Macclesfield's acclaimed Barnaby Festival will be bigger than ever before with two weeks of fun planned for the summer.

The festival, which has become one of the town’s most popular annual events, will run for much longer than the usual long weekend in order to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy the countless exhibitions that accompany the entertainment.

It will run from Friday, June 14, until Sunday, June 30, with a ‘Big Weekend’ in between, where all the major entertainment events take place, including comedy shows, performance, the Carnival Parade and Street Fest.

Lynne Jones, chairman of the festival, said: “It was obvious from this year’s feedback that people loved the Art Trail but felt there wasn’t enough time to see everything. With more than 40 visual arts venues and only four days of the festival, it was a pretty impossible task. So we are expanding the Art Trail for 2013 over two weeks, to enable people to visit more exhibitions, as well as go to some performances and free events during the Big Weekend.”

The Art Trail celebrates local heritage and culture, supporting and promoting art by emerging local artists like Melanie Alexandrou, Anthony Lewis Dowell and Di Metcalf, as well as more established national and international artists.

Lynne added: “The Big Weekend is all about having fun and encouraging people to come into Macclesfield to enjoy everything the town has to offer; the beautiful buildings and views of the hills, the quirky independent shops and cafes, the local musical talent and community spirit.

“Invite friends and relations to stay, get the extended family to visit and see Macclesfield at its best over Barnaby’s Big Weekend.”

For more information or to find out how you can get involved, contact mail@barnabyfestival.org.uk, visit barnabyfestival.org.uk , like the festival on Facebook or follow it on Twitter.