Monkton Park in Chippenham will be awash with colour this weekend with the second annual Art in the Park exhibition and Dragon Boat Festival.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Chippenham, the art event will raise money for the St Nicholas School appeal for a hydrotherapy pool, and will kick off with an exhibition at the Olympiad tomorrow.

Local painters and sculptors will showcase their work at the leisure centre, while on Saturday Monkton Park will once again be transformed into ‘The Street’.

Families will be able to browse the craft marquee, visit workshops and demonstrations and get some hands-on experience with local artists.

On Saturday afternoon teams of rowers will take to the River Avon to compete in the Dragon Boat Race, held by the Wiltshire Vale Rotary Club.

Rotarian Graham Stow said: “We are now have 17 teams who have applied for the Chippenham Dragon Boat Race.”

The teams will raise money for charity, with a target of £400 per group of 17 rowers. One third of the money raised going to the Rotary Club of Wiltshire Vale’s charity fund and two thirds to the team’s nominated charity.

So far teams include a group of sixth form students from Abbeyfield School and a team from the 9 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps of Buckley Barracks in Hullavington, who will raise funds for Help for Heroes.

To take part in the art event, either by exhibiting work, having a place in the marquee or a stand in The Street visit Jane Kirby by emailing jane@chequetts.net Or to find out more visit www.rotary-chippenham-w v.org.uk