A record breaking attempt, interactive science exhibition, international food fair and the launch of a new trail will be showcased alongside entertainment aplenty as a popular festival returns.

This year's Lowestoft Summer Festival promises to be bigger than ever before as it hits town next weekend.

The festival, which is now in its third year, has continued to grow and will offer a range of activities and entertainment for all ages to enjoy – with activities on the sand and two full days of entertainment on Royal Green.

Taking place on July 22-23, the festival will feature puppets, archive film, performers on two stages and the launch of the Find Freddie the Fish Town Trail – among a weekend of free activities at Royal Green on Lowestoft seafront.

These will include the weekly 5km Parkrun starting proceedings at 9am from Royal Plain next Saturday, a festival of voices in harmony as local choirs entertain, the Lowestoft's Got Talent competition final, puppet shows and

In Waterloo Road, Kirkley, from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday an international food fair will attract visitors to an assortment of street stalls as vendors offer hot and cold foods from around the world.

The Cambridge Science Centre has teamed up with Kirkley People's Forum to provide residents and visitors to the Lowestoft Summer Festival with some amazing interactive science. From 10am to 4pm all weekend, an exciting collection of hands-on, space-themed exhibits will be on display at St Mary's Primary School. The pop-up exhibition will include the Gravity Well, along with drop-in activities to help inspire children, young people and their families.

Festival chairman, Mark Lanham, said: 'These events aim to promote Lowestoft and showcase local organisations, businesses and individuals whilst raising money for local charitable causes'.

The Lowestoft Summer Festival is a partnership of Lowestoft Vision, Lowestoft Rising, Lowestoft Lions, Lowestoft's Rotary Clubs, the Kirkley Business Association, Sentinel Leisure Trust, the Kirkley People's Forum and London Road Baptist Church with support from the Access Community Trust.

For more information visit www.lowestoftrising.co.uk/summer-festival

Weekend of entertainment

Among the entertainment next Saturday, the town's weekly 5km Parkrun starts at 9am from Royal Plain – with organisers making the run a special occasion as they encourage visiting runners to take part in the UK's most easterly Parkrun and then to stay to enjoy the Summer Festival entertainment.

A festival of voices in harmony will resound across the Royal Green, as local choirs sing their hearts out, before the Lowestoft's Got Talent competition finalists take to the stage – with eight acts competing for the top prize. Regular puppet shows will provide entertainment for youngsters and the programme of entertainment also features film shows of old East Anglian archive film clips, a special effects workshop, children's entertainment, rides and market and craft stalls. There will also be performances on two stages including an extract by the Marina Youth Theatre of their debut production The Deal Breaker and live music from bands.

The launch of this year's Town Trail named 'Find Freddie the Fish and Friends' will be inviting families to search for colourful supersize fishy models hidden in shops and business premises in the town centre from next Saturday.

On the sands south of Claremont Pier, beach football kicks off at 11am next Saturday with hourly sessions for youngsters in school years three upwards, followed by a sandcastle record attempt to beat last year's record of 1,574 sandcastles built in an hour.

A sandcastle design competition then takes place on Sunday morning. Later on Sunday the fun continues on Royal Green with music from the Norwich Samba band, the debut performance from The Next Stagers, the Marina Theatre's resident over 50s group, choirs, live music, singers and theatre schools among the other entertainers.

On Sunday afternoon a sponsored 'Warrior Walk' will leave All Saints Road car park in Pakefield at 1pm and head for Royal Green. The charity walk is led by 'Fight the Stigma' and aims to highlight mental health issues.