HAT Fair in Winchester is offering people the opportunity to join a new exclusive club.

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 to enjoy, but it isn’t free to put on. 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. 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 from Friday, July 1 to Sunday, July 3. This year, as well as street entertainers from around the world, there are theatre, dance and circus acts performing at locations throughout the city.

Highlights are Tipping Point, featuring performers on 5m poles, the UK premiere of Etats Des Lieux and a new dance show by Joli Vyann.

The public will be able 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.