THIS year’s Caerleon Festival is now well under way, with thousands expected to wander through the village in the coming days.

Now in its 12th year, the festival began on Saturday with Literature On The Lawn at the Priory Hotel, including a fiction map of Wales explained by John Lavin and with readings from Jon Gower, Francesca Rhydderch and Joao Morais.

The festival week itself, which started yesterday, has a busy programme of events including ceilidh bands, choirs, Shakespeare, performance poetry and appearances from guest soprano Iona Jones and poet Roger McGough CBE.

Events include the Dai Bach Band will be playing their ceilidh music for free at the Hanbury Arms tonight from 9pm.

On Wednesday evening from 7.30pm the Morriston Orpheus choir will give a concert at St Cadoc’s Church with soprano Iona Jones; on Thursday from 7.30pm the poet Roger McGough will be at the church with his show, “As Far As I Know”; and on Friday from 7pm there will be a performance of Macbeth by the Festival Players at the amphitheatre, preceded by a performance from Allegra Ladies’ Choir, as well as classic rock, soul and blues by Tres Hombres at 8.30pm at the Bell, free entry.

Over the weekend of July 12 and 13 a free weekend of music, dance and performance will be held on Hanbury quayside and the Bell, with arts and crafts on the festival field in the daytime.

In April the flag of Owain Glyndwr was raised at the Hanbury to mark the elevation of the shining knight, known as Sir Colin, ahead of the festival.

Last year about 2,000 people soaked up the sights and sounds of Caerleon over 10 days, but This year organisers are hoping for even more visitors.

Visit caerleon-arts.org for more details or tickets.