MUSIC, food and fun will be heading to Weymouth Harbourside this weekend in the shape of the Wessex Folk Festival.

The annual event starts today (fri) and runs across the weekend, featuring live music, folk dancing, food stalls and much more along the harbourside and in Hope Square.

There will be two free stages showcasing a range of traditional and modern folk acts, dozens of colourful Morris groups dancing in the streets, food and craft stalls, workshops in Hope Church and traditional sessions in the local pubs.

Playing on the stages across the weekend are acts including: The Dolmen, State of Undress, Bow Legged Skeeter, Hip Route, Darren Hodge, Something about Mondays, Ninebarrow, Galleons, Gaz Brookfield, the Jigantics, Galley Beggar, Black Water County, Wes Finch, Weymouth Ukuleleans, Kadia, Paul Openshaw, Moonshine, Exmouth Shanty Men, Island Voices, the Unprepared Jug Band, Acoustic Rooster, Alex Roberts and many others.

There will also be two ticketed concerts on Friday and Saturday night featuring Steve Turner, Colin Thompson and Tim Laycock, with tickets available from the Weymouth Pavilion box office or the festival information stand in Hope Square.

Everyone is invited to join in and learn to play the spoons, sing or Morris dance at a number of workshops.

Amy Hopwood from the Wessex Folk Festival said it was going to be a good weekend and encouraged everyone to come down to the harbourside and join in the fun.

She said that there would be a broad range of activities, from dancing in the streets to workshops.

She said: “Personally I really like the pub sessions. Most of the pubs including the Sailors’ and the King’s will have sessions in the pubs. It’s where people gather together and play whatever they want to play. It’s always a really good atmosphere.”

She added that the entire festival was reliant on donations and volunteers.

For the full line up or for tickets visit wessexfolkfestival.com.