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For one weekend in July, the usually staid and sensible streets of Winchester are turned over to street artists, musicians and performers to entertain throngs of visitors and curious passers by.

Hat Fair is the longest running Street Arts festival in the UK, now in its 34th year, and a unique event in the city’s calendar.

Hats off

The name 'Hat Fair' comes from the 'hatting performances' of street theatre where artists pass around a hat for donations after their show.

Artists from around the world

Offering their hats to weekend shoppers on the high street and Broadway, were everything from hula-hooping Australian air hostesses to opera singers and Scottish jugglers.

Turn into the Cathedral grounds for even more craziness - the Keystone Cops chase a villain around in silent movie style ... a morose jester entertains with electronic baubles ... and a 'rolling' news desk with two newsreaders wheels by to provide a live commentary on the whole thing.

As hundreds of people enjoyed the buffet of entertainment, dipping into the highly polished performances, it was obvious that it takes a special kind of skill to hold the attention of an audience in the open air who can wander off at any time.Μύ

Only a few toddlers were reduced to tears by a 12 foot high monster and some snappy dancing swans.

Crowds in the high street

Festival spirit

The festival was started 34 years ago by Jonathan Kay who wanted to open the streets and draw on the spirit of revelry in Winchester's medieval past.

Jonathan explained the spirit of the festival: "If performers are happy and enjoying themselves then that infects the audience... when you are laughing and more happy, it's a return to something more outgoing and more generous."

"The economy of the town stems from the enjoyment of the town, not the impassive buildings.Μύ It's about celebrating together with Winchester as a focus and a generous community which opens itself to the diversity that's in the world."

Performances everywhere in Winchester

Since moving from its original location of Covent Garden to Winchester, the festival has grown to attract hundreds of weird and wonderful comic performers, stunt acrobats, puppeteers, musicians, mime artists and clowns each year.

Strange characters

Artists now come to Winchester from as far afield as Australia, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Ireland.

Artistic Director of Celebrations Sian Thomas said: "There are shows happening everywhere and people are just walking round really having a nice time and enjoying the performances.Μύ Sometimes I think it's completely insane - and actually, to tell you the truth, it isΜύ - but in a wonderful way - it's beautiful chaos!"

There certainly was a surreal insane atmosphere in the streets of Winchester - you could have dined in style with local theatre company Wet Picnic's mobile production of The Dinner Table.Μύ The show took place around a moving table for eight people with a giant chandelier and very strange characters.Μύ

A dinner party with a difference!

Spending a couple of hours in the city, you may well have bumped into Mr Jones and Fred the Amazing Stunt Pig from Holland or The Famous Rubberband Boy from New Zealand.

Or the Two Wrongies, two renegade ballet dancers looking for an audience for their unique version of Swan lake.

Hairy

After this year's Hat Fair has packed up and finished, Winchester's Discovery continues to host a nostalgic look back at over three decades of Hat Fairs. The Big Fat Hairy Hat Fair Exhibition celebrates and records memories of the festival.