From 31 July to 1 September, summer events in Ljubljana will be enlivened by the 21st Trnfest festival.

Trnfest runs under the wing of KUD France Prešeren (Cultural Society France Prešeren) and, in five weeks or 33 days and evenings, offers free-of-charge events for young and old, for lovers of music, theatre, exhibitions, films and creative workshops, including events for the youngest.

All festival events are held at KUD France Prešeren. Thus 'Ljubljana's August centre symbolically moves to Trnovo once more'. Events at the end of the festival – between 30 August and 1 September – are also to be enriched by the Emona Promenade.

The 2012 Trnfest programme offers performers from Slovenia and abroad, among whom you can check out Slovenian bands the Fake Orchestra at the festival opening (31.7), Brencl banda (10.8), Ewok (17.8), Artbeaters (19.8), Katalena (20.8), Balot and Šodr Teater (24.8), Dekadent (26.8), Zlatko Kaučič Kombo A with wind instrumentalists (28.8) and Ikarus Down and Neon Spektra (30.8).

The festival will also host various international acts such as Inner Terrestrials (UK – 3.8), Wattican Punk Ballet (Hungary – 4.8), Viza (USA – 8.8), Freshlyground (South Africa – 9.8), Twin Arrows (France – 11.8), Seven That Spells (Croatia – 14.8), MC Vecco & MC Sjena (Bosnia – 18.8), Yellowcard (USA – 21.8), Soda (Switzerland – 25.8), Lombego Surfers (Switzerland – 31.8) and to round off the festival Pips, Chips & Videoclips (Croatia – 1.9).

The theatre programme, which retains its emphasis on KUD France Prešeren productions, is especially rich this year. It all kicks off with the romantic comedy Ugriz ('Bite') (1.8), followed by the cabaret show Rdeči kabaret ('Red Cabaret') (2.8), the theatre-musical show Radio Yu Tup – Never Too Late For Glory and improvised theatre with Čist huda predstavo ('Really wild performance') by Gverila Teater ('Guerrilla Theatre') (5.8), Rock 'n' Roll impro the Narobov collective (6.8), Kurba and director (7. 8.), a stand-up comedy evening A ti to resno? with Vid Valič, Denis Avdić and Ivan Šarić (22.8), finishing off with a sales performance by the Zadod Federacija ('Federation Institute') entitled 'Razprodaja Kapitala' ('Capital clearance sale') and a theatre-religious ceremony called Zaničniško odmaševanje (the Zeroite Mass') by Andrej Rozman Roza (27.8).

This year, the KUD 'Improligašev' are setting out on an improvised theatre Impro marathon, this time of 25 hours, which opens on 12 August on Trnfest's main stage, continuing non-stop in the hall all night and all the next day until evening when it moves outside to the main stage once more and concludes with a Grand Finale.

The festival running order includes two dance shows: Enya Belak's The Daddy Project (15.8) and a solo show by Maša Kagao Knez with Rojena izven svoje vasi ('Born outside Her Village') (29.8).

As per tradition the children's programme will light up Thursdays, and at the end of August Trnfest will link up with its sister festival the Emona Promenade, providing additional performances, street shows and educational events for adults just as much for the younger ones.

Among the Thursday film screenings there is to be a selection of shorter acted and animated domestic and foreign movies as well as the programme Animateka po Animateki (23.8). The exhibitions include the winners of the photographic competition TrnFoto 2006-2011 in the KUD club room, while the KUD gallery in the foyer features an exhibition of pictures by Tilen Mihelič Kurent entitled 'Trnow vs. Rog' and an exhibition of children's illustrations titled Iščem založnika ('I'm looking for a Publisher') by Manica Klenovšek Musil.

Every Saturday and Sunday, from noon onwards there is a series of creative workshops for young and old, which this time comprises creative mosaics, comic strips, architectural workshops, packaging recycling, creating with clay and calligraphy. The festival's closing day (1 September) sees the KUD France Prešeren courtyard hosting ARTish, a sales-exhibitional showcase of creators' unique works as well as creative and dance workshops for young and old alike.

The Emona Promenade, the 12th international festival of street theatre, which takes place under the wing of KUD France Prešeren from 30 August to 1 September [between 6pm and 9pm], whose content supplements Trnfest, once again runs on Trnovo bridge and Emonska ulica. Both venues during the promenade are transformed into open-air theatres and creative promenades, full of artists from around the world, so young and old alike can dip their toes into artistic skills and family games.

The organisers at KUD France Prešeren expect about 60,000 people to attend the festival, which is the optimal number regarding capacities and bearing in mind that KUD France Prešeren is in the heart of a residential area. That is why the daily events in the courtyard at KUD France Prešeren finish at 10pm and then move into the hall, usually with a DJ or theatre performance. In the event of rain, the programme is suspended for 30 minutes before resuming in the hall.

Further info about Trnfest: www.trnfest.si.