Plans are now finalised for the annual Bungay Summer Festival with two weeks of fun, culture and entertainment.

Eastern Daily Press: Last year's Great Bungay Duck Race on the River Waveney at Falcon Meadow. Picture: Archant.Last year's Great Bungay Duck Race on the River Waveney at Falcon Meadow. Picture: Archant. (Image: Archant Norfolk � 2016)

The festival gets under way on July 8 and will see town reeve Mary Sprake and mayor Mary Matthews hoisting the Bigod flag at Bungay Castle to signal the start of the festivities which include nearly 30 separate events for all ages.

As always children are well catered for, and the first event will be the Kids' Fun Day, organised by Bungay Rotary Club at the Castle Meadow, with traditional races and other activities.

Eastern Daily Press: Tower tours are being held at St Mary's Church Tower as part of Bungay Festival. Picture: Nick ButcherTower tours are being held at St Mary's Church Tower as part of Bungay Festival. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: �archant2016)

A busy first weekend will also include the third annual Great Bungay Duck Race at Falcon Meadow, and for three days over the first weekend, beginning on July 7, St Mary's Church will host a Books in Bloom flower festival. The town has a reputation for having many expert flower arrangers who will contribute to it.

Other festival highlights include tried and tested popular events - the ale trail in two legs, with the second a coach trip around outlying pubs, author Ellie Griffiths as guest speaker at the Bungay Good Read Group, the festival quiz, the Mozart Orchestra Concert, the antiques street market, Shakespeare at the Castle, the Town Reeve's Ball, and the Teddy Bears' Picnic and zip-wire ride.

Eastern Daily Press: The Kids' Fun Day at the start of last year's Bungay Festival. Picture: Archant.The Kids' Fun Day at the start of last year's Bungay Festival. Picture: Archant. (Image: Archant Norfolk � 2016)

The Bungay Society's soiree in St Mary's Churchyard is in the programme for the second year, and new events include a Gambian Night at the Fisher Theatre, a Walk on the Wildside nature walk around the Bath Hills footpath, an evening of a capella song at St Mary's Church featuring local choirs, a parade of Fascinating Festival Fowls, commemorating the chicken roundabout, and Sew and So's' annual quilt show.

The lowering of the flag on the castle on July 23 will signal the end of the festival, co-ordinated by the Bungay events and Business Association.

Eastern Daily Press: Christine Sampson pictured at last year's flower festival at St Mary's Church. Picture: Nick Butcher.Christine Sampson pictured at last year's flower festival at St Mary's Church. Picture: Nick Butcher.

Copies of the programme are available at a number of outlets in the town, and include times and details of where to get tickets, though many events are free.

BEBA chairman Simon Thompson urged residents and visitors to enjoy as many of the events on offer as they could.

Eastern Daily Press: Bungay Castle. Picture: Nick Butcher.Bungay Castle. Picture: Nick Butcher. (Image: Archant � 2011)

Festival programme

July 8

Opening ceremony - Bungay Castle at 11.45am

Kids' Fun Day - Castle Bailey from noon to 5pm

July 9

Great Bungay Duck Race - Falcon Meadow from noon to 4pm

July 10

Good Read Group - Bungay Library at 7.30pm (tickets £5 from library)

July 11

The Ale Trail - The White Swan from 7pm

July 12

Festival quiz - St Edmund's Parish Hall from 7pm (tickets £5 from Crocks)

July 13

Tour of Clays - Clays printworks from 5.30pm to 7.30pm

Soiree in the Priory - St Mary's Priory from 6pm

July 14

Sew and So's annual quilt show - Emmanuel Hall from 10am to 4pm (tickets £2 on door)

Three Rivers Talking Newspaper - Honeypot Community Centre from 6pm to 8pm

Town Ball - Old Grammar School Field from 7pm (tickets £45 from 28 Wingfield Street)

July 15

Cake stall - Bungay Butter Cross from 9am to 12.30pm

Sew and So's annual quilt show - Emmanuel Hall from 10am to 4pm (tickets £2 on door)

Teddy Bears' Picnic - Caste Hills from 11am to 1.15pm

Teddy Bears' Zip - St Mary's Church from 1.30pm to 3pm

Mozart Orchestra Concert - St Mary's Church from 7pm (tickets £10 from New Beginnings or ticketsource.co.uk)

Gambian Night - Fisher Theatre from 7pm to 9.15pm (tickets £15 from box office)

July 16

Godric Way Cycle Ride - From Butter Cross at 10am

Tower Tours - St Mary's Church from 2pm to 4pm (tickets £2.50 or £1 for children)

A Walk in the Wild Side - From Allens Cadge and Gilbert Solicitors at 2pm (tickets £3 from A Sweet For You)

July 17

Festival Monday meal - Honeypot Community Centre from 6.45pm (tickets £7.50 or £4 for children from A Sweet For You)

July 19

Circle 67's Measure for Measure - Bungay Castle from 7.15pm (tickets free from www.circle67.co.uk)

July 21

Three Rivers Talking Newspaper - Honeypot Community Centre from 3pm to 5pm

July 22

Bona Kanto evening of a capella song - St Mary's Church from 7pm (tickets £8 on the door, Giddens and Thompson and Moth Crafts)

July 23

Art and Antiques Fair - Earsham Street, Butter Cross, Castle Bailey and St Mary's Church from 9.30am to 4pm

Festival closing ceremony - Bungay Castle from 4pm