This year's regatta is celebrating the return of the once popular torchlit parade of yachts and dinghies – 20 years after the original parade was killed off by health and safety fears.

Throughout the 1970s and '80s it was a highly popular event with children carrying flaming torches dripping hot wax and ash in a busy harbour at night.

It provided a great spectacle for those on the embankment – but a nightmare for harbour chiefs.

For this year's 168th regatta the event is being revived by popular demand – this time with glow sticks which provide a safe means of illumination – to give the harbour a sparkling spectacle after 9pm on regatta Friday, August 31, for the thousands drawn to the town to see the Red Arrows perform from 6.30pm onwards.

With a firework display on Thursday and Saturday regatta committee vice chairman Jonathan Hawkins felt that after calls to reinstate the parade that the Friday night was the perfect time to hold it and following talks with the harbourmaster Capt Rob Giles a safe scheme was worked out.

The illuminated procession will be led by the Fairmile, courtesy of Will Ford, of Greenway Ferries, and the parade has been limited to 30 craft, which will have to register at the regatta office in the week at Royal Avenue Gardens, and fulfill safety requirements.

Only those registering will be allowed to take part.

Mr Hawkins said: 'It is a touch of nostalgia, but it carries on from our Jubilee Parade in June. It is bringing back a bit of sparkle into our Friday night's celebrations.'

In total, Dartmouth is looking forward to eight days of events – including a visit from the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows aerobatics team and the Royal Navy's front line warship HMS St Albans.

Tomorrow, begins things off with a swimming gala, tennis, the regatta fete, water polo, and a last night of the proms event.

On Sunday, local rowing begins plus an open-air regatta songs of praise.

Monday is live band day in Royal Avenue Gardens plus tug of war, the Regatta Shindig and a darts competition.

Tuesday will see regatta recitals in St Petrox Church, the Regatta Grand Ball in the Coronation Park marquee and the regatta disco at Dartmouth Rugby Club.

On Wednesday, there is a street market, golf tournament, junior scavenger hunt, waterborne treasure hunt, sailing, regatta rock, music on the bandstand and the traditional ceremony in Royal Avenue Gardens to officially open the regatta.

Thursday sees the opening of the regatta shopping village, more music on the bandstand, the arrival of the regatta guardship, a C130 Hercules fly past, a display by the The Blades aerobatics team and a fireworks finale.

Next Friday sees junior crab fishing, regatta bowls, waiters and waitresses races, barrel rolling, pavement artists competition, trolley racing, a fly by from the Battle of Britain Memorial flight, illuminated river procession and the world famous Red Arrows.

The following day will see displays by a Sea King helicopter and the Dart lifeboat, the Black Knight parachute team, a fun run, bungee rowing, a visit by an RAF Tucano aircraft, the Royal Navy Black Cats, a RN historic Sea Fury and another fireworks finale.

Organisers of the popular regatta Review of Classic Craft are looking for more boats to take part in the event on regatta Saturday, September 1.

Normally the procession of classic craft involves some 30 boats but at the beginning of this week only around 18 had signed up to take part.

A spokesman for the organisers said: 'We are looking for a few additional classic craft which may not have appeared before in the review to add to the very find craft which have already signed up.'

He said: 'If you have an interesting craft – motor or sail and it doesn't have to be vintage – please get in touch with one of the organisers, Ian Fenton on 08458 686878 or Nicko Franks on 01803 832163.'

The review takes place between the Higher Ferry and the Lower Ferry at 4pm.