KIDDERMINSTER Arts Festival – KAF – got under way last Friday night with a small launch event for councillors, artists and others involved in the festival.

The event saw Heather Wastie, the chairman of KAF Creatives, and Laura Dedicoat,winner of the Worcestershire Young Poet Laureate Competition, perform to an appreciative audience.

In keeping with the poetry theme, the winner of the Ode competition was announced.

The winning entry was written by Roxy Riot, who works at the Boars Head pub on Worcester Street. Roxy has won a dozen bottles of Worcestershire Way, kindly donated by Bewdley Brewery. Heather Wastie praised the fantastic response and high quality of the entries. They are all on display in the Kidderminster Library Gallery on the second floor until September 3. Entry is free.

Here’s the winning Ode from Roxy Riot:

Clean, work, finish, drink

A day in the life of a barmaid I think.

Keep on smiling + Counselling folk, Keep drinkin’ me wages ah.. broke!

The festival got off to a flying start with large audiences being entertained by international performer Bruce Airhead. ‘Dodgy Totty’ brought ‘The Ladies of the Waves’ and surprised shoppers with their dry land synchronised swimming routines.

They also gave passers-by free Polaroid photographs of themselves with awards for random attributes such as ‘best sunny disposition’ for their ‘Best in Show’ strolling performance.

The Dragons Den saw a range of local artists propose their ideas.

The Dragons, who included councillor Tracey Onslow, were impressed by the quality and range of ideas put forward. The award went to a previous winner, Sarah Tamar.

The festival continues with performances and workshops around the town.

Sarah Tamar will be leading poetry walks from outside Sainsbury’s at 2.m today, finishing at the Town Hall at 4pm. Sarah will lead the walk and get your poetic juices flowing. Please turn up and pay £3 or book on line.

Dizzy O’Dare will also bring the Tiny Travelling Tightwire Show to town today.

She’ll be appearing at 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.45pm leaving from the Town Hall and strolling around the town. It’s a free family show.

Don’t miss ‘Which Way is Up?’ another free outdoor performance by the strangest scientists you’ve ever seen. They’re appearing outside the Town Hall today in three shows at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm. Tomorrow, there are free workshops at the Boars Head with urban artists Miss C and IBW, who will teach you how to make stencils and get your spraying technique up to scratch in time for the live painting day in Comberton Hill Subway on Saturday.

The workshops are free, but you must be over 16 to take part. It starts at the Boars Head for 11am, finishing at 3pm.