Hat Fair 2022 announced!
Hat Fair Outdoor Arts festival returns to Winchester from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 July.
This year, the Friday and Saturday festivities will see outdoor theatre, dance, comedy, music and, of course, specially invited, world class ‘hatters’ (street performers) perform in a range of locations across the historic city centre. Performances on these days will be free to attend and promise to bring diverse voices, energy, provocation, entertainment and joy to the streets. Expect the unexpected, the glorious, the beautiful, the profound and the downright mischievous on the ancient streets and spaces of the city centre.
Hat Fair returns in style to the city centre this year with a cracking programme of artistes lined up for the whole weekend – including an international exclusive - which we will share in due course! We can’t wait to see you all in Winchester in July.
The Sunday of the festival will once again be at the North Walls Recreation Ground – a green field site close to the city centre – and will be a ticketed event creating a relaxed, family friendly day. The Sunday programme will feature exclusive brand new shows, outdoor immersive game adventures and explosive gig theatre – that aren’t featured elsewhere during the festival – alongside on-site bars, eateries and craft stalls. On Sunday the hatters won’t ask for money after their performances – instead they will be paid a fee from the ticket monies.
Andrew Loretto, Hat Fair and Playmakers Director, comments ‘Last year, due to the Covid restrictions that were in place at the time, we ticketed the whole festival. The audience feedback was hugely positive towards the ticketed, enclosed festival site. Audiences felt the format created a safe and relaxed environment for their families to enjoy the festival plus it created a terrific buzz and atmosphere. So, building on this success, we’ve decided to make the Sunday of Hat Fair 2022 a ticketed event again, making it ideal for those who want to enjoy the festival in a calmer environment than that of the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Importantly also, ticketing the Sunday means that we can continue to afford to co-commission and invite top quality and diverse outdoor arts to Winchester.’
Tickets for the Sunday are on sale now. Audiences can save money by booking early (by 14 June), booking as a group or becoming a Member of Play to the Crowd – the arts and education charity that runs Hat Fair.
Hat Fair runs from Friday 1 – Sunday 3 July 2022. The festival programme will be announced soon.
