Oxford's bid to become European City of Culture in 2008 heralds a feast of celebrations - with a warm-up in 2005.

The winning city will be named in June.

Even if Oxford doesn't scoop the main prize in the race to become European City of Culture, it is already a winner.

All five runners-up will be classed as European Centres of Culture in the big year.

The organisers - working under the title Oxford Inspires - insist that many of their planned celebrations will go ahead regardless.

But they may have to be scaled down if Oxfordshire doesn't get the main title because national sponsorship would be harder to come by.

The plan is to stage 15 key festivals in the county throughout the year, covering all types of music but also technology, learning and even food.

There will be a strong international flavour, building on academic links overseas and also Oxfordshire's active twinning groups.

An Oxford wood inspired C S Lewis's Narnia

All of that is in addition to the vast array of cultural feasts that already take place.

Oxford Literary Festival has already become a significant national event, featuring 150 writers in 2003 - children's literary festival is to be started too, from 2005.

The team that created Oxfordshire's stunning millennium festival, Oomf!, is being asked to work the same magic in 2005 and 2008.

Oxford's bid is unique among the six finalists, because it is the only one to include towns and villages outside the city.

The bid takes culture in its widest meaning.

It celebrates Oxfordshire's world-leading scientific work, rural life and sporting achievements as well as the arts scene.

But inevitably, great play is made of the university, the city's ancient museums and Oxford's literary heritage.

It is the setting for Alice in Wonderland, C S Lewis's Narnia and Tolkien's Middle Earth.

BBC Oxford is joining in the festival frenzy by publishing features, picture galleries and multi-media celebrations of the county's cultural riches.