The only way is up

In an area of constant regeneration where the emphasis is on raising the cultural profile, the spirit of this year's Greenwich & Docklands International Festival is appropriately summed up in its 'East London: Looking Up!' theme.

And looking up is something that needs to be done for the festival's free launch event at Cutty Sark Gardens featuring the aerial acrobatics of Heir Of Insanity's Atlantis, daredevil antics from The Flying Dudes, Catalan Fura's seductive trapeze work, and a fun finale from French company Airvag, topped off by a firework display on the Thames.

Alongside ticketed events such as the Harlem Gospel Choir (Sat 6 Jul) there are lots of free events, including a French-inspired summer fete (Sat 6 Jul), a water carnival at Limehouse Cut (Sat 6 Jul) and the dance finale at Canary Wharf (Sat 13 Jul) which includes a swinging street dance act from Hush Hush.

Greenwich & Docklands International Festival, Fri 5-Sat 13 Jul (0870 608 2000) or visit www.festival.org.