Jane Austen reaches new heights in Winchester at Hat Fair 2025
See Jane promenade in the High St by the Buttercross:
Saturday 5th July
2 pm to 2.30pm
and
3.30 pm to 4pm
Winchester's Literary Giant: A Jane Austen Street Performance
Experience a literary spectacle in the 250th year since Jane Austen’s birth. Welcome a nine-foot puppet of Jane Austen when Blue Apple's Special Assignments Company brings their large-scale living statue to the streets of Winchester, accompanied by her Regency pals. Created in collaboration with The New Carnival Company for the 2024 Hat Fair Carnival, the puppet celebrates both Jane Austen's legacy and the cultural history of living statues. This ties in with the 2025 focus of Hat Fair on street performance, celebrating the origins of street performance and the rich history of Winchester.
See Jane’s carnival procession from last year’s Hat Fair in this short video clip.