YORK is preparing to party as the city gears up for the Tour De France Grand Depart this summer

City of York Council has launching York: Be part of it! - the city’s arts and cultural festival programme, dedicated to giving everyone a taste of the buzz brought by the cycle race.

With 100 days to go today until the Grand Départ, more than 60 community groups have already signed up to get involved in events, plays, exhibitions and two-wheeled activities of all kinds, with more joining all the time, and some organisations gathered at a community networking event earlier this week at the Rowntree Park Reading Café.

Green fingered residents are also being urged help welcome the Tour de France by planting the city yellow - with a chance of winning a blooming great prize.

Coun Sonja Crisp, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “Whether it’s a stunning window box, a bike-shaped pattern of plants in the front garden or even a bicycle basket of blooms, green-fingered participants should know that plants mean prizes, thanks to a city-wide competition."

She said that thanks to sponsor Aldby Field Nurseries, 1,500 packs of French marigold seeds, compost, a seed tray and instructions will be available and could be collected from Haxby Library tomorrow from 12 noon to 6pm, Strensall Library on Monday from 2-5pm, Fulford Library next Tuesday from 2-5pm, Bishopthorpe Library next Wednesday from 2-5pm and Tang Hall Library on Monday 7April from 12 noon to 7pm.

People can enter a competition to win planted up hanging baskets. For more information, go to York: Be part of it at www.york.gov.uk/tourdefrance or to www.experiencetherace.com.

Meanwhile, York's Designer Outlet has been revealed as the city's second official Grand Depart Spectator Hub, in addition to the major Hub at York Racecourse. Up to 10,000 people are expected to go to the Outlet at Fulford, where there will be family activities, a large screen, street theatre, cycling entertainment, stalls, along with Glamping, camping and campervan facilities in nearby fields.