THE first Festive Festival at The Plaza kicks off this weekend and organisers have got an incredible line up to tempt your taste and earbuds.

Running from today, Friday, December 7 to Sunday, December 9, the three-day event is packed with free gigs, exhibitions, trade stalls and events to entice everybody from music and art fans to foodies and beer buffs, and features family and dog friendly events – truly something for everyone.

The festival kicks off at 7pm tonight with sets from rock ‘n’ roll five-piece Dirty Laces, Manchester poet Argh Kid, and Northwich indie-electronic six-piece Reclaim Vienna.

As well as the regular Artisan Market along Witton Street, Saturday’s line up sees CBeebies favourite Katy Ashworth performing a show full of music, songs, fun and games for the little ones at The Plaza. There’s a meet and greet at 2pm, followed by Katy’s interactive show. On Sarturday night Northwich’s very own Oceans on Mars take to the stage, along with The Pagans Shepherds of Humanity, and vocalist Becki Fishwick.

And Sunday rounds off with gigs from epic and anthemic Manchester favourites Narcissus, and Time for Action the new band of Northside singer and indie legend Warren ‘Dermo’ Dermody.

Throughout the weekend there’ll also be an exhibit by Kirk Whitehead of Smashed Hits who makes incredible music portraits using broken vinyl, plus music photographer Ian Tilton who’s shot the likes of The Stone Roses, Oasis, The Smiths and whose iconic shots of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain are world renowned. Also joining the long list of exhibitors will be Bands FC, whose merchandise showcases ‘bands as football teams and football teams as bands’, you’ll be able to grab a ‘damn fine cup of coffee’ from the Tim Peaks Coffee stand, and check out the crafty creations of Hey Ho Let’s Sew.

Co-organiser Des Leonard, who worked on projects during May’s North by Northwich festival, says the event is part of a plan to turn the historic venue into a serious contender on the gig circuit.

He said: “It’s an incredible venue. The events that took place during North by Northwich festival were amazing and proved it could be a great live music and event space.

“We’ve got loads planned, we want it to be a really inclusive event so we’re not just catering for music fans, we’ve got activities for kids, street food stalls, a beer festival, we’ve even got a fancy dress dog competition.

“There’s a real will to make something happen with The Plaza, and hopefully we’ll help push this forward. It would be great to get it up and running and turn it back into what it really should be used for.”

To find out more about The Festive Festival visit facebook.com/ThePlazaNorthwich

Tickets must be booked for the CBeebies favourite Katy Ashworth event. They can be bought at ticketsource.co.uk/the-plaza-northwich

What’s on

Friday, December 7

Reclaim Vienna

Dirty Laces

Argh Kid

DJs Mark Sinclair and Jason Rushton

Saturday, December 8

Special guest: CBeebies Favourite Katy Ashworth Show and meet and greet

Oceans on Mars

The Pagans S.O.H

Becki Fishwick

DJs Mark Sinclair and Jason Rushton

Sunday, December 9

Becki Fishwick

Lostock Ukes

DJs Mark Sinclair and Jason Rushton

Narcissus

Time For Action.