A PARTY that's been years in the making comes to Newport with a bang tonight.

The Eisteddfod, which every year alternates between North and South Wales, last came to Newport in 1988.

This summer's festival is again at Tredegar House, but the event itself promises to be much bigger and much better.

It all begins tonight with Gorfoledd Gwent, an evening of entertainment from the best and the brightest of local artists and musicians straight after the opening ceremony.

On Sunday, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Julian Lloyd Webber will perform Hoddinott's Celebration Dances, Elgar's Cello Concerto and Dvorak's popular Symphony No. 9.

And on Monday night a real Welsh star takes the stage when Aled Jones joins his rich baritone with the winners of last year's Wales Choir competition, Ysgol Cerdd Ceredigion, conducted by Islywn Evans.

On Tuesday there's Welsh theatre in Ffatri Freuddwydion, scripted by Gareth Evans and featuring pupils from two local Welsh schools. The play is the story of a young Welsh girl fleeing to Hollywood to find fame and fortune and getting more than a few surprises. The Eisteddfod Choir and Orchestra, featuring soloists Jason Howard, Timothy Richards, Eirian James and Jennifer Rhys Davies, perform Dvorak's Stabat Mater on Thursday and the following day sees a celebration of Wales' longest-running soap opera, Pobol y Cwm.

And it all concludes next weekend with Saturday's Gala of Competitions and Sunday's traditional evening of congregational hymn singing. For more information call the Eisteddfod office on 0845 120 9555 or visit www.eisteddfod.com