ORGANISERS of Marsden Jazz Festival will be running free drop-in workshops on Saturday to help people enjoy the event.

People will be able to make their own "New Orleans Parasol" which they can then take along to the festival the following week and join in the festival's traditional centrepiece, the street parade.

Rachel Ellis of Marsden-based creative arts company Square Peg Arts will be on hand to provide materials and inspiration at the workshops, which run from 10am to 1pm and 2 to 5pm on Saturday at Marsden Socialist Club.

Festival Coordinator, Taru Sinclair said: “Over the years the festival parade has been a real draw for the crowds and it's getting bigger and bigger. This year it's being led by the very funky New York Brass Band and will also feature dozens of dancers from the Bernadette Heys School of Dance.”