THE BIG Splash family street theatre festival is coming back to Newport this weekend.

Dare-devil performances and immersive street theatre acts are ready to greet festival goers as the free event touches down for the eight time in the city centre from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 21 to Sunday 22 July.

Last year's Big Splash was a huge success, with over 10,000 people taking to the street of Newport city centre to enjoy the festivities.

Organisers are confident that this year’s high-octane programme will be just as effective at entertaining the families of Newport and getting them into the perfect summer mood.

Olivia Harris, Creative Producer at Newport Live, said: “The Big Splash is now in its eighth year thanks to the fantastic support it’s received from the local community and funders.

"The city centre is always buzzing during the festival, and we can’t wait to see what the amazing group of performers has in store for us this year. We would love the people of Newport to get involved – come and join in with the fun.”

Funding the event is from Newport Live, the Arts Council of Wales and Newport City Council, while sponsorship is being provided by Friars Walk, Kingsway Centre, Newport NOW and Western Power Distribution.

The fun is set to take place in six zones across the city centre:

• The Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre

• Friars Walk

• Kingsway Shopping Centre

• Newport NOW zone on High Street/ Commercial Street

• The river walkway between the University and the Red Wave.

The main festival hub will be at the Riverfront Arts Theatre and Arts Centre, where lots of ‘Splashtonbury’ family fun will be on offer on Saturday from 11am -5pm, including hoola-hooping, clog dancing, hunting for sea creatures, henna, hair braiding, live music, and much more.

Over 50 performances will be spread out across the city centre, ranging from slapstick comedy sketches to live music, dancing and surreal story telling.

A mobile street theatre built around wheelchairs will be put on by the Wheelabouts, who will be telling the story of the Celtic queen Boudicca.

If giant kangaroos on bouncing stilts is your thing, look no further than Joy Magnet’s Roo’d performance.

Or, if dancing is more your style, make sure to catch Kapaow Dance’s Grow performance. Described as a lively, energetic and vibrant dance duo which combines a comment on humanity with a comedic gardening show.

Amongst the many weird and wonderful performances scheduled for the weekend are Jamey Mossengran: The Unicycling Unicorn, Able Mable, Kitsch & Sync: Apres Ski Piste Off, and Citrus Arts: Shipwrecked.

Live music fans can look forward to performances from Araby, Selena in the Chapel, Stephen the Busker, The Honest Poet, Tomos Lewis, Charlie Marie, Paddy Kelly, Aeddan, Stacie Marie, Chloe Lawrence, Woods and Finlay Pelling.

The artists will be performing at the Riverfront Splashtonbury hub from 11am on Saturday and Sunday, with further performances scheduled for both days at Horton’s micro zone and the Kingsway Zone.

Keeping little ones happy will be a doddle with lots of activities and fun classes in the dance studio and upstairs foyer of The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre.

More information about this year's festival can be found at https://bigsplashnewport.com/