IT’S the biggest weekend in the calendar for Winchester with a hat-trick of major events.

Hat Fair, Winchester Festival and Blissfields will all be pulling in the punters to the city for a sun-soaked weekend of outdoor events.

Hat Fair 2013 bursts onto the streets from today with the very best in outdoor performance and street entertainment.

With street acts around every corner, a bustling market, and a multinational cast of acts including the EU-funded La Fête Franglais, the three days are rounded off with three nights of evening spectaculars.

Highlights include outdoor theatre specialists, Rag & Bone’s brilliant new show Boneyard Tales on The Broadway, a rare appearance in the UK from French sculptor, Denis Tricot, creating a delightful illuminated walk along Weirs Walk, a breathtaking sound installation from Oxford-based sound artist Ray Lee in Cathedral Inner Close, and two spectacular shows outside the Great Hall – Bad Taste Company’s unique version of Faust and Belgian circus artists Collectif Malunés’ Sens Dessus Dessous.

Pony Dance’s raucous Edinburgh hit Where Did it all Go Right?, pictured above, will take over Bar 3One in Bar End Road. Its subject? Four people in a bar trying to get out.

This extraordinary comedy dance theatre performance serves up a confection of moves and movement to a soundtrack of garish music and nervous tension.

For the first time the market stalls are in Middle Brook Street and part of St George's Street forcing a detour for buses around Friarsgate and Upper Brook Street.

Meanwhile rising stars will join internationally-renowned names at this year’s Winchester Festival. Key figures from the worlds of classical music, literature and politics will appear at the ten-day cultural celebration, which starts today.

The 2013 event features railway buff and former cabinet minister Michael Portillo, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel author Deborah Moggach, guitarist John Williams and former Poet Laureate, Sir Andrew Motion.

As in previous years, the festival opens tonight with a large choral and orchestral concert in Winchester Cathedral, with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes.

The tiny but mighty Blissfields also returns this weekend with one of its biggest ever line-ups.

It’s another sell-out year for Paul and Mel Bliss who are hosting the event at Vicarage Farm near Woodmancott.

Under the banner The Director’s Cut, the award-winning Hampshire festival will be celebrating all things film in its 13th year, from the early talkies to VIP Hollywood parties.

Expect a weekend full of red carpets, interactive games, popcornthrowing dance-offs, film screenings, the best soundtracks, visual treats, hidden treasures and all the usual fun that Blissfields has become synonymous with...topped by an incredible music bill.

Bastille, one of 2013’s most exciting breakthrough live acts and festival favourites Mystery Jets top the musical line-up.