SOUTHAMPTON and Hampshire are set for a fun-filled summer weekend of family events and festivals.
Here's our pick of five of the best.
Hat Fair, Winchester, all weekend
Hat Fair, the UK’s longest-running festival of outdoor arts, is back – and this year it will once again take over the city streets and green spaces of Winchester.
All weekend, audiences of all ages are invited to watch bright and bold street theatre, music, dance, comedy and circus, performed by the very best local, regional, national and international acts, in front of the city’s landmarks, cafes and restaurants, shops and parks – turning the city into a stage!
Hat Fair will host the international premiere of, and the festival’s headline show, A Handful of Dreams by Fidget Feet – made possible with support from Culture Ireland. This is an awe-inspiring and heart-warming show with aerial and circus acts, live Irish traditional music and dance that invites audiences of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to embrace innocence and hope.
More details at hatfair.co.uk
Beaulieu's 50th birthday, The National Motor Museum, Sunday
The award-winning National Motor Museum in Beaulieu will mark its golden jubilee by staging a blast from the past - a parade of cars from the 1970s.
It will also unveil a new exhibition called The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects.
The celebrations will include a display of vehicles that took part in a cavalcade on the day the museum was opened by the Duke of Kent and the current Lord Montagu's father, Edward, Lord Montagu.
The Carousels will entertain guests by playing hits from the Seventies.
The Duke of Kent opens the National Motor Museum in July 1972.
Visit beaulieu.co.uk
Hedge End Carnival, Saturday
Thousands of people are expected to flock to a Hampshire town as it hosts its 100th carnival event.
Returning after years away due to the pandemic, the Hedge End Carnival will take place on Saturday (July 2).
The day will kick off with a procession before heading to Greta Park.
Activities will take place throughout the day including a magician, Punch and Judy show, and a circus.
For the finale, the carnival will feature a motorbike display team.
Bedford Place Summer Festival, Sunday
This community celebration takes place on Sunday from 10am to 4pm and aims to celebrate the area’s bustling community and fantastic local businesses.
The event, now in its fifth year, is organised by local traders to bring awareness to the great local independent businesses in Bedford Place and Carlton Place. The event helps to build on the thriving community and build a healthier local economy that benefits everyone.
Bedford Place will be closed to traffic for the street party-style event, which will feature Lindy Club dance demonstrations, jazz and swing music from Still Moving DJs, a mobile farm featuring donkeys, pygmy goats, rabbits and more, a variety of local stalls including crafts, food, massage and beauty, The Sing Now Choir and food and drinks from local traders.
To find out more, visit facebook.com/bedfordplacefestival
Southampton Thai Festival, Hoglands Park, Saturday and Sunday
Southampton is set to be transformed into a whirl of colours once again as a popular festival returns.
Thousands are expected to flock to Hoglands Park to take part in this year’s Thai Festival.
Running from 10am to 6pm, the two-day event offers residents a day of family fun.
This year’s event will mark the festival’s twelfth year, and a variety of events and seminars are scheduled to keep visitors engaged.
The Southampton Thai Festival will feature seven to eight food stalls offering authentic Thai cuisines like Pad Thai, Satay, curries, coconut drinks, smoothies, and more.
Meanwhile, traditional dance and folk music workshops will be available for youngsters, and visitors will also have a chance to try Thai boxing, martial arts, and relax by signing up for Thai massage.
A message from the Editor
Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.
Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.
You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.
Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.
Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents
Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here