The boats and waters of Brighton Marina provide the backdrop to the Big Splash as it sets sail for another extravaganza of street theatre, music and dance.

With a nautical theme and acts with overseas influences, this is probably one of the most popular events of the Brighton Festival and as such, is being saved to til the end, when it will make up the 2005 grand finale.

Presented by Zap Art, the event begins with five hours of day-time entertainment. Acts include the Ladies Of The Waves - who are Agnes Swighandle, Fruiti Di Cosco and Fanny Drawbridge - a trio of women of a certain age, who practice the little-known art form of amateur dry-land synchronised swimming.

There are also the "fezpians of street theatre", the Splott Brothers, known for their eccentric cabaret, comic stupidity and live piano, while Syrovy features silent-movie clowning, acrobatics and slackrope walking.

The Brothers Juan present The Incredible Bull Circus - a comedy spectacular starring their highly-skilled bulls capable of daredevil antics, such as leaping through rings of fire and being blasted from canons.

High Flyers give a display of gymnastics, acrobatics and fire tricks against vibrant East African music and the traditional music of Bhangra is set against a modern backing track in a Freestyle Bhangra dance and dhol drumming performance.

Street performers walking around the marina will keep crowds amused and brave landlubbers can venture into the lavishly decorated belly of a lifesize inflatable sperm whale.

After a break and as the sun sets, the Big Splash moves into its evening performance of music from around the world .

Brighton Carnival gets down with Caribbean, Chinese, Trinidadian and Tobagon rhythms, while on the upper boardwalk, world music sets the scene with Vocal Explosion, featuring more than 40 accapella singers reaching to the cliff tops with their unique blend of harmony and string rhythms.

The 20 saxophonists which make up Saxshop belt out tunes to get your feet tapping, while Limon bring some funky Afro- Cuban sounds. The Show Ponies perform a bold and brassy repertoire and Fanfara celebrates with wedding music from north-east Romania.

Everyone's eyes should turn to the sky at 10pm for The Fire Show from Walk The Plank, providing the grand finale to the Big Splash, as well as to the Brighton Festival as a whole.

From its boat, a firework spectacular is released which will turn the marina into a blaze of pyrotechnics, flaming fountains and waterfalls to set the night sky alight.

Show starts noon until 5pm, then evening from 6pm. Free.