THE Dickensian Festival arrives this weekend, spreading its festive cheer throughout the streets of Ulverston.

While the traditional activities, the costumed parade and market stalls play a major part in making the event a success year after year, it is the packed entertainment line-up that sets the atmosphere.

Once the town mayor has opened the festival at 10am on Saturday, the Market Place stage will play host to the Ulverston Town Band, street entertainer Garry Gifford, Floppletwig & Douglas, Astral Circus, Deatbeats, and Blast Furness. The mayor will then return at 4pm to switch on the Christmas lights.

Lloyds Corner will also be a hive of activity, with Harry Magic and Innerstate Theatre among the performers, and the Theatre Street Car Park will also be busy from morning until evening, with Barrow indie rock band The Mooncats wrapping things up at 5.30pm as darkness falls.

The Busker Zone will be in operation on both Saturday and Sunday, this year taking up position in Brogden Street - Daisy & Belle, Little NEO, Dave Watson, Ragazza sax quartet, John Lamb, David Pratt, and Em & Suze all appear on the Saturday. A handful of the acts return the following day, with Mike May, Bright Trees, and Ewan Blackledge also on the second day's line-up.

Entertainment at the Market Place gets under way from 10am again on Sunday, with Furness Morris Dancers, Astral Circus, Salamanda Belly Dancer, Garry Gifford, and a Christmas carol performance from Ulverston Town Band, the Victorian Yesteryear Society and Ulverston Churches Together Choir.

Story teller Ian Douglas makes appearances at Lloyds Corner, with Innerstate Theatre and the Grand Theatre of Lemmings among the highlights. Theatre Street Car Park plays host to the likes of Easystrider, Ragazza, St Mary's School Choir, Dalton Town Band, and Furness Morris Dancers, before a live Steam Punk Folk Band close the event at 4pm.

All entertainment is free, and the full festival programme can be viewed online at www.dickensianfestival.co.uk