THIS weekend Usk Festival and Christmas Market takes place with the Centerpiece of the Winter Festival, the Christmas Market open both days between 10am and 7pm, focussing on quality food, drink, crafts and gifts.

Storyteller Cat Weatherill will be following tonight’s performance of Bluebeard kicking off events on the outdoor stage on Saturday morning at 11am where she will be telling Winters Tales, specifically for children but a joy for the whole family. This is a free performance.

There will be an opportunity to purchase any of cats books at a signing at the Gallery in the Square directly after this performance.

The outdoor stage and several local venues will also be playing host to lots of music events over the weekend including carol singing and live performances from Usk Brass Band, Chwarae Teg, Torfaen Music Centre Gospel Choir, Lounging About, Loren Balaam, Innovence, Mansell Davies, Helen Child, Villiers, Stormus and Ellie Burchill Haslett There will also be opportunities to take part in a Dickensian treasure hunt in Step Back In Time and an opportunity to see Santa and his reindeer during the Christmas parade on Sunday.

For a full timetable of events and further information visit uskfestival.co.uk