CHIPPFEST opened to impressive crowds over the weekend as the festival’s momentum builds ahead of Saturday's Rockin the Park concert.

The 10-day festival opened on Friday with a poetry and music event, attended by town mayor David Powell and other councillors, and a launch breakfast at Monro’s Cafe and Bar in Borough Parade.

The festival in Chippenham will have hosted more than 60 events across 20 different venues before it closes on Sunday (July 5).

The Highway Blues Band entertained crowds at The Buttercross Inn on Friday night and 10-piece Ukelele band The Ukey D’Ukes were the main attraction outside the Buttercross on Saturday, ably supported by Dance’nair on the High Street.

Festival organiser from Chippenham FM, Andy Thatcher, said: “It’s all going well, it was brilliant weather and it’s been really good fun.

“It was pretty busy. There were more people in the town than I thought and they tended to stop. It makes you think there’s just cause for putting something on every week.”

Music joined the festival on Wednesday with co-organiser and Chippenham FM’s Midweek Mojo presenter Brian Reid presenting live from Monro’s Cafe and Bar from 7pm.

The Rockin The Park concert in John Coles Park takes place alongside the opening of the new Splash Pad.

The Doorway Band will be first on the park's bandstand with Benji & Hibbz, Mick O’Toole and The Hat Club all in the line up to perform throughout the afternoon.

Mr Thatcher added: “We are looking forward to it. It is 10 local bands and I think we will be quite a few people about.

“I am sure a lot of the things we have done already we think we could do better but there’s a lot of things that could spin off and make better for next time too.”

Chippenham & District Artists have also organised an Art Trail around Chippenham. All map trails and free competition entry forms are available from Munro’s, the Community & Visitor Centre and the Museum, as well as online.

Completed entries must be handed into the Museum by July 6.

The festival will draw to a close at The Old Road Tavern on Sunday when Wil Hodgson hosts a ChippFest open mic comedy night, including co-organiser Brian Reid, from 8pm.

To keep up with all the latest offerings visit www.chippfest.org