ONE of the county's most popular events will return later this year, and is set to be the biggest yet.

Taking place from July 1 to 16, the Romsey Festival, held every three years, will put on scores of exciting events including exhibitions, concerts, recitals and even gastronomy for its 11th instalment.

More than 30 different venues across Romsey and the surrounding area will host the many events; Romsey Abbey will be particularly busy, including a major exhibition by the Romsey Quilters, regular recitals and concerts, and a series of talks and tours about the famous building itself.

New venues include the refurbished Methodist Church on The Hundred, several local art galleries and other locations further afield, including Braishfield Church Hall and Michelmersh Church.

The Festival Committee have been keen to take the festival to local villages and a number have risen to the challenge of organising concerts.

Romsey Festival chairman, Dick Hewett, said he can’t wait for the festival, which takes place every three years, to begin.

“We are delighted by the range of events which so many local organisations have chosen to mount during the festival fortnight,” he added.

“There will be plenty of art on display in numerous exhibitions, and as always, the enormous breadth of musical talent from the area will be available for everyone to hear in an extensive programme of concerts and recitals.”

The festival- fortnight will once again straddle the annual Beggars Fair on Saturday July 8, where many of the pubs in the town host musical entertainment, and outdoor stages bring a vibrant and lively atmosphere to the town centre.

Regular dramatic participants during the festival will include Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (RAODS), who will perform an outdoor production of Cider With Rosie at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Island Garden House.

Along with RAODS will be Other well-known participants will include local organisations including Romsey Choral Society, the Romsey Singers, and the Romsey Male Voice Choir.

There will also be a number of opportunities for local residents to get actively involved in the preparations, from entering a photography competition to knitting.

A number of interim events during the coming months will also promote the festival, giving a taste of what is to come.

Tickets for many of the events will be on sale from late February, when full details will be published. Brochures summarising all the events will be distributed to every household in Romsey and the surrounding area later in the spring.