HAT Fair is offering people the opportunity to join a new exclusive club for supporters.

Traditionally Hat Fair volunteers collect donations from the public in buckets. This will continue but, for individual supporters who would like to donate £100 or more, the festival has launched The Milliners’ Club.

Hat Fair’s Head Of Development Bryony Hope explained, ‘Hat Fair is free for people to enjoy but it isn’t free to put on. In order for it to continue, we must raise £30,000 from sponsors and individuals. The Milliners’ Club is a way of thanking those people who love Hat Fair and can afford to make a £100 contribution to ensure it carries on entertaining and inspiring the people of Winchester and beyond .’

The first to join is Simon Meanwell-Ralph who appropriately is a hat designer and owns the Winchester business Marvellous Millinery. Simon said, ‘I am thrilled to be the first member of The Milliners’ Club- especially as I am a milliner in Winchester!’

He continued, ‘Being a creative person myself, I am really proud to be able to support the wide variety of creativity that is Hat Fair.’

Hat Fair takes place in Winchester from Friday July 1 to Sunday July 3. This year, as well as street entertainers from around the world such as manoAmano from Argentina, there are theatre, dance and circus acts performing at locations throughout the city.

Highlights are Tipping Point featuring performers on 5 metre poles, the UK premiere of Etats Des Lieux and a new dance show by Joli Vyann. Members of the public will have many opportunities to participate including taking part in a mass recreation of the audition scene from A Chorus Line and having their hair cut by a child.