COLOUR, sound and shape combined for a memorable afternoon in Coleford on Saturday, June 1).

The Coleford ArtsFest was all about bringing the community together with joyful activities.

The event featured not one but two parades – and featuring a dancing dragon and banners made in local workshops – which made their way from Coleford Library, past the Co-op and finished at the clock tower.

The first started with a performance by pupils of Coalway Junior School and St John's Academy and was accompanied by music from the Djabot African drumming group who met at the clock tower by the Pillowell Silver Band.

The second featured the Climate Choir and Forest Thump samba band and there was a performance by Ruspidge-based Wild Oats Morris.

At the Coleford Baptist Church in Newland street there were drop-in art workshops and upstairs, the Forest of Dean Youth Theatre performed part of their play, written by local writer Maggie Clutterbuck about Forest folk hero Warren James.

The group also hosted a drama workshop for children and outside the church there was a 'Come Sing’ workshop and a 'Cranky Story'.

Cinderford-based Engage ran a circus skills workshop and there was the 'poetry salmon' raising awareness of the state of the River Wye.

At the Clock Tower there will be a horsebox from Wyldwood, turned into a nail bar ‘Colours of the Forest’ and Poetry Salmon, raising the profile about the River Wye.

There was also music from the Mark Venus Band.

The event, which was free to take part in, was organised by the Forest arts group Canopy who have run a number of promotional events across the town ranging from creative walks to an art workshop, four Batik flag and banner making, creative writing workshops and a photographic exhibition in Coleford Library and artists working with children in local primary schools.