Ticket sales for the three-day event, which begins today (Friday), have doubled this week but still only 20% have been sold.

Kenilworth Rotary Club fears that unpredictable weather could be the reason keeping the crowds away and are appealing to local people to show their support.

And in a bid to keep the clouds at bay and help with one last push to promote the event, Rotary members performed a sun dance at Kenilworth Castle this week.

Phil Highley, one of the organisers, said: “After a slow start, advance sales of tickets for the music in the castle, which is on each evening over the weekend, have more than doubled in the past week. What’s needed now is sunshine to bring out those who have missed out booking in advance.”

Geoff Burrows, member of the Rotary Club, added: “We just need some sunshine and I think it will be a truly great event. But if it rains and people haven’t yet bought their tickets, then they probably won’t bother coming.

“This is what we want to avoid so we have decided that we will make the tickets transferable for another night if it rains.”

Those with tickets will be able to use them any night of the festival if bad weather persists on the evening they have bought them for.

In February this year, the Rotary Club announced its decision to resurrect the festival for 2008.

The club members plan to turn it into an annual event for the town and see it as a way to assist the development of Kenilworth as a centre for culture and the arts .

The Kenilworth Festival was first staged in 2005 and at the time it was the first festival to be held in the town for 70 years. It was successful with residents and visitors flocking to attend events staged at venues across the town as part of the three-day festival.

The most popular proved to be talks and story-telling by screenwriter and Kenilworth resident Andrew Davies, which was sold out with 500 people attending.

This year, Mr Davies will return to the event and it is hoped his presence will bring in more visitors.

In 2006, despite some large crowds, organisers admitted that the turnout was a lot lower than expected. No event was held in 2007, but the Rotary Club hope that 2008 will be very different.

They say they have put new life into the event and urge the town to get on board and support it.

Tickets for the evening Music at the Castle events are obtainable from the castle information centre, Kenilworth Library and John Boothroyd Estate Agents. Gates open at 5.30pm and the performance starts at 7pm.

l The Weekly News weatherman is forecasting light showers for today, showers with sunny periods for Saturday, and sunny intervals for Sunday.

l Turn to page 15 for a complete guide to the festival events.