Folk music fans are in for a treat when the third Oxford Folk Festival opens today.

Now in its third year, the festival promises music, marching bands, street puppeteers, strolling minstrels, children's crafts, family entertainers, hobby horses and morris dancers.

The festival will be offering a range of free events, thanks to an Arts Council grant, including singing sessions, bellydancing and theatre. The majority of the free events take place at Oxford Castle.

The music kicks off tonight with The Old Swan Band's grand ceilidh, which starts in the Town Hall at 8pm, while the Oxford Waits will appear at the Holywell Music Room, also at 8pm. At 8.30pm Oxford Folk Club will hold an open night in the Port Mahon, in St Clement's.

Headliners at the Town Hall tomorrow include Bellowhead, who made their debut at the festival in 2004, Waterson:Carthy and On English Ground, a young troupe whose displays feature giant heads of boar and unicorn.

On Sunday, Flook, voted Best Band in this year's BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, will perform, as well as Irish icon Andy Irvine, and Zimbabwean acapella and dance showstoppers Black Umfolosi.

There will also be the chance to see performances by fiddle-player and guitarist Chris Wood, in the Holywell Music Room at 6.30pm tomorrow, Newcastle duo Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, in the Town Hall at 8pm tomorrow and multi-instrumentalist Andy Cronshaw, in the Holywell Music Room at 8.30pm on Sunday.

Festival director Tim Healey promised the festival would be more exciting then ever.

He added: "With top flight concerts, processional giants, jack-in-the-green, hobby horses, and morris dancers galore, there will be something for everyone to enjoy."

Weekend, day passes and individual concert tickets cost from £10 and are available in advance from the Oxford Playhouse, on 01865 305305 and at the Town Hall over the weekend.

For a full programme of events, see www.oxfordfolkfestival.com