BASINGSTOKE’S historic heart will be set alight with excitement when a giant firebird makes its way through the town centre streets for the programme launch of this year’s Basingstoke Festival.

Hunting for its egg, the large mechanical bird will make its way from the back of Debenhams at 12.30pm on Friday, May 29, accompanied by dancers from Youth Theatre and JG Dance.

Led by the firebird, the procession will move up Wote Street before joining the Ingenious Gentleman band and dancers from Basingstoke Academy of Dance in front of the Willis Museum.

The 2015 Basingstoke Festival will run from Friday, June 19 to Sunday, July 12 with more than 100 events and performances packed into the programme.

This year’s festival theme is ‘feeling good’ and a carnival theme will bring music, dance and a whole lot of fun to Basingstoke.

The programme launch has been created with the expertise of outdoor arts company Emergency Exit Arts and locally-based Proteus Theatre Company supported with public funding from Arts Council England and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Cabinet member for partnerships, Councillor Cathy Osselton, said: “The fourth Basingstoke Festival is even bigger than previous years, offering even more festival events in addition to a programme of creative arts and family entertainment independently organised by groups and organisations throughout the borough.

“We are delighted by the wealth of quality events in the programme and can’t wait to share this with people at our programme launch. I would like to encourage people to come along to the Top of The Town to enjoy the firebird procession and pick up a copy of the programme.”