THE week-long Pembroke Dock Midsummer Festival returns this Sunday, June 12, with plenty of new events.

A skateboarding competition will kick-flip off the festival at 11am on Sunday, with a mini-beast hunt in the Memorial Park with Darwin Science at 4pm on Monday, June 13.

An open afternoon at Pembrokeshire Beachfood on Warrior Way on Tuesday, June 14, will see the prize-winning local company offering tours of its seaweed drying facility and serving hot tasty food between 4pm and 6.30pm.

Other new events for this year’s festival include a free golf taster session at Pembroke Dock Golf Club, also at 4pm on June 13, a bat walk with local bat expert Max Burrell in the Memorial Park at 9.30pm on Friday, June 17, and a Summertime Baby Rhyme Time at the library on Wednesday, June 15, at 10.30am.

Firm favourites returning in 2016 include historical walks (two Dockyard Heritage Trails, kindly led by Sunderland Trust volunteer Ted at 6pm on June 13 and 11am on June 16), Strawberry Tea at the Anchorage on Wednesday at 1.15pm and a dance at the Pater Hall on the evening of Friday.

Encompass will also be holding an open day at its shop on Friday from 11am until 3pm, with bingo and snacks, and Communities First will be offering a range of activities during the week, including Planting Salad and Herbs on June 14 at 3.30pm in the Yo Yo Centre in Hamilton Court, a Healthy Cook Club at 3.30pm on June 15, also at the Yo Yo Centre, Family Street Games in the Memorial Park at 3.30pm on June 16 and Walks Around Pembroke Dock at 12.30pm on June 17.

There will also be a free special quiz about Pembroke Dock available during festival week. Quiz sheets can be collected from the Sunderland Trust, the Maritime Heritage Trust (Hancocks Yard) or the library.

The ever-popular Fun in the Park day in the Memorial Park will be one of the main events of the festival, but this year it will be the festival finale on June 18.

Fun in the Park will feature free-running workshops and displays from KBAM, a graffiti workshop; tennis skills and drills and a yoga taster session this year, as well as firm favourites such as a climbing wall, trampolines, inflatables, donkey rides, falconry and children’s entertainment.