Full line-up announced for Hat Fair 2025 in Winchester

The Hat Fair, the UK’s longest-running outdoor arts festival, returns to Winchester on Saturday, July 5, promising a day of street theatre, circus, music and dance, with something for all ages.

Now in its 51st year, the festival began in 1974 as a hatting event, where performers would collect donations from the audience by passing around a hat.

The Hat Fair will return on Saturday, July 5. (Image: Adrienne Photography) Andrew Loretto, director of Hat Fair, said: "I'm looking forward to staging an exciting mix of local, national and international outdoor arts once again on the streets and spaces of Winchester city centre for Hat Fair 2025.

"It may be a smaller festival this year, but I hope the programme will delight and surprise our audiences with dynamic site-specific dance from Hong Kong artists in residence, TS Crew, through to a giant puppet walkabout Bella the Elephant from Animate.

"Hat Fair 2025 will offer an eclectic and joyous range of performances."

The festival will feature street performances including clowning, magic, acrobatics and comedy.

The festival will focus on the busking and "hatter" element that inspired its name (Image: Adrienne Photography) Highlights include Anabelle Holland’s family-friendly knife-throwing show, the international acrobatics trio Juribonke, and George Orange, a clown and slack-rope dancer.

Other acts include Fafá Franco’s surreal hairdressing salon, Sienta la Cabeza, where audience members’ hair is sculpted into funky sculptures.

Interactive theatre and puppetry will be on offer from The Last Baguette's Bin Rat, while Joli Vyann’s Life’s A Beach explores issues around sewage and antisocial behaviour.

Walkabout acts include TS Crew’s Prototyping, which blends theatre, dance and martial arts, and Animate Puppet Co.’s Migration, featuring Bella the Elephant.

Interactive theatre and puppetry will be on offer from The Last Baguette's Bin Rat. (Image: Supplied) The festival also celebrates local, young and diverse communities.

Playmakers Youth Theatre will present work exploring the theme of sanctuary, safe spaces and connection, while the Playmakers Top Hat competition will showcase outdoor performances by University of Winchester students and graduates.

Last year’s winners, Truth Be Told Theatre Company, will return with their show Shrewish Women.

Community groups will also be represented, including 432 Nomads, who will bring South American dance, poetry and music to the city.

Children can enjoy circus fun at Juggling Jake’s star tent, while a public piano will be available at Reform Church in Jewry Street.

The celebrations begin the night before, on Friday, July 4, with the Hat Fair Community Celebration at Theatre Royal Winchester.

The event will feature music, dance and spoken word exploring the festival’s themes, performed by local community groups.

For the full programme, visit the Hat Fair website.