A feast of free entertainment for all the family.

There will be free entertainment for all the family in Honiton tomorrow (Saturday, July 23).

The town is staging its annual Charter Day, which celebrates Honiton’s long and rich history as a market town.

This year’s event will be launched at a twenty 20 cricket match at Mountbatten Park on Friday, starting at 6.30pm. The event is open to people of all ages.

An enduring facet of Charter Day is a charity market in Northcote Lane.

Groups from across the town will have stalls in the walkway from High Street to Allhallows Playing Field from 9.30am to 4pm.

The playing field will have a major role in this year’s event, being the venue of a classic car show organised by Honiton and District Lions Club.

A bouncy castle, majorette and gym club displays and Scouts’ events will also be a feature of entertainment on the field.

Charity ShelterBox will be represented this year, along with the Queen’s Rangers.

The stocks will again be available for those brave enough to endure having wet sponges pelted at them!

Refreshments and light lunches will be served in St Paul’s Church and the neighbouring Allhallows Museum is staging a Honiton Pottery identification day. Entertainment will be provided all day on the forecourt of St Paul’s Church.

A free magic show will be staged for children in the Mackarness Hall from 2pm to 3pm.

Dave Retter will host an amateur town crier competition outside the parish church at 3pm. The bell and ‘cry’ will be provided. People of all ages are invited to take part.

The day’s celebrations will conclude with a concert at the Millennium Green from 7pm.

A walk around Honiton will conclude this year’s Market Charter Day celebrations.

Taking place on Sunday (July 24), the walk will encircle the town and everyone is welcome to take part.

Painstakingly organised by Ian Jeeves, the event will start from Market car park, in Silver Street, at 2pm.

A spokesman for the event’s organising committee said: “The estimated return time, if the whole route of just over seven miles is completed, is about 6pm.

“But, for those preferring to miss out Roundball Hill and the section past Combe Wood, both the distance and time will be considerably less.

“There will be a short break at The Otter Inn, in Weston, at the half-way point.”

Participants are reminded that stout footwear should be worn, because there are off-road sections along the route.

Appropriate clothing is also recommended - in the event of inclement weather.