THE Twelve Days of Christmas will once again be celebrated in Winchester with a 'Live Advent Calendar' of festive events.

Following the success of last year's celebration, Woolly Hat Fair has announced full details of its new series of events based on The Twelve Days of Christmas, beginning on Saturday.

There will be twelve events throughout December, each in a different Winchester location and each inspired by one of the 'days' of Christmas. Events are free to attend and will take place at 5pm on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between December 3 and 22.

Highlights include a drama taking place in various parts of Winchester Cathedral, ballet at City Mill, a pantomime cow relay race in The Brooks Shopping and an exuberant drumming finale outside the Great Hall.

As well as the twelve professional theatre companies and performers taking part, each event will feature a community choir. There will also be a rendition of one of John Julius Norwich’s ‘thank you’ letters, written as if from the beleaguered recipient of all 12 gifts, performed by Winchester-born actor Hannah Timms.

Michelle Walker, Artistic Director of Hat Fair, said: “It’s fantastic that Winchester has welcomed back Woolly Hat Fair with open arms for another year. We’ve been bowled over by the enthusiastic support we’ve received from local businesses and community participants all wanting to get involved. We hope the programme offers something for everyone, from the sublime to the slightly ridiculous!”

The festival begins on Saturday at Winchester School Of Art with poems from the local community performed by Live Canon ensemble in a pop-up ‘orchard’ made from recycled trees depicting the Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On Sunday, Gobbledegook Theatre spread disruption and joy at the Great Hall with a musical about the relationship between two love birds in The Two Turtle Doves.

Tuesday is the turn of three French hens. Winchester-based performers Platform 4 invite you to go to Bar End athletics track and cheer on some specimen poultry. Lycra and German electronica are involved.

The grand finale of Woolly Hat Fair’s twelve Days Of Christmas is on December 22 outside the Great Hall when the Old Basing Corps Of Drums lead a choreographed drumming event, with possibly a couple of imposters making mischief among the ranks in The Twelve Drummers Drumming.

Woolly Hat Fair is organised by Hat Fair, the UK’s longest running outdoor arts festival which takes place annually in Winchester during the first weekend in July.

Full details of Woolly Hat Fair’s Twelve Days Of Christmas can be found at hatfair.co.uk/events/12-days-of-christmas