The finishing touches are being made to the programme for the Caterham Festival 2012, which will feature more new exciting events this year. This summer the Festival, which takes place throughout June, will be sharing the limelight with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, so there will be plenty of reasons to celebrate. To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, a Big Picnic with entertainment is being held in Town End Recreation Ground in Caterham-onthe- Hill from 12 noon on Sunday 3rd June. After the picnic, families and friends can wander down to the High Street where the Festival Street Party will be taking place, with live music on three stages, food and craft stalls and plenty of street entertainment for adults and children.

On Monday 4th June a Classical Concert is taking place in St. Mary's Church to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and raise money for the Tandridge Community Fund. Following the concert the audience will parade down to Westway where one of the 2012 Commonwealth beacons is being lit followed by a free firework display.

One of the first events in the Festival calendar will be the DeFest two-day music festival in the grounds of de Stafford School on 26th and 27th May. On Sunday 27th May, DeFest will start in the morning with a Classic Car rally setting off from the school on a cruise around Caterham.

New this year will be a live performance of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' on 21st-23rd June being held in Queen's Park playground. Fairies will be running around the central play area and Puck will come down the slide! A matinee is being held on 23rd June when local children can take part dressed as fairies.

Chairman of the Caterham Festival, Andy Parr, said: "We always try to do something new. I am especially excited about the Shakespeare play! There is a wealth of talent and generous people out there who help to make the Festival happen and we are still looking for helpers and performers who would like to get involved. I am excited about the prospect of the new events lined up for this year and having a good time. I just hope I can make them all!

If you would like to volunteer to help at the Festival or would like to perform at one of the events, call Andy Parr on 01883 340000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.