Winchester Hat Fair 2015

Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th July 2015
various venues, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8SB, England MAP
FREE

Daily capacity: 1,000

Last updated: Tue 26th May 2015

The 41st Winchester Hat Fair, Britain's longest running Festival of Street Theatre and Outdoor Arts, returns annually on the first weekend of July from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5h July 2015.

A crazy, colourful celebration of theatre and music where entertainers perform voluntarily in exchange for money to be thrown into their hats. Supported by local businesses, colleges and organisations, this FREE festival takes Hat Fair takes over the whole of Winchester's ancient city centre.

Free events

The Knowledge Emporium presented by Slung Low, plus premiers of new shows from homegrown talent like Wet Picnic, dazzling dance from festival favourites Stopgap, a specially designed Children’s Area in Cathedral Inner Close, hatting pitches galore, and family fun at Sunday’s Oram’s Arbour Picnic, and much much more to be announced.

More info

The streets of Winchester will come to life for three days of performance, from the weird to the truly wonderful- and everything is FREE! With theatre, dance and circus-inspired events to surprise you on every corner, Hat Fair celebrates the unexpected, rewards the curious and delights all those who come out to play.

There are also lots of opportunities to get involved! Turn your hand (or foot?!) to swing-dance for our citywide flashmob event Swingtime.

Winchester's Hat Fair began in 1974 as a busker's festival, taking its name from the tradition of putting money in the buskers hats, and is now Britain's longest running celebration of outdoor arts.