Mail reporter Michael Whelan has produced a video report of Saturday's fabulous Arts Fresco festival.

Click the green play symbol to watch the video report. The 40-minute video may take a few minutes to download.

Get this week's Harborough Mail to see more photos from the event.

Thousands of people descended on the town centre to soak up the free entertainment on offer – and enjoy unexpected September sunshine.

Among the highlights of this year's festival, made possible by £62,000 in grants, were Cyclotron – a trio of Transformer-like robots who arrived in a blaze of flashing lights and noise – Motionhouse Dance, a dancing troupe who performed their own stunning take on the everyday commute, and Osadia, two hairdressing wizards who transformed willing participants into walking works of art.

As well as regular performances in The Square, there were also a number of wandering acts including the 8ft tall Albert the Ogre, a duo of giant seagulls called Big Rory, and the Fair Play fishmongers, who showed off their dancing prawns and an eel desperate to escape from its jar (editor's note: no live animals were mistreated).

In High Street, a bit of the seaside was brought to Harborough specially for the youngsters with a sandpit outside Joules – a sponsor of the all-day event – and a Punch and Judy show. There was also a circus skills area in the Memorial Gardens where children were taught to juggle, hula hoop and use a diabolo – they also had the opportunity to have their faces painted.

George Kitson, chairman of the Arts Fresco organising committee, said: "I think it was a stupendous day and probably the best Arts Fresco we have organised so far. The town centre was packed and, although the weather is partly to thank for that, I think the quality of the acts was superb. We've already started thinking about next year's event and hopefully we can make it even bigger."

In total 82 performers from all over the UK and Europe performed. Arts Fresco is also sponsored by Arts Council England East Midlands, Harborough District Council, Leicestershire County Council and Arts and Business.