Hat Fair, the UK’s longest running festival of Outdoor Arts, is back – and this year it will once again take over the city streets and green spaces of Winchester in July.
This year Hat Fair runs from Friday, July 1 – Sunday, July 3, and organisers say audiences of all ages are invited “to watch bright and bold street theatre, music, dance, comedy and circus, performed by the very best local, regional, national and international acts, in front of the city’s landmarks, cafes and restaurants, shops and parks – turning the city in to a stage once more!”.
On the Friday and Saturday the festival will be free, with all performances taking place across the city centre.
"Big Gay Disco Bike is exactly what it sounds like: a feel good pop-up big gay disco performed on a bike, with live music, dancing, comedy, and a big dose of glamour". Fri July 1 -
On the Sunday, audiences can opt for a more relaxed festival fun-day experience with a ticketed event at North Walls Recreation Ground (with exclusive brand-new shows, outdoor immersive games and gig theatre not featured elsewhere during the festival).
Hat Fair will commence on the Friday with the Carnival, when hundreds of local school-children will parade through the city streets in colourful costumes and headdresses they have made in school, dancing to samba. They will start at the Great Hall, and after the procession be greeted in Abbey Gardens by local community groups for a picnic.
For the full line-up and further details of other acts, from international street performers – or ‘Hatters’ – to local emerging talent, check the Hat Fair website for listings, show times, tickets and more.
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