World-famous flautist Sir James Galway, pianist John Lill, the Black Dyke Band, Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, tenor Alfie Boe, historian Michael Wood and folk stars John Tams and Barry Coope are some of the top names converging on the town for the two-week feast of music and the arts.

Festival administrator Joanne Mawson said: "There has been great public enthusiasm because this summer's programme has very broad appeal and that huge interest has been translated into big business at the box office."

There is a waiting list for tickets for Sir James Galway, who will appear with his wife and fellow flautist, Lady Jeanne Galway, at the Corn Exchange on Tuesday.

A number of other events – including a series of five morning coffee concerts between Monday to Friday, July 21 and 25 – are expected to be sell-outs by the time they take place.

Festival artistic director Ambrose Miller has described the programme as "an exceptional collection of talent which rivals any other festival in the UK".

"Sir James Galway, who now lives in Switzerland, will make one of his rare appearances in England and it is a real coup that the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, which will be conducted by Libor Pesek, is flying over especially for its appearance at Lynn and just one other date in Britain," said Mr Miller.

John Lill, who gave a recital attended by the late Queen Mother and the Prince of Wales to mark the 50th festival, will be appearing on Thursday and The Black Dyke Band, which thrilled the audience at the festival's opening concert in 2005, is set to do the same on Sunday with a programme of traditional brass band classics.

Trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins has won many admirers on previous visits to Lynn. He is performing in a family event called Hosepipes, Horns and Trumpets next Saturday morning and will be the soloist with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment later that evening.

The variety of entertainment will also include a performance of Haydn's The Creation by King's Lynn Festival Chorus and the Orchestra of the Swan.

For more information contact the box office at Lynn Corn Exchange on 01553 764864 or visit: www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk