Ferret racing and children’s activities are being added to the list of attractions for this year’s Godiva Festival.

The annual three-day event in the War Memorial park is being expanded into a week-long event this year, starting on June 3 in the city centre.

Circus entertainers, jugglers and stilt-walkers will be performing around the city centre throughout the week.

The action will then switch to the Memorial Park on Thursday 8 June for All Schools’ Day – a millennium celebration involving 7,000 youngsters.

The main festival will then kick off the following day, with the park being split up into different sections of entertainment.

This year everything will be on the main events field to prevent the risk of any damage to the formal garden area.

Torrential rain last year left heavy tyre marks on the lawns as lorries unloading equipment for the festival were forced to drive over them.

Festival co-ordinator Jane Wynn said there would be something for everyone in the free celebrations, which will include a motorcade and the Godiva procession from Coventry Cathedral to the park.

She said:

“You will be able to stand in the field and see everything. There will be one end with live music, and quieter events at the other end.”

Sections in the festival include the ever-popular Fools’ Paradise cabaret tent and the Lives and Times tent featuring local history groups.

Environmental groups will also be demonstrating their activities in the green space, which will include ferret racing from a welfare group promoting care of the animals.

Alternative therapies including aromatherapy and massage will be on show in a healing tent.

And a big children’s event, which has recently been held at Coundon Court school is being moved to the park to coincide with the festival.

Jane said:

“In previous years we’ve not had a lot of kids to do. There’s been a fun fair and that’s about it. This year there will be separate tent full of activities for the under-11s to enjoy.”

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