Lord Mayor's Celebrations in Norwich

Take a Fun Lovin' Criminal, some Ghostbusters and dozens of colourful floats. Mix them together and what have you got? The recipe for another fun-filled Lord Mayor's Celebration in Norwich. The feast of entertainment features performers from all over the world. Many of the events are free, so it's a great opportunity to get out and about and enjoy our fine city at its best.

Highlights include the Chapelfield Gardens Music Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, July 11-12. On Saturday from 1pm to 4pm the talents of local bands will be showcased as part of the BBC Norfolk Introducing scheme to raise the profile of the county's musicians. Then in the evening the park will come alive with the Magic of Motown, direct from a sell-out tour and its West End debut. Celebrating 50 years since Berry Gordy created the Tamla record label, it features the music of legends such as the Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Isley Brothers and Smokey Robinson. The night also features the Hewett Soul and Reggae Band which is made up of music students from Norwich's Hewett School.

And Sunday - which is billed as Sun Lovin' Music - features an eclectic mix of musical styles from across the globe, including Malian reggae garage courtesy of The Worm, bhangra musicians Bee 2, anarchic gipsy-punk orchestra the Destroyers, intriguingly described as Borat meets the Prodigy, Afro Brazilian funk band Saravah Soul and Fun Lovin' Criminals legend Uncle Frank.

And which film did you want to see? Ghostbusters! The spook-tacular 1984 comedy has been chosen as this year's outdoor film screening, which will be held in Castle Gardens on Friday. In previous years the audience has got into the spirit by dressing up, so don't forget your proton pack - just make sure you don't cross the streams.

And, of course, the centrepiece of the weekend will be the carnival procession on Saturday evening, when dozens of colourful floats will snake through the city centre. Back to the Streets, an Arts Council England funded project, has brought national and international artists to work with local people to help create the floats for the parade.

Norwich City Council event manager Helen Selleck and the team have been putting together the line-up for months. Helen says that she's looking forward to seeing that work come to fruition.

'The Lord Mayor's Celebrations has grown over the years into a four-day summertime city festival packed full of things to do and mostly for free. I always look forward to seeing the thousands of people in the city dressed up and out to enjoy themselves, making the most of the long nights and party atmosphere.

'If you can't get to see everything, on my 'don't miss list' are the Lord Mayor's Street Procession, the fireworks and, in Chapelfield Gardens, the Motown concert and Uncle Frank. Get to see as much as you can because there are some real treats in the programme.'

t Road closures will be in place for the procession on Saturday evening. Extra park and ride services will run until 11pm from Norwich bus station to the Thickthorn, Postwick and Airport sites. First and Konectbus services: all city centre stops will close at 5pm. All services after 5pm will run to and from Norwich bus station. The normal Saturday bus timetable will be in operation during the evening.

FRIDAY, JULY 10

t Last Night of the Proms: Norwich Pops Orchestra, 7.30pm, St Andrews Hall. Flags at the ready… The Norwich Pops Orchestra will be recreating the fantastic atmosphere of the Royal Albert Hall, with classic patriotic songs including Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and I Vow to Thee My Country, conducted and compered by Geoff Davidson. Tickets cost from �12-�15. Box office: Prelude Records, 25b St Giles Street, Norwich, 01603 628319.

t Outdoor cinema - Ghostbusters (PG), 10pm, Castle Green: Get ready for a spook-filled night out under the stars. Originally released in 1984, Ghostbusters stars Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd and Sigourney Weaver and tells the story of three eccentric professors who set up a ghostbusting company in New York City. Tickets cost �3.50 (�3 with a Go 4less card) in advance from the tourist information centre on 01603 213999 or �5 on the door.

SATURDAY, JULY 11

t Jazz on a Summer's Day, 11am-3pm, Millennium Plain, the Forum and other sites: Norwich Arts Centre presents the best in Norfolk jazz, including the Red Shadow Quartet featuring Pete Hayes on piano and Trevor Rowland on sax, and the Scatback Band gypsy jazz led by Jack Austin.

t Funfair, 11am-midnight, Chapelfield Gardens.

t City Sounds, 1pm-4pm, Chapelfield Gardens: BBC Norfolk Introducing hosts an afternoon of music from local bands. Plus, from 9am-5pm at the Forum there's a last chance to see videos made by acts from the Hot City Sounds festival, as well as interviews.

t Street entertainment, 2pm-3.30pm and 7.30pm to 10pm, city centre: You never know who you're going to bump in to on the city streets. You could end up having a boogie with Artemis, having your picture taken by the Strangelings, enjoying a pantomime, or watching Electric Cabaret, comedy cricketers Artizani and juggler Matt Barnard.

t Somewhere Carnival, 2pm-2am, Henry's, Haymarket: An all-day dance party, featuring the region's best DJs, plus international guests.

t Lord Mayor's 5km Classic Road Race, 6.30pm, city centre.

t Lord Mayor's Street Procession, 6.45pm, city centre. See our map for the parade route.

t Rhythm of the Night - Motown and Soul, 7pm to midnight, Chapelfield Gardens. Featuring the Hewett Soul and Reggae Band (from 7pm), RDG (8.10pm), and the Magic of Motown Reach Out 50th Anniversary Tour (9.30pm to 10.15pm and 10.40pm to 11.45pm), plus DJ Mikey and Sure Delight.

t The City of Norwich Pipe Band, 8pm, London Street.

t Dance and Limbo, 8pm to 11pm, City Hall, St Peter's Street: Featuring dance and acrobatics from the Black Eagles, Oi Brasil, high energy street hop and Egyptian dance.

t Samba Sundown, 8.30pm to 9.15pm, Gentleman's Walk: Norwich Samba and special guests will be mixing traditional Brazilian rhythms with reggae, dance, soul, R&B and jazz.

t Fireworks, 10.30pm, Norwich Castle.

SUNDAY, JULY 12

t Funfair - noon to 7pm, Chapelfield Gardens.

t Sun Lovin' Music, 12.30pm to 7pm, Chapelfield Gardens: Featuring DJ Sure Delight (12.30pm-1.30pm), The Worm (1.30pm, www.myspace.com/wormfoodlondon), Bee 2 (2.40pm, www.myspace.com/bee2online), Uncle Frank (3.50pm, www.myspace.com/unclefrankmusic), The Destroyers (5.10pm, www.myspace.com/thedestroyersplaymusic), Saravah Soul (6.20pm, www.myspace.com/saravahsoul).

t The Bishop of Norwich's Open Gardens, 2pm-5pm: The Bishop of Norwich's Garden (two entrances via Bishopgate). A great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful historic gardens. There will also be tea and cakes and gentle live music. Admission �2.50 (children and wheelchair users get in free).

t Outdoor theatre, 2.30pm-3.50pm, Whiffler Theatre, Castle Gardens: Acclaimed Norwich theatre company Crude Apache presents the new musical comedy Chalk Hill Gang - billed as High School Musical meets the Bash Street Kids.

t Pavilion Big Band, 3pm Eaton Park: The band will be playing music from the 30s to the 60s.