The streets will come alive in a blaze of colourful events as final preparations get underway for this year's Brighton Festival, supported by The Argus.

Thousands of people are expected to descend on the city centre for the annual extravaganza, which will draw raw talent and experienced artists from both Sussex and the rest of the world.

The carnival will be centred on four Big Weekends, when free activities range from a Rio-style samba parade to circus shows, culminating in the Big Splash, a water-based spectacle at Brighton Marina.

Mythical characters will take over Brighton University Gardens for the Dreams And Demons show on Friday, May 9, at 9pm, when audience participation will be part of the performance.

The grounds of Brighton station will be overrun with robots when mechanical zoo Tatoo pays a visit on Friday, May 9.

Another eye-popping show will be Sister, Sister by Boilerhouse Productions on May 8, which will involve the construction of a huge labyrinth-like structure made up of more than 50 ladders and a huge film screen in the car park of Brighton City College, Pelham Street.

David Reeves, managing director of Zap Productions, which is putting on many of the outdoor events, said: "The most important thing is that artists are being taken to the people so they can see things they might not otherwise experience.

"A lot of people can't afford to pay to see things, for example going to the opera, and this gives them accessibility to the arts.

"People sometimes see art and culture as elitist. The beauty of these events is that they are free."

He also emphasised the need for a diverse programme to reflect all tastes.

He said: "We have focused on getting a mixture of different influences as that is what culture is all about.

"So, whether white, black, disabled, rich or poor, there is a wide diversity of culture."

Mr Reeves, who founded Zap Productions nine years ago, said the festival was an opportunity for home-grown artists to showcase their talents.

He said: "This year we have a real focus on UK work.

"There are lots of excellent UK companies coming together at the moment and this will be a showcase for them as there will be delegates from all over the world coming to see the festival.

"About 100 companies will be performing and I'm really excited about it."

The festival will be launched on Saturday, May 3, at 10.30am with a children's parade from Sydney Street to the seafront.