Thousands descend on city for annual Hat Fair (From This is Hampshire)

Thousands descend on city for annual Hat Fair

9:00am Sunday 5th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

THOUSANDS of people descended on Winchester City Centre as the annual Hat Fair rolled into town this weekend.

It started off as a small busker’s event 35 years ago but has now grown to become one of the biggest street theatre festivals in the UK.

This year’s event saw hundreds of breathtaking performances from 40 national and international companies performing along the city’s ancient streets.

Named after the tradition of throwing donations into performers’ hats, the free festival is the country’s longest running street theatre festival.