Clitheroe's Festival Weekend promises a whole host of activities and entertainment at venues across the town.

This year's event – the second to be staged – is again being run in association with Community Rail Day.

The extravaganza kick-starts tomorrow afternoon when lovers of the malt and hops will enjoy the third annual beer festival, which is taking place at the St Mary's Centre, in Church Street, from 2 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m.

This year's festival is being organised by The East Lancashire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The beer boffins at CAMRA have lined up a fine range of forty-plus cask milds, bitters, porters and stouts from 20 leading North West real ale brewers for the two-day event.

Entry to the event is £3 at all times and includes a £2 refundable glass deposit.

A spokesman for the local CAMRA branch said: "There are now 10 real ale brewers in East Lancashire alone, with two of these based in the Ribble Valley, at Bowland and Grindleton, but far too few pubs and clubs sell their products.

Meanwhile, throughout the rest of the weekend there will be music on the bandstand, in Clitheroe centre and at venues across the town and the return of the SheepFest. The programme of artists is being organised by the Great Days committee. Some of the local bands performing include "Adverse Camber", "Killing Caesar" and "Beneath the Skin".

The Ribble Valley Youth Theatre will perform excerpts from the forthcoming show. "Cinderella".

Saturday will see morris dancers, a busking competition and a railway exhibition at the Platform Gallery, as well as an old-fashioned funfair, birds of prey and an aerial ropeway on the fields of Clitheroe Castle. A BMX competition will be held on the skatepark and there will be sheep of all shapes and sizes on display as part of an attraction being coordinated by FoRCE.

As part of the festival, St Michael and St John's Social Centre are also holding a 1940s themed night on Saturday.

Highlights include a display of actors and actresses, plus singers who will take a step back in time and sing songs from that era.
The room will be adorned with flags. Other attractions include a raffle, a disco and plenty of music to get people in the swings of things.

The festival promises something for everyone and a painting event will take place at the Castle Gate, organised by New Form Arts on the Saturday, followed by "Shoot Clitheroe" the following day.

With steam and vintage buses taking people on trips around the area, the "Flutter of Colour" community banner exhibition throughout the weekend and battle re-enactments, together with a performance by Clitheroe Town Band, the weekend promises to be one full of fun for all the family.

Meanwhile, council bosses are reminding motorists that a section of Castle Street in Clitheroe town centre will be closed on Saturday afternoon.

The street will be closed from Castlegate to the King Street and King Lane junction from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The alternative through route for traffic is to turn left from Castlegate into Parson Lane, turn right Station Road, along Station Road to the mini-roundabout, right into King Street, along King Street to the junction with Castle Street and King Lane, then left into Market Street.

Visitors to the event are asked to park in Clitheroe's short or long-stay car parks in Lowergate, Church Walk, Holden Street, Peel Street, Chester Avenue, Whalley Road and North Street.

The full programme for Clitheroe Festival Weekend can be viewed at www.clitheroethefuture.co.uk