THE bi-annual Crediton extravaganza, CredFest, began with a community get-together, a Picnic in the Park, in Newcombes Meadow, which was attended by hundreds of people.

It not only included lots of delicious food from the Crediton Food Festival stall but also music, theatre, beekeeping, vintage tractors, machines and old cars, face painting, Zumba and other stalls.

Crediton Library organised a tractor story walk as part of the event.

It was held as part of the Eden Project’s The Big Lunch, the biggest annual get-together for neighbours.

It included lots of fun from Crediton Arts Centre, theatre from Suitcase Theatre Company and The Turning Tides Project, Sustainable Crediton’s Pollinator and Crediton Beeline projects.

CredFest includes a fantastic range of events across Crediton on the town’s streets, in well-known venues and halls, etc.

The hugely-popular art trail is back and will run until June 16.

On Wednesdays, June 12 and 19, the Causeway coffee mornings will take place at Crediton Congregational Church.

A new “Living Room” theatre show can be viewed at Redlands, 16 George Hill on June 12 and 13. It will include powerful and intimate theatre and admission is by pre-booked tickets only.

Badminton taster sessions are available at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre on June 12 and 19 from 8pm to 10pm.

Poetry in The Crediton Inn will be held tonight, June 7 and tomorrow, June 8 there will be a parent and child badminton taster session from 8.30am to 10am at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre.

An inspirational dance activity training day for dance artists will be held tomorrow, June 8, at the Moose Hall from 10.30am to 4pm and booking is essential.

Everyone is invited to Newcombes Meadow for the open-air cinema screening from 8pm for a 9pm start tomorrow, June 8.

A Dementia-friendly service will be held on June 9 from 3pm at Crediton Congregational Church.

An exhibition “Craft of Caring Mid Devon Trail” will take place form June 10 to 16 and a Book Club with Ann Cleeves will take place at Crediton Community Bookshop from 3.30pm on June 12, with an In Conversation taking place at 7.30pm at Crediton Library.

The Community Bookshop will host “A Bird’s Eye View of Raven Black” at 6.30pm and 8.30pm on June 14.

Histories of the Unexpected LIVE will be held at Crediton Arts Centre on June 14, beginning at 7.30pm.

Crediton Diversity Festival, celebrating the area’s diverse community, a free event, will be held at the Boniface Centre from 10am to 2pm on June 15.

Crediton Literary Festival will run from 2pm to 6pm on June 15 at Crediton Library.

Love to Dance will take place at Crediton Arts Centre from 3pm to 4pm on June 15.

Hundreds of singers will take part in CredSing at Crediton Congregational Church from 7pm to 9.30pm.

June 16 will see a classical concert at Crediton Parish Church entitled Devon Baroque: Vibrant Violas.

“Ninebarrow” and “Glorious Chorus” will present a concert at Crediton Congregational Church from 7.30pm on June 16 and also the same day, The Three Little Pigs will host “Comedy Suits: Taken to the Cleaners” from 8pm.

CODS will present “The Men Who Marched Away” at Crediton Parish Church on June 18, 19, 20 and 21.

A practical workshop entitled Food Expression will be held at Crediton Arts Centre from 2pm to 4pm on June 18 and 10am to 12 noon on June 19.

“Overseas and Over Here: The Refugee Experience” will be presented at Crediton Congregational Church from 7.30pm on June 19.

The Causeway Life Group will meet from 6.30pm on Thursday, June 20 at Crediton Congregational Church and the Moon Jazz and Blues Club will take place at Buccaneers on June 20 starting at 8pm.

Patrick Gale will be in conversation at Crediton Community Bookshop on June 20 from 7.30pm.

The Three Little Pigs will host “Comedy Suits: Taken to the Cleaners” from 8pm on June 21.

Crediton Arts Centre’s popular busking fest returns to shops, cafes and alleyways in the High Street and Town Square from 10am to 1pm on June 22 and a Pop-Up Bookshop will run at the Boniface Centre from 10am to 2pm on June 22.

Sandford Craft Fair will be in the Town Square from 10.30am to 3pm on June 22 and a Family Fun Day will be held at Newcombes Meadow on June 22 from 11am to 3pm.

The Big Read Party will take place at Crediton Library from 2.30pm on June 22 and due to popular demand, the Silent Disco is back, in Newcombes Meadow, from 6pm to 7pm for Little Revellers and 8pm for adults that evening.

New Oxford Consort will appear in concert at Crediton Parish Church from 3pm on June 23 and the Festival Finale will be held in the Town Square from 7pm on the same day.

A post-CredFest Benefit Concert will be held at the Congregational Church from 7pm on June 28.

While many CredFest events are free, tickets for paid events are available from Crediton Community Bookshop or online at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/credfest. Or direct with the organiser or on the door.

For a map of venues, fuller details and latest news, visit the website: www.credfest.co.uk .

A colourful programme is available at various outlets in the town, including the “Crediton Courier” office.

CredFest is supported by Crediton Town Council, Devon County Council, Mid Devon District Council, the Ashley Family Foundation, the Elmgrant Trust, Crediton Milling and Adaero Precision Components.