PUT the date in the diary, a popular festival is returning to Eastleigh.

This year’s Eastleigh Mela festival will take place on July 22, with a preview event set for July 13.

Organised by the Eastleigh Asian Welfare and Cultural Association (AWCA), Mela brings different cultures together and offers residents a day of family fun.

Mela is the Sanskrit word for meeting, fair and celebrations of all kinds.

Eastleigh town centre will be transformed into an explosion of colours and culture once again as thousands are expected to attend this year’s event.

Organisers said a very special guest celebrity would be in attendance but the name would be revealed only few weeks before the event.

Meanwhile, they have confirmed that lots of food stalls, activities and live music will be entertaining residents during the day.

But this year organisers are also working in partnership with The Point Theatre to offer residents an extra evening of fun in the preview event.

The event will be free and take place at the garden stage outside The Point from 6.30pm, but residents should book their place.

The Mela Festival will be held at the Leigh Road Recreation Ground from 11am to 6pm.