THIS year’s Basingstoke Festival will kick-off with ‘a green at heart’ theme.

The town centre streets will be full of colour as the festivities officially get underway on Friday evening with a green carnival parade.

Leading the parade will be a 10 foot high moving robot called BinBot, which is made of old recycled materials.

Created by the Proteus Theatre Company and supported by Anvil Arts, the parade will set off from Cross Street at 5pm, and will feature more than 500 local and professional performers before ending in Eastrop Park.

Now in its fifth year, the festival which is co-ordinated by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, runs from Friday until July 10, with a range of activities and displays happening across the town.

The parade will be officially started by the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Jane Frankum.

Cllr Mrs Frankum said: “I hope lots of people will come along with family and friends to join in the carnival parade fun on June 17.

“It sums up the whole festival – people working together to create something special.

“It is really fitting that the festival starts with a parade to one town centre park and ends with Basingstoke Live in another – highlighting just how green our town is at heart.”

The festivals programme officially launched on June 3, offering something for people of all ages with more than 100 family arts events, exhibitions, workshops and live performances, which includes the mini-festivals within the main festival itself.

Chief executive at Anvil Arts Christine Bradwell said: “We are delighted once again to be hosting a range of major international artists at The Anvil and The Haymarket, and to support the schools and performers in the workshops and parade.”

As always the festival will close with the two day music event Basingstoke Live on July 9 and 10. For full details of what is going on during the festival visit basingstokefestival.co.uk.