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The hugely popular Brighton Festival kicks off this weekend with three weeks of cultural highlights to look forward to. Here are some of the events to look to over the Bank Holiday weekend…

The traditional colourful, noisy and enthusiastic Children’s Parade opens the Festival on Saturday morning. More than 80 local schools take part in the hugely entertaining launch which begins from Kensington Street at 10.30am. The parade weaves its way around the city centre before ending on Madeira Drive. This year’s theme chosen by the festival director Ali Smith is ‘Taking Flight’. For details of the route, visit www.brightonfestival.org

If you enjoy dance, check out The Performing Book which promises to offer something different to each audience as the crowd can influence how the dancers interact during each of the shows. There will be four performances by the dancers at Black Rock, the eastern end of Brighton seafront, between 12 noon and 6pm on Saturday. All performances are free. For more info, click on www.brightonfestival.org/event/5862/the_performing_book/

The Without Walls Weekend is coming to two venues in Brighton this Sunday and Monday. There’s a mixed programme of events designed to appeal to the whole family at Woodingdean Central Park (Sunday) and Saltdean Oval (Monday). Both outdoor shows will begin at noon and end at 5pm. Among the highlights will be ‘Bees! The Colony’ which explores our relationship with bees. There will also be song, dance and other forms of performance art. More on www.brightonfestival.org/event/5894/without_walls_weekend_an_introduction/

Small Fables is a show for children between three and eight. Inspired hand shadow animals will be projected on to a screen and tell a series of delightful fables. Puppet master Drew Colby creates all the engaging shadows which tell their stories with both charm and humour. The show is on at the Old Market venue on Monday at 10am, 12pm and 2pm. Each show lasts 45 minutes. More details on www.theoldmarket.com/shows/small-fables/

There will be a distinctly South America vibe in the city’s Pavilion Gardens this Sunday. The spirit of the Brazilian carnival will be alive and well as Brighton’s own samba school band Beleza perform beside the garden’s café. The band will be playing and dancing between noon and 3pm. The event is free, though donations to the Martlets Hospice are welcome. Find out more on www.belezabrighton.co.uk

The ever popular Lady Boys of Bangkok show makes its annual return to Brighton this weekend, featuring singing, dancing and comedy routines. They will wow the audiences in the Sabai Pavilion marquee in the Victoria Gardens close to the Royal Pavilion. The shows are on until May 30. For more details, visit www.ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk.

Don’t forget the Open Houses which are such a huge part of the Fringe. More than 1000 artists will be exhibiting at around 200 venues across Brighton and Hove. Pick up a free booklet or see www.aoh.org.uk/may-2015-festival-home.

Finally if you are considering going to the Foodies Festival on Hove Lawns, ensure you get 50% off gate tickets in advance using a discount code of which there are many on the Internet. Ours is "BESTOF241" and you can get tickets from here: http://foodies.seetickets.com/event/foodies-festival-brighton/hove-lawns/836710/BESTOF241

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