ALRESFORD’S annual Watercress Festival is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the town tomorrow to enjoy the colour and bustle of an entertaining street market designed to celebrate the production of this year’s crop.

While the event opens at 10am, the festivities will get off to a formal start from 10.30am when the festival cavalcade will leave The Globe to travel up Broad Street, accompanied by the Sussex Jazz Kings, Basingclog Morris, Hook Eagles Morris, Dorset Buttons Rapper, and Mayflower Morris.

In pride of place will be the horse and cart carrying this year’s Watercress King and Queen, accompanied by children from Sun Hill Infant and Junior School who will distribute the first of the season’s watercress harvest to festivalgoers.

Music, song and dance will take place all day on the main stage, inside St John’s Church and on the streets.

Performing will be Godalming Brass, the children from Sun Hill, the Sussex Jazz Kings, Perins students showcasing their forthcoming musical Phantom of the Opera, and Southampton and Alresford Ukulele Jam.

The streets will be packed with a wide variety of stalls offering watercress products, as well as craft work, gifts, and market fayre.

The ever-popular Cookery Unit on Broad Street will offer the chance to watch well-known chefs and food writers demonstrating their skills.

There will also be the staging of the annual Watercress Festival Awards ceremony, followed by the World Watercress Eating Championships, scheduled to take place at 3pm.

The Mid Hants Railway will be running a regular service from Alton, via Four Marks and Medstead, and Ropley, where there will be parking next to the station.