THE curtains go up on a Hampshire town today as it hosts a day of showstopping entertainment.

Parks, street corners and venues across Eastleigh will come to life with drama, dance and art as the third annual Eastleigh Unwrapped festival returns on June 13.

Around 100 performers from across the globe have descended on the town, bringing bags full of shows and workshops for all tastes and ages – including aerial theatre, circus acts, dance and live music.

The event, which runs from 11am-5.15pm will feature two world premiers – Planetary by Pif Paf which sees three acrobats spinning, catching, falling and flying inside a giant hamster wheel, and a new show by Scarabeus Aerial Theatre called Be-Loved – an adaption of Beauty and the Beast performed six metres in the air.

Some of the county’s top artists will also take the spotlight as part of the event.

Thousands of visitors to the town will also get the chance to try their hands at being artists themselves with a range of workshops and demonstrations from screen printing to pottery.

Artists based at Eastleigh creative hub The Sorting Office in Wells Road will be opening its doors during the festival for its summer Open Studios event which gives visitors a peak behind the canvases of designers, illustrators and makers.

Swan Centre manager Daniel Kitchen added: “It’s great to see the Eastleigh Unwrapped festival back again for its third consecutive year.

"The event brings an abundance of culture, entertainment and new visitors to the heart of Eastleigh.”

Eastleigh Unwrapped is organised by The Point theatre and is part of the Recreate programme, a project to boost economic regeneration and create jobs through the creative industries.

For more details about the event which is supported by Arts Council England, call 023 8065 2333 or visit eastleighunwrapped.com.