STARGAZERS can look to the sky and stage at this year's Canterbury Festival. TV astronomer Patrick Moore will be among a string of stars and personalities - headed by Van Morrison - taking part in over 200 events.

The festival runs from October 11-25 and headline names include Comedians Griff Rhys Jones and Alexi Sayle, ex Monty Python star Terry Jones, Private Eye editor and TV panellist Ian Hislop, film pundit Barry Norman and explorer Ranulph Fiennes.

Van Morrison will give two performances at the Marlowe on October 16, while Patrick Moore's talk, 80 Not Out, is on October 20.

Film director Ken Russell will introduce the screening of his film Mahler on October 12. The previous evening he will be at the performance of that composer's Symphony No 3 in the Cathedral.

A memorable musical night is promised on October 18 when The King's Consort presents Lo Sposalizo, a spectacular Venetian reconstruction with vast-scale vocal and instrumental music requiring multiple choirs and instruments.

Other classical highlights include Sir Roger Norrington with the Choir and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Canterbury Choral Society's performance of Britten's War Requiem.

An opera feast dishes up Britten's The Turn of The Screw, Handel's Ariodante and Bizet's Carmen.

On another musical front, the latest reincarnation of the legendary group Caravan, which was formed in Canterbury 35 years ago, will begin its British tour at the festival.

The Phoenix Dance Company will be at the Marlowe Theatre and at Kingsmead the Chinese State Circus pitches its tent.

A great range of exhibitions are planned including one marking the birth of the artist Thomas Sidney Cooper in Canterbury 200 years ago.

As always, the Festival Club will have a wide-ranging programme, there are walks in all directions, talks, artists houses to visit and shows specially tailored for tots.

Following the success of the opening night Yemanja carnival last year, there will be another in October - but on the last day of the festival to provide a spectacular finale.

Din Shuru (Day Break) will wind its way through the city streets on October 25 and in a highly colourful way trace the cultural influences Indian migration to Trinidate brought to carnival.

Full details of all the festival events are in a free brochure available at Tourist Information offices or the festival office, Christ Church Gate, The Precincts, Canterbury, CT1 2EE, phone 01227 452853. Public bookings open on July 28.