ORGANISERS of Portishead festival week are appealing to residents to support the exciting event.

More than 25 activities will take place between September 20-26 to celebrate music and the arts in the town. Events range from a flower festival at St Peter’s Church and live music in a variety of venues, to an art competition and exhibition at Portishead Youth Centre.

There will be workshops and demonstrations, free trial classes and a social play reading.

Some of the highlights include an evening of Irish music, song and dance and a night of traditional folk songs from the region, including ones from the Gordano Valley.

This year’s event is a pilot scheme of what organisers hope will become an annual event that will grow in size to include prestigious prize-winning contests.

A spokesman for the festival said: “The idea came from a tourism meeting earlier in the year when it was suggested that a week of different events might attract visitors to the town as well as encourage members of the community to celebrate the talents and facilities Portishead has to offer.

“If successful, a formal festival committee will be put together and plans for next year will get under way immediately after this year’s event.”

The post-festival meeting will be held on October 3 in the Reynolds Room at the Folk Hall in High Street.

A detailed programme is available for free from many Portishead shops including Morgan Westley and Mad Harry’s in High Street.