THOUSANDS of people will be taking part in events across Gwent this weekend.

Women will be out in force tomorrow to take part in this year's Cwmbran Race for Life on Northfields Recreation Ground, Croesyceiliog.

Last year, almost 2,000 runners braved a heat wave to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The 5k race begins at 11am, and there is still time to sign up to walk, jog or run to help beat cancer.

Visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0871 641 1111 to enter now to raise money towards the charity's groundbreaking work.

The entry fee is £14.99 for adults and £10 for girls under 16. Cancer Research UK is entirely funded by the public and need your support to continue to make progress.

The ten-day Usk Festival kicked off yesterday. Organiser, David Sansom, said: "The rationale behind Usk Festival is uniquely simple - put on a series of events that show off all that is good about Usk, at the same time using a pooled marketing budget to ensure that every event, no matter how small, enjoys an equal profile within the festival umbrella."

The Usk Open Gardens Weekend is an established favourite in the annual calender, as is the Duck Race where ambitious rubber ducks battle it out down the River Usk, the first passed the post winning money for its sponsor.

The festival also offers new experiences to the public such as free taster sessions in Tai Chi.

Today and tomorrow, Usk Open Gardens will take place from 10am until 5pm.

Admission is £7.50, children 14 and under are free, for more information visit www.uskopengardens.com Don't forget to book your tickets for John Lawsons Circus, what is visiting Usk for the very first time on Friday, June 29- Sunday July 1, at The Market Field in Usk.

Tickets for the circus, which cost £8 each, are available from Usk Primary School on 01291 673818. Check www.uskfestival.co.uk for a full list of activities that range from picnics to live music and dancing.Tickets and information is available from the Gallery in the Square, Usk on 01291 672207.

A PARADE takes place in Newport tomorrow to celebrate the Queens diamond jubilee, the Mayor of Newport's civic service and Armed Forces Day.

A service will be held at Newport Cathedral at 10.30am, where a guard of honour will be formed for mayor John Guy to pass through.

After the service, at around 11.30am, standard bearers and the band of the Royal Welsh will lead the parade to the Civic Centre. On leaving the cathedral, the parade will move down Clifton Road, on to Stow Hill, turning left on to Bridge Street.

It will then move from Godfrey Road to Faulkner Road, turning into the Civic Centre lower car park. Weather permitting, the mayor will then inspect the front lane of the parade, before the national anthems of Wales and the United Kingdom will be played.