said: “Everything is in its place. It seems as though we are going to have another successful festival.

“We have involved the whole community, from youngsters to pensioners.

“It’s just a case of making sure everything is all right on the night.”

Royston Crow: The Blue Skies big band in action at Royston Methodist ChurchThe Blue Skies big band in action at Royston Methodist Church (Image: Archant)

The fanfare for the festival will be provided by the Blue Skies Big Band in a concert at Royston Methodist Church presented by the Royston Fringe in association with the town’s Rotary Club.

There will be more music on Saturday – street sounds in the town centre as buskers play in Market Square, and as the sun goes down over Priory Memorial Gardens when Royston Town Band will play a twilight concert.

On Sunday, watch the finest local up-and-coming acts such as Treehouse Party, Tom Ryder, The Interval Act and Steven Winch Band perform at the Old Bull Inn, and don’t miss the finale concert in St John’s Church on Sunday, September 27 when there will be a chance to see local youngsters shine and enjoy a real ‘last night of the Proms’ feel.

The Corvus Amateur Dramatic Society team will be presenting an evening of black comedy and light entertainment at Meridian Upper School from Thursday to Saturday night.

The week is full of events, exhibitions, family activities, theatre, workshops and more.

You can find out more about the line-up by visiting the website at www.creativeroyston.org.