After more than a year in limbo, how does a week of beer festivals, boating, bands, book signings and sundry other excitements sound? Yes, the River Deben is about to spring back to life, and a Felixstowe music festival is very much onboard.

A festival of events on the river will unfold in August, highlighting the local clubs, businesses and charities that have weathered the pandemic and are determined to make the most of what looks like it could be a return to the nearly normal.

The Mini Felixstowe Ferry Music Festival features The Oompah Band – much Bavarian fun and frivolity, at Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club and then Felixstowe Ferry Millennium Green with live music including the Festival Orchestra - free Open Rehearsal of film scores and other music.

The River Deben Association (RDA), which has for more than three decades been promoting the river, conservation and the many exciting things that happen in and around it, is organising the Deben Summer Festival, to run in the week of August 7 to August 15.

It will feature a multiplicity of contributing events organised by local clubs, restaurants, pubs and businesses, who are being asked to get involved. Moray MacPhail, the RDA membership secretary and Festival co-ordinator, said: "The idea is simple. During that week, get as much going on as possible.

"If you run a pub, it could be a beer festival, quiz, live music or a BBQ. If a sports club, try-it-out sessions, games, races. Or well-being sessions at your spa, author signings at your bookshop, exhibitions at your gallery, talks at your museum, walks by birdwatchers, demonstrations by boatbuilders…

"Anything by anybody, just something to look forward to which can be adjusted to suit whatever social distancing restrictions are still in place in August."

"It is hoped that in 2022 the Woodbridge Regatta and Maritime Woodbridge events will return but, with the unique event planning constraints of 2021, we felt that this year needed something different to celebrate a return from self-isolation and social deprivation to the joys that once made this part of Suffolk so attractive are gradually returning."

This week the first reports emerged of a Festival of Suffolk to take place next year to showcase the county and help communities recover from the effects of the pandemic.

The intention is that the Deben Summer Festival will likewise encourage businesses and other organisations up and down the river to show that they keen to take part in what is expected to be an economic resurgence as Suffolk folk emerge from lockdown and start to enjoy themselves again.

Mr MacPhail added: "After a year of cancellations it's time for something to look forward to."

The Association is contacting local businesses, organisations and other bodies