Photo gallery: International performers delight the crowds at Holt festival launch

Acrobatics, art, dinosaurs, dramatic hair, juggling and on-street japery launched Holt's fifth annual festival.

Hundreds of people flocked into the town today for the free festival, which kick started the week's events and saw the town centre shut off to cars and transformed into a huge performance area.

International acts, including the nine-strong Gandini Juggling crew and spellbinding Collectif Malunes Circus, thrilled the crowds with their impressive skills, while spectators marvelled at the creative talents of Mysterieuse Coiffures and his towering hairstyles.

Visitors meandering through Holt's twisting Georgian streets were also treated to street performances from 'walkabout' entertainers, including local double act Razz and Auntie Pearl, as well as live music and the chance to lounge about in two giant deckchairs.

Adney Payne, festival chairman, said today's colourful programme of events had been well received.

'The whole idea is that everyone feels able to join in with the festival. Quite a large percentage of the festival budget goes towards providing free theatre and we're particularly aiming it at children and younger people, and hoping it's fun for them,' he said.

Delaval Astley, festival director, added: 'I hope that we will reach a broader audience and that people will get excited about the week ahead and will try and find out what else is on that they can go and see, and really make it a big, celebratory community event.'

In five years the festival has quickly put Holt on the national and global cultural map and this year's programme features two world premieres alongside a huge range of talks, workshops, displays, plays, concerts and stand-up, across several venues.

? For more information about the festival and upcoming shows visit www.holtfestival.org