Mid-way through this year’s Ip-art festival and the town is gearing up for a packed weekend.

Global Rhythm come to Christchurch Park tomorrow, featuring live music, art and food from around the globe from noon-8pm.

On Sunday, the park welcomes the Indian Summer Mela from noon-6pm. The Ipswich and Suffolk Indian Association will present six hours of South Asian culture including dance, songs, music, poetry, a market, Indian food village and Bollywood workshops.

The Big Top is open for business and on Saturday hosts The Vaudevillian with Agent Burlieque from 8pm, boasting entertainment from the country’s very best cabaret and live art scene presented by Benjamin Louche.

Also on Saturday, the New Wolsey Theatre presents Into The Woods, the Sir John Mills Theatre welcomes people to Stuff In The Attic and Ipswich Orchestral Society plays its big Summer Concert at the Corn Exchange. Other Sunday highlights are hands-on family art and art alfresco at Christchurch Mansion and Colourscape in the park.

Other acts coming to the Big Top include Benjamin Bloom and his band, think We Will Rock You meets Cirque du Soleil, featuring live original rock music, burlesque dancers, acrobats and fire breathers at 8pm on July 1.

Starting at 8pm on July 4, Gossamer Thread’s Vaudeville Co sees Daisy Black and Alex McAleer dazzle with mind-reading, razor-blade eating, hula-hooping, living machines and aerial feats. You can read more about their Curious Cabaret, featuring special guests Natalya Umanska, Bendini, Paul Preston-Mills and Benjamin Bloom, in our online Ip-art section.

Festival Asylum presents UK-based seven-piece Dizraeli and the Small Gods, who have reinvented hiphop, from 8pm on July 5 and acoustic songwriter and festival favourite Gideon Conn performs at 2pm on July 6.

For a full round-up of festival events, interviews and more visit our online entertainment pages.