A STREET parade, talent competition and open mic session will be among the offerings at today’s Maindee Festival.

Despite rain forecast for much of the weekend, organisers are urging festival-goers not to be put off and to join in the annual event which includes the ‘Festiball’ themed parade.

The parade assembles at Newport Rugby Club at 11am, to leave at 12pm. It will arrive at the festival site at 1pm. Younger children can join the parade at 12.30pm at Community House.

The Argus previously reported how families had been involved in workshops making giant balls which will be used in the parade and rolled down the streets.

The idea behind the artwork was in recognition of the World Cup and Rio, so the balls have taken on a Latin American theme.

Following the parade, the festival programme will kick off from 1pm with music and dance performances over two stages and the all-new spoken word tent called ‘Cwtch’, opening from 2pm.

A range of delicacies and refreshments will also be on offer from international food stalls and a bar.

At the main stage from 1pm–3pm there will be a Maindee’s Got Talent competition, followed by dance, acoustic guitar, beat boxing and performances from Little Rascales, Little H/Young Kings and Zenny and others, ending with Crimes Against Folk from 6.30pm–7pm.

Taking their places on the garden stage will be performers including children from Maindee primary school, Newport Celtic Youth Band and Bart who makes and plays his own didgeridoos.

At the spoken word tent, storyteller Richard Berry will tell tales and poets Patrick Jones and Mike Church will host an open mic session.

Organisers still need volunteers to help out on the parade route and the site itself at Maindee Primary School.

Volunteers can turn up from 9am at Community House on Eton Road or at the primary school site.

For those not helping or volunteering, you can still walk the route.

Meet at Rodney Parade rugby club at 11am to help push one of the huge ball structures along the streets of Maindee.

For information about volunteering, call Alison Starling on 07837 033090, or visit maindee.org