A TRADITIONAL village festival spanning four days will be held this bank holiday weekend, with a company promising its roadworks will be completed before the annual parade.

The 49th Kimpton May Festival is promised to be “bigger and better than ever”, with the theme this year set as “Toy Box”.

A procession forms part of the event and will see up to 30 floats dressed under the theme making their way through the streets of the village on Saturday.

Roadworks are currently ongoing in the High Street, with fears the parade would be affected, but National Grid has said they will be completed today.

There are plenty of other activities planned for the festival, which kicks off tonight (Friday) with an opening night in the church and a wine tasting event.

Saturday’s procession will be followed by concert Kimpton Entertains and on Sunday, there will be a quiz with a difference, Brains of Kimpton.

There are also a range of children’s activities on over the course of the weekend, including fairground rides, candy floss, a football tournament, Maypole dancing, and a programme of arena events on the Saturday including a comedy trampoline act and a sheepdog handling display.

Jazz bands, a 10k fun-run, a craft fair, barbecues, bars, a giant charity auction, a car boot sale, and traditional music sessions are also on offer over the weekend.

Event organiser Mary Hyde, who is the great niece of village milkman and festival founder Ron Hyde, said: “I used to ride on the floats as a young girl, so now it’s great to be part of the team that puts on this great festival for future generations.”

Visit www.kimptonmayfest.co.uk for a full itinerary and venue list.

• See next week’s Comet for a festival round-up. You can also send your pictures to editorial@thecomet.net