Crowds have been flocking to pubs, clubs, parks and halls across Mill Hill this week for the area's fifth music festival and it is still not too late to join in the party.

The festival got off to a swinging start in Mill Hill Park, Daws Lane, on Saturday (May 31) with the Franklin Street New Orleans Jazz Band and the Barnet Band.

The evening saw the premiere of the Mill Suite, composed by Mill Hill-born Philip Seaton, at St Michael and All Angels Church in Flower Lane.

Jane Ellison, one of the festival organisers, said: "It has been wonderful. We have had the most amazing opening weekend with huge crowds. The premiere of the Mill Suite was wonderful and Phil [Seaton] was virtually mobbed.

"The Adam & Eve pub was absolutely heaving all the pub gigs have been and the weather was brilliant for us. We had 200 people at the Hendon Band of the Salvation Army concert on Sunday (June 1). Sixty people came from the Friends of Barnet in Siegerland, Barnet's twin town in Germany.

"There has just been a really super atmosphere and enormous enthusiasm across every genre. There are still tickets available for all of the events for the rest of the week, but people are advised to try and get tickets early."

Visit the web site http://www.millhillmusicfest.co.uk for more details. Tickets are available at Nomad Travel in Mill Hill Broadway. Call 020 8906 4151.

The best of the rest

Thursday, June 5: 7.45pm, Carousel is performed by The Mill Hill Amateur Operatic Society, Hartley Hall, Flower Lane; 8.30pm, Texas Flood sing the blues at the Indigo Cafe Bar, Mill Hill Broadway.

Friday, June 6: 7.45pm, second night of Carousel; 7.45pm, Irish night featuring The Behans, St James' School Hall, Great Strand, Grahame Park; 8.30pm, The False Dots , Paradox and Nine Dogs Deep play Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way.

Saturday, June 7: 2.30pm, the Military Band of the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, play Mill Hill Park; 7pm, The Last Night Soul Party, featuring The Boogie Brothers, The Mill pub, Holders Hill Circus; 7.45pm, Festival Closing Concert with the London Pro Arte Choir and Orchestra, John Keble Church, Deans Lane, featuring work from Mozart, Purcell and Haydn.