A RECREATION of old film classics with residents and visitors playing starring roles helped to bring this year’s St Albans Festival to an end at the weekend.

Thousands of people enjoyed and took part in festival events which this year combined professional and community performances, many of them free of charge.

Film Krew were behind the old film classics street entertainment and both Story Bus on Saturday (30) and Roamin’ on Sunday were sell-out events.

Children of all ages climbed aboard the Story Bus as storyteller, Kathryn Holt, told tales of old St Albans, from buried Roman treasures to runaway market cows.

History was also brought to life by Roamin’ from Trestle Arts Base which was inspired by the artefacts from Verulamium Museum.

In addition there was a tea dance in the city centre on Sunday and the Silly Olympics in Christopher Place on Saturday.

Despite the on-off rain during the two-week festival, St Peter’s Street has been bathed in summer shades with colourful giant tulips lining the main street.

Among the highlights has been a performance of The Emperor and The Tiger, The Heliosphere in which an aerial artist performed under a giant helium balloon and a touring performance of Sword in the Stone at Rothamsted Park in Harpenden.

Local groups were also involved in the festival despite initial concerns that they had been excluded. Among performances was the Company of Ten’s production of Loot, Jazz on a Summer’s Evening from Fansofstan and an Evening of New Writing and Across the Pond from OVO.

In addition there was music from St Albans Symphony Orchestra, St Albans Chamber Opera and the annual St Albans Folk Festival which runs until tomorrow (Friday).

St Albans council’s portfolio holder for community engagement and localism, Cllr Beric Read, said: “This year’s Festival attracted thousands of people to the city and the wider district and was a powerful reminder of what can be done when people work together.

“Alongside the professional arts programme there was dance, theatre, music, dramatic spectacles, street artists, community events, larks in our parks, fireworks and an all round carnival atmosphere. I had a wonderful time and the feedback I have been getting is that others did too. Well done to everyone involved”.