There are two images that stick in the mind of Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill when she thinks of the Imagine Festival.

“My first Kodak moment was when I stood in the parade watching something, and I saw a typical Watford dad, his Watford football shirt stretched over his paunch, walking through the town centre with his daughter. She tugged at his arm and exclaimed ‘Daddy stop, I want to see the fairies’. He looked around and noticed, for the first time, there were others watching an act from Imagine. So he sat down with his daughter, wrapped his coat around her, and settled into the performance.

“The other memory I have is of a group of lads, strolling through town. They were so busy looking at what was going on, they couldn’t help but be drawn in. That is until they went smack into a lamppost,“ she guffaws.

“That’s the power of Imagine. It can take you into another world.“ The 11-day event, now in its third year, is touted as a festival of extraordinary open air moments. It kicks off on Thursday, June 20, and according to organisers promises to be better than ever with performance art to dance to live music.

“It was a brave decision for us to go ahead with this festival,“ says Dorothy, “and to put it at the top of town, particularly as that area only comes alive at night with our young people.

“But I think Imagine is helping residents feel differently about that area, to see it as a space where good things can happen.

“It makes them proud to be Watfordians and with Imagine we’re creating what we hope will be Kodak moments for you too.“

PROGRAMME

WEEK ONE

Thursday, June 20
Trolleys 1.15pm, 6.45pm
Why Do I Have Wings? 1.40pm, 5.45pm
The Frenzy 5.15pm, 6.15pm, 7.15pm

Friday, June 21
Trolleys 1.15pm, 6.45pm
Why Do I Have Wings? 1.40pm, 5.45pm
The Frenzy 5.15pm, 6.15pm, 7.15pm 
Roules Boule et les Ratatams 10pm

Saturday, June 22

A High Street Odyssey 12.30pm,1.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm
Saurus 1pm, 3.45pm 
Trolleys 2pm, 4.40pm
Glisssssssssendo Opus II 2.30pm, 5.15pm

Sunday, June 23
A High Street Odyssey 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm
Saurus 1pm, 3.15pm
Trolleys 2pm, 4.15pm

WEEK TWO

Wednesday, June 26
Captive 1.30pm, 5.30pm, 7.30pm 
TUG 2pm, 3.15pm, 5pm, 6.15pm, 7.30pm

Thursday, June 27
Captive 1.30pm, 5.30pm, 7.30pm

Friday, June 28
Expedition Paddock 1pm
And We Will Play Again? 1.45pm, 5pm Scoop 5.30pm, 6.30pm, 8pm
Expedition Paddock 7pm

Saturday, June 29
Splash! 12.30pm
Miss High Leg Kick’s Promettes 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 4.30pm
Push 1pm, 2.40pm, 3.45pm
TUG 1pm, 4.45pm
Expedition Paddock 1.30pm, 5.20pm
TUG 2.15pm, 6pm, 7.15pm 
Splash! 2.15pm, 5pm
Scoop 3pm, 6.15pm, 7.35pm
And We Will Play Again? 3pm, 6.05pm
Our Sound 6pm

Sunday, June 30
TUG 11am, 12.15pm, 2.45pm, 4pm, 5.15pm
Splash! 12.30pm, 3pm, 4pm
And We Will Play Again? 1pm, 3.30pm
Push 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 4.30pm
Dervish in Progress 2pm, 5pm