MORE than 25,000 people packed Blackburn town centre yesterday to ensure the opening of this weekend's second National Festival of Making was a sun-kissed success.

Its founding director Wayne Hemingway hailed the event as even bigger and better than last year’s with visitors from all over the country enjoying attractions reflecting the town’s rich and varied manufacturing and cultural heritage.

The initial attendance estimate for the first day was almost as many as the 30,000 over the whole weekend at last year's event.

There was making, music and food in shops, stalls and marquees everywhere for visitors to enjoy.

Internationally famous designer Mr Hemingway said: “It's been a really good day and the warm weather was just right.

"The feedback from everyone has been great. More people came and they stayed longer.”

Events continue today across Blackburn town centre

They include:

BBC Introducing stage music and performance at the Cathedral Square from 3pm to 6pm.

DO NOT DISTURB Performance. Outdoor theatre circus in Cathedral Square from 2pm.

BBC Radio Lancashire live festival show from 12 noon to 2pm.

Street food and Routemaster bus bar festival food court in Cathedral Square from11am to 6pm.

Talbot Talks Archive Exhibition at Blackburn Cathedral (Nave) from 11am to 6pm.

Real to Reel Film. Crafts Council film screening at Blackburn Cathedral from 12 noon to 4pm.

Cardboard Cinema Exhibition. AiM at Blackburn Cathedral (The Crypt) from 11am to 6pm.

Steam pavilion workshops and demonstrations in Ainsworth Street / Bus Depot from 11am to 6pm.

The teenage market at Ainsworth Street / Bus Depot from 11am to 6pm.

McNally Music Tuition Guitar and Drum Workshop at Ainsworth Street / Bus Depot from11am to 6pm.

Less Waste: More Taste / Feast! Food & Workshops - Community cooking The Bureau Centre for the Arts from 11am to 5pm.

Community Dining Space at The Bureau Centre for the Arts from 11am to 5pm.

The Bureau Cinema Club at The Bureau Centre for the Arts from 11am to 5pm.

Festival Street Food and Picnic Benches in Town Hall Square and Cathedral Square from 11am to 6pm.

Martin Ware Soundscape Audio Experience Tony's Ballroom - Town Hall Street from 11am to 6pm

Sarah Hardacre with Surface Print Exhibition at 20 Town Hall Street from 11am to 6pm. Sarah Hardacre with Surface Print - Grace Sculptural Installation in King William Street from 11am to 6pm.

Liz West with Graham and Brown Colour Installation at the Cotton Exchange, King William Street from 11am to 6pm.

David Murphy with WEC Sculptural Installation Prism Gallery, Lord Street West, from 11am to 6pm.

Hannah Fox with Cardboard Box Company Theatrical Installation in the Cathedral Crypt from 11am to 6pm.

Shane Johnstone with Blackburn Youth Zone Young People's Art Commission at Radio Lancashire, Darwen Street, from 11am to 6pm.

Pop Up Factory with The Alliance Project featuring industrial sewing machines at the Festival Hub, King William Street, from 11am to 6pm.

Folding Table Workshop and Installation. Paper plane folding at the Festival Hub in King William Street from 11am to 6pm.

Diamond Awl Workshop featuring leather working at the Festival Hub, King William Street, from 11am to 6pm.

Supermarché Workshop - Screen print your own retro packaging and products at the Festival Hub, King William Street, from 11am to 6pm.

ALPHAKNIT Typography and Set Dress workshop and demonstration, and typography knitting at the Festival Hub, King William Street, from 11am to 6pm.

Adventures in Goldwork Embroidery Workshop at Blackburn Library from 11am to 6pm

Elmro model railways demonstration at Blackburn Library from 11am to 6pm.

Taste Lancashire Food Producers Tent and Demonstration Markets featuring local producers in Town Hall Square, King William, from 11am to 5pm.

Make with Manufacturer Workshops in Town Hall Square, King William, from 11am to 6pm

Girls Girls Girls - Suffragette Workshop Workshop in King William Street and Town Hall Square from 11am to 6pm.

Remember Me Workshop featuring artist video in King William Street and Town Hall Square from 11am to 6pm.

Best In Show Performance Space in King William Street from 11am to 6pm.

Myerscough Floral Dresses Exhibition and Workshop in King William Street from 11am to 6pm.

Blackburn People's Choir Performance Music and Performance in King William Street at 11.30am.

Art in Manufacturing Legacy Exhibition in Blackburn Museum from 11am to 6pm.

Artist Musician, Lawrence Leith Demonstration in Blackburn Museum from 11am to 6pm.

Julia Swarbrick Artist Workshop on the printing press in Blackburn Museum from 11am to 6pm.

Get Crafty Workshop Children's activities in Blackburn Museum from 11am to 6pm.

Handling boxes exhibition and demonstration in Blackburn Museum from 11am to 6pm.

Clayground Collective Workshop featuring Clay sculpture in Museum Street from 11am to 5pm.

Sarah Hicks Artist Workshop featuring upcycling in Museum Street from 11am to 6pm.

Katie Duxbury Artist Workshop featuring upcycling in Museum Street from 11am to 6pm.

Shane Johnstone Artist Workshop featuring origami in Museum Street from 11am to 6pm.

Make Your Way To Health and Well Being Workshop in Museum Street from 11am to 6pm.

Myerscough College Workshop on flowers in Museum Street from 11am to 6pm.

The Making Rooms with FabLab Workshops in The Making Rooms, King William Street, from11am to 6pm.

Makers Market curated by Hopeful and Glorious Market featuring more than 50 makers and artistsin King Georges Hall from 11am to 5pm.

Real to Reel Film Festival at King Georges Hall from 11am to 5pm.

Blackburn College Fashion Students exhibition in King Georges Hall and the Cathedral at 11am to 5pm.

Restore Shop Demonstration at Blakey Moor Terrace from 11am to 5pm.

Darwen Terracotta Exhibition at 29 Northgate from 11am to 5pm.

Community Clothing - Slogan T-Shirts Workshop and Screen Printing Community Clothing in Lord Street West from 11am to 5pm.

UCLan and Gawthorpe Hall Hidden Treasures Exhibition & Workshop at The Mall from 11am to 6pm.

Stitched Pendant Workshops at The Mall from 11am to 6pm.

Kantha Stitch Workshop at The Mall from 11am to 6pm.