Highlights of the festival season include a six-week class, four concerts and a variety evening, Loughton’s first green fair and bake off competition, and a First World War study day led by Prof David Stevenson, an international historian. 

Most of the events will be raising money for the Loughton Foodbank, and the whole thing is organised by volunteers living in the Loughton area.

Various venues, Loughton, April 22 to May 31. Details: loughtonfestival.org