THE Art in Woodstock festival began at the weekend with a rendition of the Blue Danube – played on kazoos and car horns.

The unusual musical approach to the waltz was chosen to fit in with this year’s theme of SmART.

The week-long celebration of visual arts in the town’s bars, restaurants, hotels and shops, was launched in the town square by children from Woodstock Primary School, who spent months learning to play the tune.

Sponsor Mercedes Benz provided the festival with two Smart Cars, along with several wooden cutouts, for children to draw and paint on with washable pens and paints. Katie Slade and her children Quinn, two, and Eva, five, are pictured.

Festival spokesman Anne Stabler said Art in Woodstock was a chance to display the work of local talent and visiting professional artists.

The car cutouts will remain in the town square all week and visitors to Art in Woodstock are encouraged to paint on them and decorate them as they wish.

For more information about Art in Woodstock, see the festival website.