UP to 50,000 people are expected to join in the third annual Feste celebrations in Derby next weekend.

Last year, 25,000 people watched dancing diggers, luminous balloons and a giant insect parade as the three-day extravaganza celebrated the opening of Quad arts centre.

This year, the incorporation of the annual Darley Park Concert into the festival will double the number of spectators.

Other events for 2009 will include Transe Express, creating a human drumming mobile 35 metres above the Market Place, on Saturday night and dazzling opening performance by international visitors Compagnie des Quidams at Cathedral Green next Friday.

Also on the Friday evening are a massive street parade, and a party in the Market Place.

The theme on Saturday is live music, with performances in the Market Place and on the city's newly-created Cathedral Green.

The latest addition to the Saturday night spectacular are audio visual pioneers Addictive TV, who will be performing in the Market Place (see feature on Page 27)

On the Sunday, Feste 09 will end with street arts events throughout the city before the crowds make their way to Darley Park for the biggest free outdoor concert in Britain, followed by a massive pyrotechnics and fireworks display.

This year is International Year of Astronomy, marking several momentous events – the 40th anniversary of the first manned landing on the Moon and the 400th anniversary of the use of the telescope by Galileo Galilei to observe the moon and the planet Jupiter.

So Derby-based orchestra Sinfonia ViVA and regular Darley Park concert conductor James Holmes have lined up an "out of this world" programme of music, including pieces from Strauss, Mozart, Hayman, Sousa, Williams, Dvorak and Mancini and from 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Magic Flute, ET and Star Wars.

Before the classical concert, you can enjoy jazz outfit Curios, led by Derby's Tom Cawley. The 2008 BBC Jazz Awards Band of the Year will be joined by Derby drummer Josh Blackmore.

Also making an appearance will be Derby County's official tenor, Thomas Spencer Wortley, who will give a rendition of the Rams anthem Steve Bloomer's Watching (see our interview with Thomas on Page 28)

Councillor Joe Naitta, city council cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: "We're expecting thousands of people to attend the increasingly popular Darley Park Concert once again this year.

"We are hoping for great weather too, and so are anticipating a great event. The concert is a true highlight of the city's cultural calendar and we look forward to this year's being bigger and better than ever before"

Like most of the Feste events, the Darley Park concert is free.

In next Friday's Qt, read our guide to all the Feste weekend events plus an interview with Darley Park concert conductor James Holmes.