A FREE festival is taking over Caerleon this weekend.

There are a whole range of activities and events taking place on both banks of the River Usk, the Hanbury Quayside, the Bell Inn and the Festival Field.

Over 50 acts will perform at the festival. On Saturday, cover band, Sonic Kicks, will perform at The Hanbury Arms from 12pm and local band, Kings of Caerleon, will perform at Bell Inn from 5.25pm. On Sunday, Caerleon-based guitarist and song-writer, Lloyd Warren will perform from 8pm at Hanbury Arms and all-female rock band, Tarion, will perform from 8.45pm at Bell Inn. This is just a selection of some of the line-up, with acts taking place in these venues as well as in the Festival Field.

Drumazepam will be drumming in the Festival Field at 12.30pm on Saturday and the Afro Gwent Collective will perform African drumming at 2.45pm on Sunday – it ought to be banging.

Dance group, Jawahir, will also be returning following years of loyalty to Caerleon festival. They will be busting their moves from 4pm at Bell Inn and then from 5.15pm at Hanbury Arms on Saturday. If you miss them, fear not! On Sunday they will be dancing from 3.40pm at Bell Inn before heading to Hanbury Arms for a performance from 5pm. Tiny Toes Ballet will also be at the festival,

For those more interested in art than dance, why not combine both? An art exhibition based on the theme of “dance” will be available for your viewing pleasure between 11am and 5pm both days. Work by Hera Art will be on display, with some for sale, and a children’s art workshop will take place with materials provided.

In the Festival Field there will be exhibitors and stalls aplenty. Many have returned from previous years, but there will be some new arrivals this year, including Scenthrapy which sells wooden wick candles. Gray Glass and Jane Beebe Glass will also be there, with beautiful crafted glass goods.

Returning will be the tombola stall. There will be exhibition of children's artwork, which was recently presented at the Celtic Manor. Kites Nursery will be on first aid duty, also painting faces and rocks. Caerleon based knitting and crocheting group, Prosecco Purls, will be there to discuss tips and have a natter. Plus, a range of food and refreshments will be on offer throughout the weekend, including Portugese rolls and tarts – featured on TV with Nigel Slater – from Bruno’s Village Bakery.

These are just some of the events and activities being hosted at the free festival. Parking may be an issue, so if possible travel by train, bus or carpool.