The UK's largest Christian arts Festival has started. More than 17,000 people are expected in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, over the bank holiday weekend for the annual Greenbelt festival. With specific programme events for children, teenagers and young people, Greenbelt provides a complete family experience.

Campus accommodation for the festival sold out two months ago. With over 1,000 children under 11 already booked into the kids programme this year, both the 11-14s and youth programme will also be offering their biggest provision of specific child and teen events and activities all over the racecourse site this year.

With a unique mixture of music, exhibitions, arts, talks, worship and workshops, the event is the largest of its kind in the country. The music diverse from gospel to bluegrass, folk to funk and jazz to Joseph; matches with the breadth of talks and workshops; in addition to these, Greenbelt also offers the very best in visual arts.

Over 200 artists and contributors have confirmed attendance at this year's Festival including R&B diva Jamelia, Canadian songwriter Ron Sexmith, Archbishop Rowan Williams, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Dame Anita Roddick.

Karen Napier, Chair of Greenbelt Festival said: "You just wouldn't find a soul diva like Jamelia and the Archbishop of Canterbury as headliners at a festival anywhere else. From visual to performing arts, comedy to new media, the programme is as good as it's ever been. Greenbelt promises to be a great place to be this summer."

Greenbelt general manager Paul Northup commented: "This year's music line-up is one of the richest and most varied we've ever gathered. We're really excited at its strength and depth and about the fact that there is something for everybody."

"There are those who have been coming for years and who make the festival the highpoint of their year, but there are also loads of people who come to Greenbelt for the first time every year looking for things that they can enjoy; it engages with them between the ears, and stirs them deep in their souls. You can get all of this at Greenbelt - it appeals to body, mind and spirit."

The Christian event, now in its 31st year, has been resident at the town's racecourse since 1999. The organisers are predicting its biggest attendance since the event moved to Cheltenham in 1999.

It is supported by Christian Aid, CMS, USPG, ICC Records, YMCA, Church Times.