For the second year, the Festival (June 20 to August 2) also includes Guildford WalkFest encouraging people to walk and explore Guildford. Many Festival events have become annual traditions, with new events and venues being added each year.

Festival spokeswomoan Nadine Ishani said: "With so many events to pack into the Festival, many of which are free, the Festival brochure is bigger than ever. A host of famous names can be found in the pages – Shakespeare, Sir Peter Blake, Lewis Carroll, Prunella Scales, Dr Who, Noel Coward, Blondie and even Harry Potter."

A small slice of carnival in the shape of the Guildford Fiesta launches the Festival on Sunday June 22, starting at 1pm at The Electric Theatre with a diverse mix of local groups from samba beats to young bands.

This year's Festival includes: the Surrey Youth Games (June 21-22) ; music events both indoors at Albury (June 21), Guildhall (June 25), and the United Reformed Church in Guildford (July 2, 9 18 and 23), as well as outdoor events such as the Last Night of the Proms in Shalford Park (July 12); art exhibitions at Guildford House (May 31-July 5 and July 12-August 9) and the Lewis Elton Gallery (June 24-July 10 and July 15-August 1); 60s nostalgia at Guildford Museum (June 21-August 25); drama at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Mill Studio and The Electric Theatre (throughout the Festival), as well as open-air theatre in the Castle Grounds with Guildford Shakespeare Company (June 19-July 5) and the Herald Players (July 11-19); Shopping with the Guildford Craft Fair (June 27-July 5) and farmers markets (July 1 and 26) ; Surrey Schools Theatre Festival (June 30-July 2) ; a rare public showing of Circle Eight's Alice Through the Camera Lens film (July 2); GuilFest (July 4-6); Guildford Town Guides (daily); The Lions Raft Race (July 5); the Guildford Boat Gathering (July 5-6) and The Electric Film Festival (July 27-August 2).

Full details can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centre on 01483 444333.

Guildford Summer Festival is a non-profit making enterprise, established under the auspices of Guildford Borough Council in 1983. More details www.guildfordsummerfestival.co.uk.