The Deal Folk by the Sea, starts today (Friday) and promises to be packed full of music and dancing.

With morris dancers performing around the town as well as events in the pubs, Astor Theatre and the Landmark Centre, there will be plenty to keep everyone entertained.

Apart from events today, on Saturday from 10am till 4pm there will be mass morris dancing with Offcumduns and their show ‘day of dance.’

Other groups taking part include Wicked Belly, Wolfhead and Vixen, St Clements Clog, Bishop Gundulf’s Morris, Penny Royal, Wantsum Morris and Boughton Monchelsea.

Elaine Dean, a member of the organising group said: “It’s going to be an amazing spectacle to watch especially with the mass Morris finale on the seafront between 3pm and 4pm.

“As ever, we are so grateful for the great support from the town for the festival and especially from our venue hosts. This year that includes the Deal Hoy, Green Berry, Walmer Castle, Saracen’s Head, The Alma, Royal Hotel as well as the RMA, Landmark and Astor.”

The performances continue on Saturday with Irish dancing from 5pm and Festival Ceilidh with Lynda Borley and Spinning Jennies at the Landmark centre, High Street, at 8pm.

The popular Shanty group Kimbers Men will also be playing at the Astor Theatre, Stanhope Road, on Saturday at 7.30pm with support from Quidnunc and Paul Sirman. Advanced tickets are available from the box office.

On Sunday there will be the Arkwright Appalachian Cloggers performing around the town as well as the popular event in aid of the RNLI at Walmer Lifeboat Station at 11am.

There will also be several ‘sing-arounds’ and ‘play-arounds’ hosted at pubs as well as the Landmark Centre.

For more information visit the website on www.dealfolkbythesea.org.uk or find them on Facebook and Twitter.