ORGANISERS of the Big Splash 2012 are inviting local people to join in the fun and become part of the launch of this year’s festival.

At 6pm on Friday, July 13, the Admiral Soundwave Stage will be the venue for a giant Bhangra dance off with hundreds of local dancers all following the same routine.

This routine can be learned before the event by watching the video at vimeo.com/440188 53 and everyone is invited to join in on the night.

The dance will be set to music created by the band RSVP, who mix Asian melodies and thumping basslines.

It’s set to be a fun and unique way to kick off a weekend full of entertainment in the centre of Newport.

Final arrangements for the Sunset Spectacular are also being completed with musicians and circus performers being booked.

Produced by Citrus Arts and Walk the Plank who produced the Fire Spectacular at last year’s Big Splash, this year’s event will be one to remember.

Featuring fire jugglers, a heliosphere with trapeze artists floating across the audience, a fire sculpture and fireworks high above the River Usk.

All of the action will be accompanied by live music created by 20 classical musicians from Sinfonia Cymru and electronic musician Zwolf (Tom Raybould).

These are just two of the events in the Big Splash, which is a weekend of fun for all ages and will be the biggest event in Newport which celebrates Newport at its best.

There will be seven fun zones in total in Big Splash 2012; Admiral Soundwave Stage, Riverfront Free House, Urban Edge, Squaretastic, Fun Of The Fair, Ultimate Usk and Parklife.

Big Splash 2012 will be held over the weekend of Friday, July 13, to Monday, July 16, and will feature live music, family friendly entertainment, BMX displays, street entertainers and the Wu Tang Clan.

For the latest updates on the events, sign up to facebook.com/bigsplashnewport or follow @newportfestival #bigsplash2012 on Twitter.

A detailed timetable is also available from the website