CITY Diversions, the free international festival of outdoor arts, returned to Chelmsford last month with a stunning display of light and sound.

The festival was in its 12th year in the city, and once again the people of Chelmsford came out in force to see an array of spectacular entertainment.

German theatre company Titanick enthralled a huge audience in South Woodham Ferrers with a twilight spectacle called Firebirds; then last weekend 46 shows by 16 street band theatre companies from across Europe amused and bemused thousands of people in Chelmsford city centre.

In an exciting new ‘diversion’ for the festival, Chelmsford Council’s Cultural Events team teamed up with festival sponsor, Anglia Ruskin University, to devise a full day of entertainment at their Chelmsford campus. They played host to a vintage fun fair, free live music, storytelling, children’s shows, arts and crafts, vintage market, charity casino and multiple international street food stalls.The day culminated in the festival’s finale spectacle of Spark! – a high-impact drums and lights show – filling the plaza outside the Lord Ashcroft Building.

Councillor Ray Ride, in charge of leisure and parks, said, “This year’s festival treated Chelmsford’s residents and visitors to some top notch performances by locals and international artists and it goes from strength to strength. “Unique events like this are a great way to celebrate our city and, in raising the cultural profile of Chelmsford, they help give us the edge over other cities seeking investment.”