From its spectacular launch in Hereford on April 29 to the fabulous finale at Chepstow on May 15, The Wye Valley River Festival promises an artistic outpouring of song, story and spectacle celebrating the River Wye and its connections to rivers and people around the world.

Under the theme Global Arteries, this year’s deluge of creativity, inspired by the landscape of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will provide fun for all the family, with fire and flame, music, choirs, shows, performances, art installations and more.

The focus of the festival is a travelling Wye Serai, a performance and activity space created around three intriguing caravans:

The Caravan of Myths and Legends; The Caravan of Curiosities and Hydrosities and The Caravan of Fact and Wonder.

There’s also The A&E River Health Check Ambulance, conducting a comic river health check with serious intentions. At the heart of the Wye Serai is the Giant Samovar, capturing the joys of abundant fresh water and celebrating that Water is Life.

The Festival starts with a ‘wow’ in Hereford on the evening of April 29, with water, fire, music and performance announcing the first Wye Serai and a procession of illuminated water monsters heralding the arrival of the magical Samovar.

On Saturday, April 30, the Hereford River Carnival and Wye Serai promises a full day of family fun with water rituals and aqua play, music, dance, food and drink, processions, a fantastic flotilla and thousands of origami fish.

Then the travelling encampment of performers and activities moves to Ross-on-Wye (May 1) Lydbrook and Bishopswood (May 2), Tintern Old Station (May 6, evening), Monmouth (May 6, daytime; May 7, daytime and evening), The Slaughter, Symonds Yat (May 8 daytime) and Llandogo (May 14 daytime and evening) ending up at Chepstow Racecourse on the evening of May 15 for the grand finale.

The biennial festival is led by the Wye Valley AONB unit and arts professionals collaborating with local communities. An exciting partnership of actors, singers, musicians and dancers will bring to life the festival’s central narrative, sweeping downstream creating magic, mayhem and laughter, under the artistic directorship of the Desperate Men.

Visit www.wyevalleyaonb.org.uk for more information; follow on Twitter: @wyebeauty #wyevalleyriverfestival; like the festival on facebook: www.facebook.com/wyevalleyriverfestival or pick up a Map and Guide from local tourist attractions and information centres.