Looking for a free, fun day out? Fancy a bit of a groove? Hammond-led 60s groove, blues and jazz group the Paul Strange Quartet are one of the musical highlights at the Exe Estuary Festival on Saturday, August 8 at The Maer, Exmouth.

Looking for a free, fun day out? Fancy a bit of a groove? Hammond-led 60s groove, blues and jazz group the Paul Strange Quartet are one of the musical highlights at the Exe Estuary Festival on Saturday, August 8 at The Maer, Exmouth.

Locally based PSQ will open the free Festival in the main marquee at 11am.

Celebrating "the Spirit of the Exe", the festival is wide-ranging with something for everyone. As well as PSQ, there are live comedy cabaret performances, displays, a bouncy castle, community art projects, an art competition, puppet making, power kite lessons, a chance to learn about the wildlife and birds of the Exe, and numerous stalls.

PSQ, a big hit at the Exmouth Festival in May, are delighted to be on board. "We're looking forward to this much-needed celebration of the Exe," says Paul Strange, the band's keyboard player. "The Exe Estuary is extremely beautiful and a very important conservation area for wildlife and birds in the UK. It would be unforgivable if the estuary's unique and fragile eco-system was ever unbalanced or even destroyed by inappropriate development."

The Exe Estuary festival runs from 11am to 5pm on The Maer. Admission is free.

Providing a comical twist are Common Players who will perform their new stage show, Heathen Harvest, described as "a most pomacious afternoon of song, dance, jokes and japes."

Heathen Harvest is performed with tongue firmly in cheek and pays tribute to the time honoured music hall style made famous by the likes of Arthur Askey and Marie Lloyd

Prepare to have your minds boggled, blown and bent as they take to the stage without the aid of a safety net, their sole intentions to delight you, enchant you, and sell you some of their apple products...

The festival, that celebrates one of the most important coastal areas in the South West, is the first of its kind. We are so excited that the festival is just over a week away now. We have worked really hard to make sure there are a great range of activities available for all ages, as well as competitions with great prizes donated by local clubs and businesses. Even the gloomy weather we have been experiencing won't dampen our spirits and, while we hope for a sunny day, there will be plenty of cover, so the show will go on whatever happens

Neil Downes, Forum Chair of the Exe Estuary Partnership and compere in the marquee, said, "We would like to extend a warm welcome to everybody around the Exe to come and join us in celebrating this fantastic site. Come and help us to make the festival a huge success and set the bar high for next year, which we plan to hold at Dawlish Warren."

See next week's Journal to find out about our exciting trail from the Town Centre to the Maer and how you can win prizes. Go to www.exe-estuary.org, or contact Jenny Lockett (01392) 382236, email exeestuary@devon.gov.uk for more details.