FOUR days of free entertainment will celebrate the arts across the city of Salisbury and launch Wiltshire Creative’s first season of programming.

With live music, fireworks, street theatre and crafts, the Lift Off! Weekend runs over the August bank holiday from Friday, August 24 to Monday 27 at Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury Playhouse and in the city’s streets.

An evening of live music and fireworks is being held in the Cathedral Close on Friday, August 24 to launch the weekend. Bring a picnic, or buy from the food and drink stands provided.The Deloreons will headline the evening, supported by soul band Just Us. Music starts at 7pm and the fireworks will follow at dusk.

On Saturday and Sunday 25 and 26 August there will be theatre performances at Salisbury Playhouse performed by community groups including Stage 65 Youth Theatre, Jigsaw Dance Company, Mind the Gap, Dance Six-0 and Zone Arts.

A Family Fiesta will run at Salisbury Arts Centre featuring a variety of arts and craft activities for all the family, and ticketed concert PUSH will be at St Thomas’s Church on Saturday starting at 5pm and 8pm.

On the Sunday and Monday there will be street theatre from Without Walls at various locations in the city centre including the Guildhall Square, Old George Mall and the Maltings.

Street theatre will come from Candoco Dance Company, Max Calaf Sevé, Ockham’s Razor, A Bird in the Hand Theatre, Rosie Kay Dance Company and Travelling Light Circus.

Also on Sunday and Monday, Tangled Feet will perform Boots on the Ground to commemorate the First World War.

An Arts Quest will be in place all weekend, and Harry Potter book illustrator Cliff Wright will be holding a free workshop at Salisbury Library, and on Saturday, local artist Sarah Walters will show people how to make felt.

Lift Off! is supported by Arts Council England, Wiltshire Council, Salisbury City Council, Salisbury BID, Salisbury Cathedral, Raring2Go, Fletcher & Partners, Wiltshire Recovery Co-ordinating Group and Without Walls, the UK’s largest commissioner of outdoor art. A founding sponsor of Wiltshire Creative is Smith & Williamson.

Full details at wiltshirecreative.co.uk