There's plenty to look forward to in this year's North Devon Festival.

Recognised as being one of the top five events in the country by The

Times, the North Devon Festival is a celebration of the rich cultural

life of the area with dance, fairs, art, lifestyle, sport, theatre,

comedy, and nature events happening throughout our rural idyll from

coastline to moors over the month of June.

The 2010 festival will see a unique explosion of creative energy with a mouth-watering line-up that includes:

Paul Merton, Shappi Khorsandi, Rick Wakeman, Chris Packham, Jacqui Dankworth, Brian Blessed, one of Alan Bennett’s finest plays The History Boys, Barnstaple Fringe including the exciting and ever-evolving Fringe Theatrefest, Appledore Visual Arts Festival, and of course Lynton and Lynmouth Music Festival and Goldcoast Oceanfest (headlined by The Magic Numbers).

The Movie Bus – a unique 1967 mobile cinema, as seen on BBC Inside Out, is

going to be screening a series of archive films of the local area which

will be roaming around visiting communities far and wide.

Make sure you keep an eye on the North Devon Festival website for news, announcements and

updates for the 2010 festival or to receive information hot off the

press, sign up to their email list here.

Unique Environment

Many

of the events are inspired by the unique environment of North Devon

which is recognised across the world for its landscapes, wildlife and

culture. The dramatic North Devon coast is designated as an Area of

Outstanding Natural Beauty (celebrating its 50th anniversary this year)

and sits next to the sweeping moorlands of Exmoor National Park. Both

these areas and North Devon as a whole are included in the UK’s first

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.