IT'S bold, it's brash and Needham Market Festival is apparently better than ever.This year there will even be a whole evening of free events to add to the daytime party at Needham Lake.

IT'S bold, it's brash and Needham Market Festival is apparently better than ever.

This year there will even be a whole evening of free events to add to the daytime party at Needham Lake.

A fire sculpture, trapeze acts, stilt walkers and circus acts will help make it mid Suffolk's biggest summer event.

The day kicks off at 11am at the lake on July 21 with a noon procession led by the Suffolk Samba Band starting from the Mid Suffolk District Council Offices.

Barbara Moore, Arts Development Officer for Mid Suffolk said: "There's no dress code.

"Exhibitionists can dress up, slap on the face paint and get into the carnival atmosphere."

This year's highlights include the circus trapeze act, 'Heir of Insanity', who will perform their new show, 'Atlantis', crazy musical stilt walkers, 'Poles Apart', the funky music group, 'Roxy's Tool Box'; jugglers; story-tellers and an array of other entertainers.

There are plenty of activities and 20 different arts and crafts workshops to get stuck into such as wood-working, face-painting and jewellery making as well as a huge variety of stalls and stands selling everything from ethnic clothing to food and ice-cream.

The festival also sees the return of last year's big hit, the extremely funny, 'Avanti, the Spouting Man' who, 'springs water from every orifice,'

Barbara said: "It's a chance for the whole family to let off steam, go wild and celebrate the good things in life.

"The festival seems to bring out the bohemian in everyone."

The festival usually attracts 6000 people but Council organisers are hoping that adding an evening event will draw even bigger crowds this year.

Admission for the day is £3.00 for adults, £1.50 for concessions and under 16's are free. The evening's events are free of charge for all ages.

For more information on the acts and day's events, contact Barbara Moore on 01449 727201 or e-mail her at Barbara.Moore@midsuffolk.gov.uk