CONCERTS for all tastes, poetry, dances, a yacht rally and buskers will all feature in weeks of fun ahead for Lydney, to be launched this long Bank Holiday weekend with a host of special Jubilee events.

Buskers will be entertaining outside the town's Co-op store every Saturday until July 14, starting this Saturday (June 2) with a Jubilee Summer Fest from 9am-1pm: music, song and dance with Boogie Nights, Curt's Karaoke, Carolyne Jane and a steel band.

On Sunday (June 3) to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee there is a service at St Mary's Parish Church (3pm) with Churches Together, the British Legion, Lydney schools and Lydney Town Council.

Bank Holiday Monday (June 4) sees Lydney Beacon being lit at 10.30pm at Primrose Hill Mesne.

That's followed on Tuesday (June 5) by a Jubilee celebration of sports and music in Bathurst Park (noon-5pm) with Danters fair rides, a barbecue, a circus skills demonstration and children's races plus a seniors' tea party organised by the Lions at 2.30pm.

Saturday June 9 sees Mark Wallis and friends busking at Lydney Co-op and Will Sharma in concert with Lucy Rees at St. Mary's Church Lydney at 7.30pm (ticket money to be donated to the Joseph Foote Trust).

On Sunday June 10 there is a sequence tea dance at Lydney Town Hall (2.30pm-5.30pm) with Mike Holloway and Thursday June 14 sees Maggie's poetry evening with open mic spots for local poets at the Annexe (8pm, free entry).

On Saturday June 16 Alex West and partner will be busking at Lydney Co-op.

On Tuesday June 19 there is a Lydney schools concert at Lydney Town Hall at 6.30pm (free entry, collection for the Yvonne Walkerdine Music Bursary).

On Saturday June 23 the St. Andrews Pipe Band will be busking at Lydney Co-op.

It's also the day of Lydney Yacht Club's rally and folk music at the Docks Harbour Festival to celebrate the club's 50th anniversary. It will feature lots of music, storyteller Tim o' The Oak, taster sailing sessions and much more running from 9am right through to late afternoon.

On Sunday June 24 Rev Sarah Fenby will hold the St. Mary's morning church service with Lydney Training Band at Lydney Docks at 10.30am. Visiting boats will leave at 11.40am on the high tide.

On Saturday June 30 Peter and Astrid Cripps will busk at Lydney Co-op, and on Thursday June 278 there's a Wyedean School Travelling Choir and Orchestra concert at St. Mary's Church at 8pm (free, with a collection for the choir's expenses).

On Friday June 29 there is an Alex Kirk piano concert at St. Mary's Church at 8pm (free, collection for Chepstow Baptist Church Zimbabwe Mission).

Sunday July 1 sees the Churches Together Fun in the Park event at 3pm followed by Songs of Praise with Parkend Silver Band at Bathurst Park at 6pm (St. Mary's Church if wet).

On Thursday July 5 there is a Herbert Howells organ recital at Aylburton Church at 7pm, on Saturday July 7 Forest Brown will be busking at Lydney Co-op with English Folk Music, and on Sunday July 8 there's Jazz in the Park from 2pm-5pm.

Thursday July 12 sees a slam poetry competition at the Annexe (free).

On Saturday July 14 Keith Hyett will busk at Lydney Coop. There's also a Rhydian Griffiths concert at St. Mary's Church (8pm).

Finally Sunday July 15 sees a finale Last Night of the Proms with local bands and choirs at Lydney Town Hall (7.30pm).