HUNDREDS of spectacular events make up this year's Plymouth Summer Festival, and organisers proudly boast it is one of the best seasonal events programmes in the UK.

City leaders were today gathering in the city centre to officially unveil the award-winning festival's line-up.

The festival's four months will feature a vast array of colourful events which are set to attract tens of thousands to the city.

Whether it's top-class theatre, hi-octane water-based action, mouth-watering food events or the whizz-bang of fireworks, the programme has it all.

The festival has been running since 2007 and, over the past two years, it has proved a huge hit in the city – and a good pull for tourists.

And this year looks set to surpass all expectations.

To promote the festival 30,000 full-colour, high-quality glossy brochures will be placed in hotels, bed and breakfasts and guest houses across the South West region.

In addition to this 600,000 leaflets will also be in circulation in tourist destinations and restaurants throughout Devon and Cornwall.

Flags and banners, boasting a new eye-catching design, are also being erected in Plymouth.

The festival launch follows the city's inclusion in Which? Holiday's top 10 list of recommended destinations.

David Draffan, chief executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said: "Plymouth is one of the top day visitor locations in the UK.

"In the past the city has hid its light under a bushel but that is now changing quite dramatically.

"The summer festival brings together a four-month programme of events and it projects an important message both regionally and nationally.

"We now have one of the best seasonal events programmes in the country.

"It is particularly important this year with the impact of the recession.

"More people are holidaying in the UK than ever before and, as a city, we have an incredible opportunity to build our day visitor market."

Paul Carroll, chief executive of Plymouth's City Development Company (CDC), said the event celebrates the city's "uniqueness".

"The Plymouth Summer Festival shows the ability of the city to pull together its stakeholders to show the face of Plymouth over a period of time," he said. "The CDC has been supporting the event because we see it as a key area to promote tourism and other opportunities. Its programme shows the breadth of what Plymouth has to offer in terms of its culture and its tourist locations.

"It shows off the uniqueness of the city."

Highlights of the Plymouth Summer Festival include the OSTAR Single-Handed Transatlantic Race started by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on May 25; VolksFest from 22 to 25 and military homecoming parades in May and June – and that's just the first few weeks of the programme! Plymouth's Armed Forces Week will be held in June; Plymouth Beer Festival on July 24 and 25; and the Classic Boat Rally and the ever-popular National Fireworks Championships will take place in August.

Twin this with huge theatrical productions at the Theatre Royal including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Chicago and comedy and music at the Plymouth Pavilions including Jimmy Carr and The Saturdays and you have an incredible line-up of events.

Andrew Huckerby, chairman of Visit Plymouth, said: "It showcases the best of Plymouth and will build on the increasing recognition of the city as the events capital of the South West."

Elaine Budd, Plymouth Summer Festival project manager, said: "This year we are shouting from the rooftops about the superb programme of events which are taking place. It demonstrates what can be achieved when everyone works together."

Bill Martin, The Herald's editor and chairman of the not-for-profit company Plymouth Summer Festival Ltd, added: "The Plymouth Summer Festival is a great celebration of the fantastic array of events that the city has on throughout the summer months. "It is as much about getting Plymouth to believe it is a great place to be as it is about getting people to visit Plymouth and realise it is a fantastic place. An enormous amount of effort has gone into creating this self-belief and making Plymouth proud enough in itself and what the city can offer, in order to tell the rest of world."

Alvin Hargreaves, general manager of Plymouth Pavilions and the Theatre Royal, said: "It offers an eclectic mix of music, arts and entertainment which is unrivalled in any UK city."

For details, visit: www.plymouthsummerfestival.com.