BOLTON Festival is reaching out to a wider audience from tomorrow as the event celebrates its 21st anniversary.

The annual entertainment extravaganza has a new multi-cultural flavour and an emphasis on grass roots participation. Hundreds will be directly involved.

Among the events lined up for the four day festival are African, Asian, Irish and Ukrainian dancing and a multi-cultural version of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.

They are joined by professional performers including former Fairground Attraction star Eddi Reader, respected singer-songwriter Boo Heweredine and theatre critic Sheridan Morley as the festival bounces back from the brink of extinction.

It is a marked change from the position last year when the festival's future was thrown into doubt after the organising committee resigned.

The new team in charge is determined to ensure the event continues to be a popular date on the town's calendar.

Albert Halls arts development officer Russell Tennant said: "There's a big change to the festival this year. The new committee wants to take the festival in a new direction and embrace the different cultures in this area.

"The aim is to make the festival a real part of Bolton and get lots of grass roots involvement."

The festival kicks off tomorrow with Art on the Streets in Newport Street, an open air art exhibition offering the chance to admire and buy the work of local artists.

Saturday is labelled "Dance Saturday" and includes displays from Bolton's Irish community and North West Asian Arts. On Monday the accent is on fun with families encouraged to try their hands at circus skills, making "junk" instruments and the traditional Asian art of rangoli.

Other highlights include the Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble, Europe's largest traditional African dance and drumming company, with 15 dancers and six drummers at the Albert Halls on Friday, and the multi-cultural A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Albert Halls on Monday. BOLTON FESTIVAL DIARY Tomorrow

Art on the Streets, Newport Street, 10am to 5pm. Open air street exhibition of local artists. Runs until Monday, not open on Sunday.

Friday

Col Lee's Mounted Ratigators, The Octagon, 7.30pm. Blues, jazz and cajun music. Tickets £5, £4.

Adzido present "Sanfoka", The Albert Halls, 8pm. Music, drama and poetry from across Africa with the acclaimed ensemble. Tickets £8, £6.

Saturday

Dance Saturday, Victoria Square, 11am to 4pm. A dazzling array of dance groups from disco to Irish, with street theatre around the town centre.

My Life And Other Disasters, The Octagon, 7.30pm. Top drama critic Sheridan Morley recollects his career and recalls David Niven, Noel Coward and other great stars of stage and screen. Stalls tickets £10, £8. Gallery £8,£6.

Trotters, Bolton Little Theatre, 7.30pm. Return of popular review looking at the events and people which have shaped Bolton. Tickets £6, £5.

Bolton Millennium Festival Orchestra and Choir present The Life of Mozart (including The Requiem), The Albert Halls. Local orchestra players, soloists and choir members take a musical journey through Mozart's life under the musical direction of Robert Aston. Tickets £6, £5.

Sunday

Ukrainian Open Day, Bolton branch of British Association of Ukrainians, Castle Street. Dance, food and exhibitions celebrating 50 years of Ukrainians in Bolton.

Festival Songs of Praise, Bolton Parish Church, 6.30pm. Join the Salvation Army Band to sing the top ten hymns as chosen by the people of Bolton.

Monday

Fun Monday, Victoria Square. Music, puppet shows, magic and other activities aimed at children, families and the young at heart.

Victorian Street Market, Le Mans Crescent, 10am to 5pm. Stalls, shawls and black peas at this ever popular event.

Dream Concert, Albert Halls, 2pm. Featuring tribute bands The Vengaboyz and the Spice-ish Girls with Geri. Tickets £5.

The Auld Triangle featuring Eddi Reader and Guests, The Octagon, 7.30pm. Renowned folk ensemble Westhoughton Folk Club with guests Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine and more. Stalls £12, £10. Gallery £10, £8.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Festival Hall. Presented by Bolton Multicultural Arts, a community production featuring local people of all ages from different communities to create a unique version of Shakespeare's magical tale. Free. Festival Faces, an exhibition of photographs of Bolton Festival throughout its history, runs at Crush Hall, The Albert Halls, until August 28. Admission is free from 9.30am to 4.30pm every day except Sundays.

For events at the Octagon Theatre ring Bolton 520661. Tickets for all other festival events can be bought from the tourist information centre in the Albert Halls on 334400.