The line-up for one of the town’s most popular new summer events has just been released.

And as you might expect - it’s big. In fact this year’s Big Sunday is an absolute whopper.

The mixture of culture and talent, including live music from 64 bands across more than a dozen stages, takes place next weekend, July 8.

Returning for its fifth year, and put together by a hard-working team of more than 20 volunteers, the free festival will once again be showing the town’s wealth of talent in terms of bands, choirs, orchestras, poets, writers, musicians, artists and so much more.

One of the highlights of this year’s event is the festival within the festival that is Mrs Pankhurst’s Tea Party, a joyous celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Votes for Women movement, which takes place on Firstsite art gallery’s D-Shaped Lawn.

That will include artist Claire Marsh making her giant puppet of Everywoman, a children’s sash making workshop, and Essex University’s Professor Pamela Cox introducing a fascinating group of inspirational women such as playwright Nicola Werenowska and Firstsite director Sally Shaw.

It all ends at 4.30pm with a large international choir and a Suffragette speech from EastEnders and Holby city actor, Carli Norris.

Musically, you’ll be doing well to keep up with all the acts that are playing over the numerous stages but to whet the taste buds try Cakestupid on the Berryfields Second Stage, Matt Buckle at the Reason for the Day stage behind the old bus garage and Band of Fools on the Tiptree Stage on the Minories Lawn.

That’s before you get to all of the bars and cafes taking part, who are putting on music as well such as the Castle Inn who have Wivenhoe’s Lou Terry playing, the Piatto cafe in Priory Walk, who have a programme of folk sounds, The Brewhouse, which has bright young things Sandcastle Jesus, among others, and The Three Wise Monkeys, which has a cracking line-up thanks to local promoters Pink Shed.

The High Street venue also has their Top Floor packed with theatrical, comedy and spoken word acts performing for a special scratch afternoon.

Other draws include a youth stage giving eight young bands from Essex Music Education Hub the opportunity to shine and plenty of food and drink from all over the world from a special Street Food Market on the Cultural Quarter’s main square.