WITH the excitement of the communities’ gala days barely behind them, Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton are gearing up for more family fun, culture and tasty food with the return of the 3 Harbours Festival.

Residents and visitors alike can enjoy art galleries, live music events, family afternoons with pebble decorating and ukulele orchestras, open houses, cooking demonstrations and workshops over the course of the festival, which runs from Saturday to next Sunday (July 7).

The festival, which was started more than 10 years ago, is going from strength to strength, expanding and becoming more diverse, with something for everyone in its programme.

For the live music fans out there, there is a chance to see the Tom Fairnie Band play their famous Americana music supported by Paul Brown, then Andy Brown, Dropkick and Fuzzystar for the Indie lovers, Alex Hodgson and Rhys Heaven for the folk fans, and to get an eclectic mix all in one sitting, there are the Live on the Lawn sessions, an afternoon of music in the majestic Cockenzie House and Gardens (pictured above).

To keep the young ones and old ones entertained all at once, this year will see a Harbour Family Afternoon added to the programme. Wool spinning, ukulele orchestra, pebble decorating, sign writing and live music will grace Port Seton Harbour as the festival celebrates the community’s links to the sea.

This sea celebration continues with the event Putting to Sea that includes intergenerational conversations, songs and stories from those who have lived, worked and put out to sea from Port Seton Harbour.

For the foodies out there, the festival has three Tasty Notes events which involve food demonstrations with interesting food concoctions alongside live music, again at Cockenzie House and Gardens.

An Arts and Crafts Fair and a Therapy Taster will all be on offer for those looking for new ways to relax body and soul, as well as makers from all over East Lothian showing their work, with kiddie face paints in the gardens and storyteller Tim Porteus taking a children’s writing and painting workshop.

The streets will be lined with buskers, providing a live music soundtrack for those exploring the streets and making their way to venues with many more events and exhibitions to enjoy.

Festival organisers Jane Brown and Rebecca Dover have said that this year there is something for everyone at the festival.

For a full programme of events for the festival, visit 3harbours.co.uk