Summer is icumen in

I've checked the BBC weather forecast and it's looking dry and warm for the start of the Buxton Festival Fringe next week!

The Fringe kicks-off in earnest on Wednesday but on Monday morning we'll be getting the Information Desk and the noticeboard in Spring Gardens set-up. On Tuesday night - July 2nd - please join us if you can at Underground Venues in the cellars of the Old Hall Hotel for the party to launch Fringe 2013. Starting at 8pm and going through to midnight you can see and hear a whole host of Fringe performers doing bits and pieces from their respective shows. If we're lucky the new Fringe beer will be ready to help us all celebrate!

Fringe Sunday - July 7th - runs from 2.00-4.30pm and is based around the Bandstand in the Pavilion Gardens. We have a programme for the show now and our good friends the Belly Dance Flames have kindly posted it on their website for us. The forecast is for 27 degrees on Fringe Sunday - let's have no complaints about it being too hot!

Yesterday saw the launch of an exciting new initiative for Buxton - the Buxton Spa Prize is a competition for artists to paint scenes of the town en plein air. Now my French is about as good as my brushstrokes so I'll need you to do some research on this one. All I do know is that there is a first prize of £5,000 and that the competition takes place next Spring. Artists can find out more by going to the website.

Finally, for now, the Buxton Festival begins on Friday July 5th with a French double-bill. Saint-Saens' La Princesse Jaune will be followed by Gounod's La Colombe. The word is that the set design by Lez Brotherston is stunning. Some tickets are still available and if you are lucky enough to be under 30 you can get one for just £5. You'll be doubly blessed!