The start of the fifth annual Falmouth Spring Festival is only four weeks away with it promising to be even bigger and better than previous years with more daffodils, more volunteers and more businesses involved.

This year's Paint the Town Yellow Day, which marks the start of the two week festival on March 12, will see 20,000 daffodils distributed throughout the town by 200 school children. The festival also involves 200 local businesses, 100 student ambassadors and 100 volunteers, who will set to work on sprucing up 20 sites in need of a little TLC.

The event, which takes place at a number of venues across the town, is the first major festival of the year and is organised by the Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID). Its manager, Richard Wilcox said: “The key message of the Spring Festival is it's our big community festival. We have expanded it this year so every school in Falmouth and Penryn is involved, as well as Mylor and Flushing.

“The idea is to drive people into Falmouth ahead of Easter. Last year we had 7,000 people across the two weeks, with 1,000 for Run Falmouth and 4,000 for the cider and folk fayre.”

Next month's festival welcomes back the old favourites, such as Paint the Town Yellow Day, which sees pupils and university student ambassadors distribute daffodils to businesses and shoppers as well as decorating some shop windows.

The Folk and Cider Fayre on Events Square has been extended from two to three days - from March 27 to 29, and will include live music, an arts and crafts market, food stalls and, of course, over 40 ciders to sample.

The spring clean days will take place over the weekend of March 13 to 14 and will see volunteers from such organisations as the Falmouth Bay Residents' Association and Falmouth Civic Society, together with individuals get their hands dirty to help revamp a number of sites around the town by either clearing litter and debris or planting bulbs.

Run Falmouth, a half marathon in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care, is on March 15, starting and finishing on The Moor, and the following Saturday there will be Fitness on The Moor with Helen Tite and her team from The Core leading sessions for all ages, including Zumba, body combat, kids energy classes and a tug-o-war.

Other events include games on The Moor on March 21, the Falmouth Spring Flower Show at the Princess Pavilion on March 21 and 22, Fal Oyster Gathering at Prince of Wales Pier from March 27 to 29, as well as a host of guided walks and a number of exhibitions and workshops.

For a full run-down of all that is happening visit www.falmouth.co.uk or pick up a festival programme from a variety of outlets in town.