The Highwood Lions Musical Festival is underway with the first week of performances just wrapping up.

It runs from March 20th to April 7th, has been extended this year to three full weeks from two with all the classes taking place at the United Church.

Performances are open to the community so if you can go and watch, you are in for a treat.

"It is live music and it is being generated by passionate young musicians, who are surrounded by excellent teachers and family support," said president Reverend David Robertson.

He says the festival is really a community -wide, regional-wide expression of the arts.

There are a lot of age groups involved and some are very young performers.

"We try to create lots of room so they don't have to go very late in the day. They tend to be our most popular number of registrations."

Lots of family and friends come out to watch the children perform.

"It's really important. To have the support of family and friends and parents especially, without them we wouldn't have a festival. It is really a family affair."

The adjudicators showcase concert  is the highlight of the festival and takes place April 8, 2 P.M. at the United church.

"What they can expect are performances that are fun, that are engaging, that are charming, that have great character and have real audience appeal'" said Robertson.

Every year the concert is a bit different, and it covers all the categories that are in the festival.

"You can expect to hear students performing that represent every discipline that we host at the festival."

Areas like musical theatre, string instruments, brass and woodwind and of course singing.

"It's almost like the classical variety concert. It's a chance for the performers to show their stuff and to enjoy performing for an audience," Robertson added.

It's also a chance for the audience to enjoy a wide variety of musical expression across many disciplines.

"Everybody, we hope you will come."