FROME celebrates the 25th anniversary of its multi-arts festival this year – and the festival opens on 3rd July, just two days after the funeral of Martin Max, the actor, former town and district councillor and mayor, who became one of Frome’s most loved and valued citizens.

A former actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Martin was multi-talented, a keen walker, passionate lover of music and the theatre, with an infectious enthusiasm and driving energy which helped to make Frome the vibrant, creative town it is.

Creating Frome Festival in 2001 is perhaps his lasting legacy to the town that became his home. It started small but it always had big ambitions, celebrating drama, all genres of music, art – and food. The World Food Feast used to take over the town centre, with brilliant local food stalls and vibrant music from all parts of the world.

As festival director Adam Laughton says in his welcome in the 2026 programme, the festival was started by “a small group of individuals who made magic happen through sheer determination and hard work.”

In 2026 the ten-day festival continues that tradition, with an astonishing programme of events that range from new plays by local performers to a talk and walk to discover local witches, folk star Cara Dillon and jazz diva Jacqui Dankworth, a musical journey through the 17th and 18th centuries, West African musical stars Sura Susso and Amadou Diagne, comedy, kids shows, open gardens, literary talks, exhibitions, silent movies and a talk on Britain’s ancient trees.

There is so much that it is almost impossible to single out highlights – pick up a programme (widely available including at the Cheese & Grain and in St John’s Church), and check it all out.

But here are some random highlights and images to give a taste of the festival, which runs from 3rd to 12th July – fromefestival.co.uk

The festival’s opening event was King of Fools, a new musical play, performed by Kairos Theatre, and written by Martin Dimery, former director of the festival, composer, singer and green activist.

West African kora virtuoso Sura Susso will be performing with percussionist Amadou Diagne at Rook Lane Chapel on Saturday 11th July.

Based in Frome, Cara Dillon is one of this country’s finest folk singers. She and Sam Lakeman will perform songs from across her repertoire at the Merlin Theatre on Saturday 11th.

One of the infamous Young Ones, Nigel Planer is not so young any more, as he explains in his one-man show, Young Once – A Life less Heavy, at the Merlin Theatre on Sunday 5th.

Mercury-nominated Laura Jurd celebrates the Miles Davis centenary with a programme of jazz and improvised music at The Tunnels on Friday 3rd.

One of the highlights of Frome Festival since the start has been the Food Feast, based in the Cattle Market car park, on Saturday evening from 5-10pm.

Former MP David Heath gives a series of talks on 7th, 8th and 9th July at the Cheese & Grain – Three Remarkable Women of Frome, workhouse reformer Emma Sheppard, Alice Seeley Harris, a missionary whose photographs of the horrors of the Belgian Congo led to the fall of Leopold II, and Frome’s wartime MP Mavis Tait (pictured).

Julian Hight, an author, musician and passionate lover of trees, gives an illustrated talk, The Ancient Tree Explorer, at Frome Town Hall on Thursday 9th.