THE Barry Waterfront Tall Ship Festival, held against the stunning setting of Barry's thriving waterfront development, is here again!

The festival, which is sponsored by Evans Halshaw Chevrolet, is vastly popular, with more than 20,000 people attending last year's September event.

It takes place this weekend - Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4.

The event is aimed at being fun for the whole family.

Past attractions have included face-painting, street entertainers, food and drink, health and beauty and Norman Sayers' fairground rides and stalls.

This year's festival will also include an appearance from the Tall Ships Youth Trust's magnificent vessel Prince William, sister ship to the Stavros Niarchos vessel that sailed into Barry last year.

A magnificent 60-metre square-rigged sail ship, the Prince William has 18 sails, two rigs and a 45-metre mast, weighs 493 tonnes and is going to be a spectacular sight sailing into Barry.

The Tall Ships Youth Trust, incorporating the Sail Training Association, is a registered charity founded in 1956 and dedicated to the personal development of young people aged 16 to 25 through the crewing of Tall Ships.

Street entertainers Risky in Pink and the Splott Brothers are guaranteed to entertain, while Patua Dance Company will delight all ages with a display based on the theme of'Coming into Port'.

The event is also a chance for local bands to perform.

Saturday's performers include Wheel Chair Getaway Drivers, Sugarline, Jamie Lee Brenan, Bobby Smooth, Book of Shadows, They Walk Among Us and My Red Cell. Sunday's performers include New Druids, Funhouse, Purple Hearts, Sian Powell, K-diff Syndicate, Dionne Bennett, Mal Pope and Leighton Jones.

Nadia Griffiths is this year's host of the music stage. Having started her career at The VIBE Experience, based at Area 41 in Holton Road, Barry, Nadia is a favourite with the local crowd after hosting the Barry Festival of Fun in June and last year's Barry Waterfront Festival.

In between warming up the crowds, she performed a few of her favourite RnB and soul songs, and is currently looking for a record deal.

The weekend will also feature the Focus Barry Yacht Club Sailing Keel boat regatta, which will take place in the dock over the two days. The club's new Celtic Sea Rowing Boat will also be on display.

The Vale of Glamorgan Railway Company will run steam train rides every half hour on Pamela the steam locomotive, while vintage bus rides will run between the festival sites.

The buses will run between noon and 3pm from the Goods Shed Site to the Barry Shed to view the remaining steam trains of the Barry Ten, which nostalgically will be the last time the Barry Ten will be together.

Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for regeneration, tourism and leisure Mike Harvey said: "I am delighted to welcome the Prince William to the Barry Waterfront Festival.

"Stavros Niarchos was with us last year and proved to be extremely popular with the crowds, and I'm sure this year will be just as huge a success. With all the activities and music planned for this festival, it is guaranteed to be an excellent weekend."