Excitement is building as the countdown begins for the Worcester Festival, the biggest yet with more than 500 events.

Back for its 17th year, Worcester Festival 2019 kicks off on Saturday August 10 and it will run right through to the August bank holiday on Monday 26th August 26, "with events and activities happening all over the city every single day".

A spokesman said: "The Worcester Festival team are gearing up ahead of this year’s Worcester Festival, with just two weeks to go until Mayor of Worcester Councillor Allah Ditta declares this year’s Festival officially open!

"Fans of the Festival will be delighted to hear that the inimitable Gugge 2000 band are back to launch this year’s Festival. The vibrant ‘black-and-yellow’ or ‘bumblebee’ band has become synonymous with the opening Saturday, and their infectious, feel-good brand of live, loud and highly entertaining music has always gone down a storm.

"Other festival favourites will also be returning, including Festival mascot Percy the Peacock, the fabulous Funky Faces Face Painters, and the annual St Richard’s Hospice Duck Race.

The spokesman added: "There’s so much to see and do; Aliens Love Underpants will be invading The Swan Theatre’s stage on August 11, put your baking skills to the test and take part in The Great Worcester Cake Off on August 17, take a guess at whodunit with A Wartime Murder Mystery at The Royal Porcelain Works on August 18, and Worcester Cathedral is offering the opportunity to ‘Discover Something Different’ with a fantastic programme of events and activities, including quirky tours, workshops and exhibitions. That’s not all though; Worcester Show returns to Gheluvelt Park on the first Sunday of the Festival."

Worcester Festival Director Chris Jaeger said: “August is always an exciting time in Worcester, and this August will be no exception."

Further details: www.worcesterfestival.co.uk