PONTYPOOL Party in the Park takes place this Saturday, July 14, from 11am until 5pm in Pontypool Park.

There is a huge amount of entertainment on offer, including bubble and pirate shows, a dog show, sports, contemporary art from around Wales, farm animals, a full-sized fun fair, pop-up vintage tea rooms, re-enactments, a rock hunt and lots more.

Big Macs Wholly Soul Band, one of south Wales’ most popular acts, will headline a diverse line up of music and dance acts throughout the day.

The band specialises in sixties soul music, with a line up of a tenor sax, trumpet and trombone, bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, two dynamic female vocalists and charismatic frontman Mike ‘Big Mac’ McNamara.

The popular children’s parade returns this year and will take inspiration from the Welsh Government’s Year of the Sea theme, with children able to make craft pieces to carry or wear in the parade which takes place at 2pm on the day.

There will also be a food and craft market in addition to the usual range of stalls, with a wide variety of food on offer.

Visitors with young children may also take part in the rock hunt.

Painted rocks by Lollipops & Ladybirds will be hidden around the event. Hunters should make a note of the letter that is found with the rock, and where it was found.

The letters will spell out a word — work it out and get a sweet treat from the organisers.

Participants names will go into a hat at the end of the day, with one lucky winner receiving a goodie bag with vouchers to use at local attractions.

There will also be performances from the new Hinterlands Wales, a national programme of socially engaged art projects aimed at engaging those living by remote stretches of waterways across Wales.

Members will be performing a new work made by contributions from Pontypool residents and canal lovers.

The Hinterlands team will be resident in the horsebox studio, sharing work that artists and communities have done along stretches of waterways that are under-served by the arts.

Pontypool Party in the Park is held in partnership with Pontypool Community Council, Pontypool Regeneration Partnership, Torfaen Leisure Trust, Melin Homes and Cotyledon Markets.

The summer event was first organised last year, replacing the town’s carnival, and allows residents to showcase a range of talents with events for all the family.