A nine-day celebration of art, music, theatre and literature kicked off with a bang.

Beaminster Festival began on Saturday with the return of a popular, traditional street party.

Beaminster Square was buzzing as the community came together to celebrate the start of the festival and organisers say fun was had by all.

Entertainment included music from Phoenix, Beaminster Youth Club, the Broadwindsor Jammers and the Shadrack Street Blues Band.

Kids were kept entertained at a fun fair and with balloon modelling with Strawberry Jam Entertainment.

Beaminster Festival is running from now until Sunday, July 1, when it will finish with a community picnic at Beaminster Manor between 12-5pm.

This year, the festival has fresh new look.

Concerts at the church feature about more than 70 composers in a programme that extends from the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, to the Magnard Ensemble.

Unusual concerts include the Scott Brothers Duo, who play well-known orchestral transcriptions on organ and piano, and a song recital The Lives and Loves of Women by Gemma Summerfield. Early brass music will be performed by the Gabrieli Consort, followed by Cathedral Brass, all highly talented musicians from Wells Cathedral School.

The festival is also set to welcome BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera; Daisy Goodwin, who will talk about her book and TV series, Victoria and Helen Rappaport, who will chat about The Race to Save the Romanovs.

Theatre lovers can enjoy The Winter’s Tale in the gardens of Meerhay Manor, and organisers have raised funding to support an extensive programme of concerts and workshops for schools, special school, care homes and playgroup including a family show Revolting Rhymes and Marvellous Music.

For the full programme visit www.beaminsterfestival.com

For more information and tickets, call 01308 862 943 or email boxoffice@beaminsterfestival.com