With Classical Brit award winner teenage soprano sensation Charlotte Church performing one of only three British concerts this year at the Classical Extravaganza, and Brit Award winners STEPS at the Party in the Park, the two Wiltshire Festival concerts have proved a huge hit.

"We expect 20,000 people to be at the Party, and around 10,000 at the Classical Extravaganza, the most we've ever had," says organiser Andy Cotton.

Since appearing at the Wiltshire Festival Swindon in 1999, Charlotte Church has released a second album to follow her 'Voice of an Angel' debut which has sold two million worldwide. In the Autumn she sang at the Rugby World Cup and performed the Ford millennium anthem 'Wave Hello,' the largest ever TV commercial, aired to 300 million homes around the world. She also turned down invitations to sing for the Pope, President Clinton and the Queen at the Dome on millennium night, so that she could party with her family in Cardiff.

The prospect of Charlotte and world renowned bass baritone Willard White singing the Porgy and Bess classic 'Summertime' which is in her repertoire could make the Classical Extravaganza a historic occasion.

The irrepressible Jae Alexander will lead the English National Symphony Orchestra and Maria Kesselman will draw the night to a close with a traditional Last Night of the Proms finale, accompanied by a huge fireworks display.

A balloon launch will take place at the beginning of the evening followed by an aerial display by World War II aircraft to accompany Ron Goodwin's Battle of Britain theme.

The Classical Extravaganza is sponsored by Motorola, which employs 2,800 people in Swindon, with support from Classic fm.

STEPS are centre stage for the Party in the Park on Sunday 27 August, which is sponsored by GWR. But before their headline act at the end of the day, a huge number of acts will strut their stuff.

Kicking off the afternoon at 4pm will be soul legend Edwin Starr with his band The Team. He's been around for well over 30 years and will really show the younger performers how to put on a stage act.

Chart busting bands The Vengaboys, Aussie duo Madison Avenue, Atomic Kitten, garage pair Oxide and Neutrino, Fierce and Scooch will all be performing to backing tracks. Swindon's own girl band Esensual get their big break.

One of the few acts with performing musicians is Tony Hadley, the ex-Spandau ballet heart throb who put on a stunning show at last year's Party.

The event is being televised by Fuji Television to be shown on NHK in Japan. If you could not get a tickets for the Party, highlights will also be broadcast on HTV on Sunday 3 September.

Apart from the music and the fireworks, the festival will feature

Swindon sets safety example for the rest of the UK

The stars may be big, and the headaches equally so. The Wiltshire Festival is now recognised as a major event by the Home Office which means organisers have to comply with about 900 pages of Health and Safety documentation to make sure it goes smoothly and everybody has a safe and enjoyable time.

Swindon this year is being used a festival test bed. Because STEPS were going to cancel the originally booked date of 19 August, but could appear on Sunday 27 August, the whole festival had to moved back a week. It means the arena will be empty on Saturday 26th. Festival organisers will be hosting Home Office emergency planning officials and representatives from councils around the country who will evaluate how things are set up so that rules for future events elsewhere can be improved.