WINCHESTER is set to be transformed as more than 200 "gloriously bonkers" performers descend on the city for the country's largest outdoor arts festival.

At an official launch on Friday, organisers told an eager audience at the Theatre Royal what to expect from this year's Hat Fair.

The three-day festival will see performances, activities and workshops dotted around the city in 20 different locations, including the bus and train stations - new for 2015.

Michelle Walker, who started as artistic director in January, said at the last count 286 performances have been scheduled.

"Hat Fair is our invitation to you to look around the corners in our city, venture off the beaten track and come out and play," she said.

"Hat Fair is about the art of the unexpected. It really feels like countdown kicks off now - it is six weeks today!

She pleaded with everyone to be curious and explore everything the event has to offer.

Giving a taste of just that, local performers from Blue Apple Theatre and Wet Picnic entertained the crowd with hilarious and captivating short pieces - including a man dressed as Colin Firth being chased by enthusiastic tourists.

There was also an introduction to a new feature called Swingtime which will see every venue unite at midday on Saturday July 4 for a choreographed dance piece.

The Theatre Royal is in its third year of organising Hat Fair, and chief executive Mark Courtice praised Ms Walker for keeping its spirit alive.

"I always say that every Hat Fair is different than the one that went before, and keeping that tradition alive is very exciting," he said.

"Michelle has taken that on with great imagination. It will be a little different but the things we most love will still be there. It feels like a development more than anything else."

He added that different businesses and organisations in the city have come together to support the event.

"This is a city having its own celebration and all sorts of people get involved, from local restaurants to pubs, bars, to shops, the council which we work closely with.

"It does feel like not just a tradition of putting on shows but a tradition of the city working together and that is what is most exciting about it for me."

New for 2015 the University of Winchester and The Brooks Centre are also taking part with the Hat Fair Fringe Festival. It has been co-curated with students and will take place at The Brooks on July 3-4.

Ms Walker said: "It is a festival within a festival. We are excited that this makes a very real commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent in the area."

Hat Fair starts on July 3 with the exotic birds themed schools parade, and continues until July 5. On July 3 there will be shows and activities from 8am until 10pm, including morning clubbing at The Brooks, and on July 4 the festival runs from 8am until midnight.