Preparations for the annual Fal River Festival are well under way, with a line-up of events taking place from May 26 to June 4 beginning to take shape.

The festival, which is a celebration of life in, on and around the river, highlights the artistic and natural richness of the area, and has become one of the biggest in the Cornwall with a footfall of over 100,000 people in recent years. You can expect to see creative talent from the worlds of art, music, food, theatre, storytelling, sports and adventure in an action-packed programme of over 150 events .

This year the festival, which is being sponsored by Falmouth University, will launch on Friday, May 26, with the ceremonious return of the iconic Beer Fleet - a flotilla of boats packed full of shanty singers, pasties and plenty of beer, sailing from Truro to Falmouth. The opening ceremony will continue late into the night on Events Square, with live music topped with the Motown Pirates.

An 'undisputed highlight' will be a performance by Cornwall’s own Kernow King, who will transform

the King Harry Ferry into a floating stage for one night only. On Wednesday, May 31, the historic ferry will become a unique backdrop for the ever popular comedian’s latest, greatest show, Kernow King’s Greatest Hits.

Garrick Royale, managing director of the King Harry Ferry, said: “We are very excited to welcome passionate Cornishman Kernow King to our ferry for a night of laughs and pasty fuelled fun. One-of-a-kind performances in unconventional venues like ours is what makes Fal River Festival so wonderfully unique.”

The Artists Afloat Cruise on Saturday, May 27 with guest speaker Henrietta Boex, director of Falmouth Art Gallery, will give budding artists the chance to explore and capture the hidden creeks of the Carrick Roads which have inspired paintings by countless artists including Henry Scott Tuke and Charles Napier Hemy.

The food culture of the area will also be celebrated, with a Food and Craft Festival taking place on Events Square, and a foraging walk on Monday, May 29, with local expert Rachel Lambert.

Annual favourite Jazz on the Quay will return to St Mawes on May 29; Film on the Ferry events are back on May 30 and June1, with the films to be announced soon. Canoe Cornwall’s Creek Clean, another regular festival event is set to be bigger than ever this year, with support from the Outdoor Education department Truro and Penwith College.

Amy Brocklehurst, events co-ordinator for this year's festival said: “There is a great spread of both established events and new surprises in this years programme. With so much going on, we hope to involve and inspire more people than ever to get out and explore all the area has to offer. We still have an assortment of events to be announced in the forthcoming weeks.”

To book tickets for the individual events visit falriverfestival.co.uk, and to get the latest updates follow the festival on Facebook/falriverfestival or Instagram/falriverfest.