PLANS are hotting up for a multi-entertainment extravaganza coming to Weymouth and the Pleasure Pier is getting a lick of paint in preparation.

The historic site, which along with Weymouth Peninsula will host the Weymouth Bayside Festival from July 27 until August 12, is scheduled to get a revamp on Monday, July 16 and the cost will be borne by Mainsail Ltd – the festival’s events team.

The ticketed attraction will run concurrently with the London 2012 Olympics Sailing event and has capacity for up to 10,000 visitors per day.

The centrepiece of the festival will be the main arena featuring two music stages, where more than 200 live music acts, including some of the UK’s best tribute bands, will be appearing over the two-week period.

Other attractions will include a retail village with bars and food courts, day-time street theatre including fire eaters, jugglers, ventriloquists and magicians and a traditional fairground.

Military Wednesdays will see marching and big bands, sea cat helicopters and jazz quartets.

Art exhibitions will include the ‘Sonic Rings’ installation, which will be put in place from July 23.

Mainsail managing director Joe Hall said: “Eighty local people will be staffing the Weymouth Bayside Festival and we’re employing a painting business to paint the pier of July 16.

“Weymouth sand sculptor Mark Anderson is creating a piece of work for us and lots of local bands will be performing at the festival throughout the two weeks.

“Tickets are selling well, we’ve found that most people are buying two nights of entertainment which suggests that most people are coming to visit for three days.

Mr Hall added: “Our website bookings have shown a very broad spread of people buying tickets, from Newcastle, Penzance, Kent as well as France, Japan, Australia – but mainly nationwide.”

Festival and arena tickets, which include the evening performance cost £10 for adults and £5 for children, visitors can pay extra to take a Balmoral cruise onto the Olympic waters.

Weymouth Bayside Festival is still looking to recruit bar staff and stewards. For more information visit www.weymouthbaysidefestival.co.uk