BEWDLEY Festival’s 25th anniversary begins tomorrow, with nine days of talks, drama, music, poetry, comedy and exhibitions bringing the town to life.

The festival kicks off with 1960s band The Zombies tomorrow at the Mercure Hotel with tickets still available.

Although evenings with Barbara Dickson, Ruby Turner, Neil Oliver, Michael Portillo, Alistair McGowan and the party night with Mike Sanchez are sold out, there are still chances to enjoy evenings with some other big names.

Tickets are still available for comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor on Sunday night, classical singers Mediaeval Baebes next Thursday and former MP’s Michael Portillo’s matinee next Wednesday.

Daytime events all take place in Bewdley Baptist Church, beginning at 2.30pm.

On Saturday, a one-man show Shylock will be performed by Guy Masterson.

The festival will also be presenting the world-famous Brodsky Quartet who will be playing Verdi, Wolf, Purcell and Britten at 2.30pm on Sunday at St Anne’s Church.

During the rest of the week there are appearances by Cardiff Castle curator Matthew Williams on Monday, the Barnsley Poet Ian McMillan on Tuesday, and Vanessa Berlowitz, series producer of Frozen Planet next Wednesday.

Bewdley Festival has joined forces with the Harvest Fair on Saturday with free family events taking place throughout the day.Outside the museum, the Wytchwood Morris Dancers will be providing entertainment.

Suffolk Punch Horses will parade in Load Street between 11.30am and 1pm.

From 11am untill 4pm, there will be a craft market on Severnside South, apple pressing at the Museum, and town walks organised by the Civic Society.

Two art exhibitions will be taking placed during the festival.

The first, A Fine Cut, begins today in Bewdley Library Gallery until November 3 which is an exhibition of prints by Paul Hipkiss.

The second called Face to Face begins tomorrow until November 18 and features the work of Dennis Minchin who connects famous portraits with other figures, animals and objects.

A spokesman said: “We have been planning this feast of entertainment for a year and we can’t wait to greet the first audiences.”

For more details, visit bewdleyfestival.org.uk Tickets are available at Bewdley Tourist Information Centre, or by calling 01905 611427.