Plymouth Summer Festival has unveiled an impressive line-up of local, national and international events for its 2008 programme following a hugely successful inaugural year in 2007.

With the newly designed festival website launched today highlighting all of the events taking place across the city, the Plymouth Summer Festival looks set to be even bigger than 2007.  The Plymouth Summer Festival 2008 again brings together under one banner the vast range of maritime, music, arts and street events taking place in Plymouth over the Summer months.

The festival kicks off with the start of the world-famous Artemis Transat Race at Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, on May 11 which is expected to draw 100,000 visitors to the city and will see Plymouth the focus of international media attention.  The event is a high-profile curtain to a four-month package offering one of the best summer events programmes in the UK, with 25 major events, many of national significance, and more than 100 fringe activities.

Highlights include the British Fireworks Championships, the Sutton Harbour Festival, Music of the Night, top name performances at Plymouth Pavilions and the Theatre Royal and city centre favourites like Plymouth Flavour Fest and Plymouth Half Marathon.

New for this year will be a vibrant programme of arts and cultural events hosted by the University of Plymouth, bringing a new dimension to the festival.  In addition, a specially commissioned new work for the festival will be produced at the Barbican Theatre as part of its diverse programme of arts and cultural activities.

David Draffan, of the Plymouth Summer Festival, said:  "Plymouth's summer events programme for 2008 is quite simply one of the best in the country and the envy of many other cities.  The success of the Plymouth Summer Festival 2007 has encouraged event more eve nts to become part of this city-wide festival for 2008.

"Visitors can be assured of a warm welcome and a packed programme of national and international-standard events, many of them unique to Plymouth, together with top class attractions and a thriving arts and cultural scene.   It all adds up to a fantastic package offering something for all the family and deserves to be one of the main reasons why people decide to visit the South West".

Plymouth City Council Leader, Councillor Vivien Pengelly said: "Plymouth City Council is delighted to be involved with and support the Plymouth Summer Festival.  We hope it will encourage people from all over the country to visit Plymouth and experience the exciting range of events that are on offer.

"There are huge economic benefits for Plymouth by effectively marketing what we have to offer and seeking to increase the number of visitors coming to the city.  The Plymouth Summer Festival 2007 allows us to position Plymouth as a vibrant and exciting destination, the 2008 Summer Festival will build on the success of this and will be bigger and better again."

Lesley Shorrocks, of Sigma Marketing and Advertising, is co-ordinator for the outdoor spectacular Music of the Night 2008 commented: "For many years I've thought that Music of the Night was the perfect event to build a city festival around so I am delighted to see Plymouth Summer Festival come to life.  Music of the Night is one of the largest outdoor events in the south west and it is quite unique in the way it brings people together in one massive effort to raise money for local charities.  It's a community event that anywhere in the country would be proud of and I think it's wonderful that we'll be able to showcase our talented singers, dancers and musicians as part of a drive to bring more visitors to our lively summer city."

Nigel Godefroy, Chief Executive of The Sutton Harbour Group is delighted to be playing a key role in the Plymouth Festival this year, Nigel said: "The Plymouth Summer Festival is a great vehicle for promoting all of the fantastic events that are set to take place throughout the city during the summer months.  We are very pleased to be the host port for the start of The Artemis Transat Race at Sutton Harbour, Plymouth which is the first major event of the festival.  Sutton Harbour will be at the heart of the maritime events this year and we are looking forward to putting on an outstanding show."

Ian Thompson, Area Director for Devon and Somerset RDA said: "Plymouth Summer Festival is an important element in unlocking the economic potential for Plymouth with the range of evnts which take place in the city during the summer.  It's all part of raising awareness of Plymouth to a wider audience and the RDA is delighted to be supporting it through the City Development Company."

Paul Carroll, Chief Executive of the Plymouth City Development Company said:  "Plymouth Summer Festival is important in building the attraction of Plymouth and encouraging people to come to Plymouth to see that the city is open for business and culture.  Festivals like the Plymouth Summer Festival demonstrate that the city is on the move and the City Development Company i proud to be involved in such an event in Plymouth."

The Plymouth Summer Festival has been developed by Plymouth City Centre Company, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and Plymouth City Council and is being funded through the new Plymouth City Development Company (CDC) together with the financial support and help in kind from accross the business community.

A key element of this will be the expanded and improved web site, which is live as of today, a high quality festival brochure and once again bringing the city to life with colourful banners and flags in tourist areas and key gateways.