Hat Fair 2012

Friday 6th - Sunday 8th July - Expect the unexpected!

Hat Fair is Britain's longest running festival of street theatre and outdoor arts - taking place in Winchester in July every year.

Now in its 38^th year, Hat Fair, named after the tradition of throwing donations into performance hats, first burst onto the Winchester scene in 1974 as a busker's festival. It has since developed a strong reputation and following, providing a a weekend filled with hundreds of colourful and exciting performances.
Hat Fair doesn't charge the audience a penny for most performances but you can show your appreciation by putting coins (or notes!) in the artists' hats after the performance.

"One of the great pleasures of Street Arts festivals is that they make you slow down and put the wonder back into everyday life. Wherever you were in Winchester at this year's Hat Fair, you could hear the distant sound of laughter - as if the whole town was smiling together."
Lyn Gardner - Theatre Critic, The Guardian, Monday 6 July 2009