THE weird and wonderful of the carnival will be dazzling crowds at Dorset’s most popular festival this summer.

Camp Bestival’s organisers have announced the line-up of acts performing on the brand new Shadylady Stage at Lulworth Castle from July 28 to July 31.

It features hula-hoop marvels, storytellers, a ‘kaleidoscopic umbrella troupe’, fire shows and much more carnival action.

To host these wonders, the team behind Camp Bestival have teamed up with Arts Council England – a national development agency that provides funding for arts projects.

Phil Gibby, area director for South West Arts Council England, said: “We’re really pleased to be supporting Carnival at Camp Bestival.

“Carnival is a participatory public celebration and has the ability to engage a depth and breadth of audiences, bringing people together in a shared and uplifting experience.”

Big name acts include Isle of Wight carnival club Shadmakers who will bring colourful shows chaos and costumes.

Bristol based Cirque Bijou, known for an array of dazzling spectacles, will perform a kaleidoscopic show using umbrellas and Marawa’s Majorettes from London will perform an unmissable hula-hoop show.

Rob da Bank, co-creator of Camp Bestival, said: “We all love a good carnival and last year’s show was honestly one of the best spectacles I’ve witnessed ever at Camp Bestival - a madcap cornucopia of colour, flamboyance and artistic excellence - some truly great costumes.

“I cannot wait to see it in action again.”

Area 51, a group which has appeared on Britain’s Got Talent, will be breathing fire and tottering on stilts in shows over the weekend whilst Batala Portsmouth will perform a drum set.

Revellers can get out and about with walkabouts and sideshows over the weekend from Jurassic CSI, Igor Rasputin’s Caravan of Lost Souls, Kapow, Horns of Plenty, Pelican Post, Ladies of the Lawn, Virevolante and the Skip Team.

There will be and enormous day parade on Sunday July 31 and night parades on Friday July 29 and Saturday July 30.

Tickets are available from Lulworth Heritage Centre at Lulworth Cove and the Discover Purbeck Information Centre at Warhead.

You can also buy day tickets and weekend tickets from Ticketline on 0844 888 4410.

The festival has attracted some big head-lining acts such as electo-veteran Fatboy Slim and singer songwriter KT Tunstall.