WINCHESTER'S Woolly Hat Fair is proving a resounding success as the city celebrates The 12 Days of Christmas.

The festival will conclude with five more free events in Winchester culminating in a glorious climax of massed drums on December 22.

Before that, there will be a pantomime cow relay race, ‘ladies’ of both sexes dancing in a two minute disco, lords leaping along a bouncy track and a mass improvised glass bottle orchestra including 11 pipers.

You are invited to dress up as either the end of a pantomime cow or as one of the 8 Maids A-Milking for a relay race accompanied by a wacky commentary from Stan’s Cafe. The race takes place on Thursday December 15 in The Brooks Shopping.(Shentons solicitors and Mediators are sponsoring the event).

Then on Saturday December 17 at The Colour Factory, Winchester-based Wet Picnic are organising a series of two minute discos featuring 9 Ladies Dancing. Anybody can dress up as a ‘lady’ and fancy dress is encouraged. (sponsored by The Stable Pizza).

You can watch 10 Lords A-Leaping on a bouncy track at Winchester Lido on Sunday December 18 and then join in yourself. The exuberant Human Zoo Theatre Company is in charge of the fun. (sponsored by Trethowans Solicitors).

You may also take part in a scratch orchestra on Tuesday December 20 at St John’s House. Led by musician Neil Valentine and 11 Pipers Piping, you will be blowing on bottles provided . No musical skill is required but you will need plenty of puff. ( Dutton Gregory are sponsoring this event).

On Thursday December 22, Woolly Hat Fair’s 12 Days Of Christmas comes to a noisy finale outside the Great Hall. 12 Drummers Drumming is a choreographed event led by the Old Basing Corps of Drums plus a couple of imposters making mischief in the ranks. (The event is sponsored by Paris Smith).

All events begin at 5pm and are free. Full details are available at hatfair.co.uk. 12 Days Of Christmas is supported by Winchester City Council and Winchester BID. The free festival is presented by Hat Fair, the annual outdoor arts festival that attracts 60,000 people to Winchester in July.