Two days of celebrations are underway this weekend to mark the centenary of Louis Bleriot's first cross-Channel flight.

Events include a series of aeronautical displays - including a fly-past by the Red Arrows - a spectacular fireworks display and a variety of entertainment on Dover seafront.

Early on Saturday a French pilot will try to recreate Bleriot's achievement by flying a Bleriot XI monoplane across the Channel at about the same time as the original flight. If he is successful, he is expected to arrive over the White Cliffs of Dover at around 6.30am.

Some of Bleriot's descendants will attend a commemoration at the memorial site at Northfall Meadow on Saturday morning, and the site will be open to the public from 2pm.

Between 10am and noon on Saturday, British, Belgian and French microlights will arrive over Dover at the end of their cross-Channel flight.

At around 2.30pm, a number of two-seater planes taking part in the Royal Aero Club air race from Abbeville in France to Dover are due to arrive over Langdon Cliffs, and between 3-6pm a series of vintage aeroplanes will pass over Dover.

Swedish pilot Mikael Carlson will be flying his Bleriot XI aeroplane, supported by three similar planes from France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, across the Channel. He is due to arrive over Dover between 6-6.30pm.

The Red Arrows and La Patrouille de France are due to fly over the town at 6.45pm.

Gyles Brandreth is the guest speaker at a £250 per head gala dinner at Dover Castle on Saturday evening, and at about 10.15pm, a firework display will light up the sky across the harbour.

On both days there will be flying displays at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School and a shorter series of aerial displays will also take place over Dover Harbour on Sunday.

Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, who became the first man to fly across the Channel using jet-powered wings in September last year, is also expected to be at the Duke of York’s School on both days to talk to people.

On Sunday, from 3-4.30pm, a series of flying displays at the school will include an aerial display by Mikael Carlson in his restored Bleriot XI plane.

From 10am each day, three village areas will be set up along Dover seafront offering a range of exhibitions and English, French and Italian specialities.

Musical performances will take place at Granville Gardens and there will be Punch and Judy shows, clowns, stilt-walkers and flight simulators.

Young and old will join forces on Dover seafront on Saturday afternoon with a dramatic performance. The National Theatre, Age Concern, Help The Aged and Sound Architect are working together to produce a piece of open-air theatre. The drama will show how past achievements have inspired reflection on the excitement of flight hopes and dreams.

Admission to the Duke of York's School costs £10 for adults, £5 for five to 15-year-olds and senior citizens. Under-fives go free. A family ticket for two adults and up to three children costs £25. Tickets can be bought online in advance at www.dover2009.com