THE annual Burley Summer Festival returns on Saturday for the eighth year, running over ten days until Bank Holiday Monday.

Popular events include the Classic Vehicle Show - with 300 pre-registered vehicles for this Sunday's event – the food and drink and craft markets, the tea dance and the beer and cider festival.

In honour of the Rio Olympics and Paralympics, the Festival's Scarecrow Trail has a Brazilian theme, plus there's a family Olympics event, where teams will compete in old-school style games such as the egg and spoon, three-legged and sack races.

Aimed at children, a new event for 2016 is a Star Wars Themed Workshop. This features a range of Star Wars related activities from learning how to draw your favourite Star Wars character, to acting out famous scenes in fun drama sessions, also with sports related Star Wars games including developing skills to spin lightsabres, and much more. Also new for this year are the Spider Mountain and Bungee Trampolines, whilst the popular climbing tower makes a return.

Festival Committee Secretary, Sylvia Tilford, said: “The Festival is particularly known for its family and children's events attracting those who live locally and also others from further afield.

“Music is always a feature at the Festival, and this year is no exception with 20 events. The opening weekend features concerts from the Wharfedale Chamber Ensemble conducted by David Greed, leader of the Orchestra of Opera North, and led by Burley's Clare Richards, and also we welcome the internationally acclaimed swing and R&B band, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys.”

Free music in Grange Park is to be provided by the Anchor Big Band, Knaresborough Silver Band, Burley Ukulele Jammers – a group which formed at last year's Festival – and the Earls of Dixie. All the Churches in Burley will be joining together for a joint ‘Songs of Praise’ style service which also takes place in the park.

In addition to musical performances, there's practical sessions on offer. Wharfedale Rock Club returns for a two-hour interactive workshop and also for young people, aged eight-18 years, there's the Shine Youth Gospel Choir workshop. Open to all are two ukulele workshops.

Other music events include One Night Stan, a Burley-based covers band formed in the last year, Sing Wesley – a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the first Methodist Church in Burley, Burley Community Choir and Ladies Please Choir Sings for Teréli.

The Festival's music events culminate with the Opera Evening. This year, the event welcomes back the international soprano soloist Joanne Dexter also of Opera North fame. Also performing is Hannah Mason (mezzo soprano) a soloist with English National Opera and John Cunningham (bass baritone) a soloist with the Royal Opera (Covent Garden). There will also be an exceptional performance on Cornet from Andy Novell (Principal Cornet with York Railway Institute Band). The performers will again be accompanied by Peter Selwyn (leading conductor at Opera North and lecturer at RCM) The programme will include operatic favourites from Mozart, Bizet and Gershwin, together with duets and trios from other composers, and some lighter numbers.

The festival concludes on August 29 with the Annual Show and Displays, with adults, children and 'open' classes allowing anyone to enter.

There's over 90 events in all, for details visit www.burleysummerfestival.org