The Paralympic Torch is coming to Newham tonight

Olympic Torch and Blue Peter star at the Newham Mayor’s Town Show

The arrival of the Olympic Torch and a live broadcast by popular children’s TV programme Blue Peter are just two of the highlights of the Mayor’s Newham Show next Saturday July 21.

Blue Peter presenters Helen Skelton and Barney Harwood will be on the CBBC channel at 9am ahead of the Olympic flame coming to Central Park in High Street South, East Ham.

Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: “I hope as many residents as possible will join us in welcoming the Olympic Torch Relay and Blue Peter’s Big Olympic Tour. This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

“This year’s Mayor’s Newham Show will be an entertaining and inspiring weekend of fun, free entertainment, live events, top musicians, local talent and so much more for all ages.”

The Olympic torch will arrive at 10.20am on the Woolwich Ferry. Torchbearers will carry it from North Woolwich to Central Park before it travels to Westfield Stratford City and along High Street, Stratford.

When it arrives at the Mayor’s Newham Show at 11.15am it will be greeted by the Newham Generation 2012 choir, made up children from across the borough. Their performance will reflect the Olympic ideals of celebration, friendship and national pride and be followed by a variety of local acts showcasing the very best of Newham talent.

More than 2,000 children in the annual Mayor’s Newham Carnival will then follow the flame as it exits Central Park. Hundreds of young people and community groups will bring colour to the streets of East Ham as the spectacular procession promises to be bigger, brighter and better than ever.

In addition to the Mayor’s Newham Show, other key places to view the torch will be High Street North, Green Street in Upton Park, Romford Road and Meridian Square, Theatre Square and The Grove in Stratford.

Throughout the two days of the show, Blue Peter’s Big Olympic Tour will see young people try a range of Olympic sports, go back in time to discover the history of the Olympic Games and have a go at being a sports commentator.

The best of Newham talent will fill the show’s main stage throughout the whole weekend. Hosted by Ashley J and Tee-J, the stage will welcome acts from street dance to soul, rock to reggae, including Britain’s Got Talent star James Anderson.

Newham at the seaside returns with a beach, donkey rides, a giant helter skelter and a crazy golf course. Bring your swimwear and towels and take a dip in the paddling pool.

The Newham village fete is also back with free funfair games and Maypole dancing. You can also get competitive at the Best in Show competitions with categories from longest carrots, juiciest strawberries, best jam and chutney and cake decorating.

The cabaret tent welcomes stylish magic, breathtaking acrobatics, a ukulele band, Hawaiian dancing and Asian Elvis, Sal Bashir.

Very young children have their own area of fun and entertainment where they can enjoy assault courses, circus activities, face painting, hoola hooping, a bouncy castle and a petting farm with pygmy goats, rabbits and guinea pigs.

If the excitement of one Olympic flame isn’t enough, the 1948 London Olympic Torch will be on show with an exhibition about the 1948 Games. There will also be an exhibition on Jubilee celebrations from years gone by.

The Mayor’s Newham Show takes place on 21 July from 9.30am to 6pm and Sunday 22 July from 12noon to 6pm. For more details visit www.newham.com/summer