WINCHESTER Hat Fair is moving one of its major parts to a different park.

Traditionally the Sunday events have been held at Oram’s Arbour since the mid-1990s, but this year they will be held at North Walls Recreation Ground.

It is larger, flatter and will offer better access for disabled people and also enable more market stalls which generate revenue to cover the costs.

The festival this year will run from June 29 to July 1 with around 200 free performances in the city centre on the Friday and Saturday.

Andrew Loretto, director of Hat Fair, said: “This move is important to the continuing development of the Hat Fair Festival. By relocating to North Walls it means we can expand the type of acts that we can present on the Sunday as the recreation ground is a flatter terrain than Oram’s Arbour.

“This will also assist disabled artists and audience members with restricted mobility by offering level access. North Walls is a considerably larger space which will help with the festival’s financial sustainability through increased income from market stalls. The greater area also means that a larger audience will be able enjoy all the Sunday family day has to offer.”

Deryck Newland, chief executive of Live Theatre Winchester which organises the Hat Fair, said: “We would like to thank the residents in the vicinity of Oram’s Arbour for all their support over the years. It has been a difficult decision to make but we hope that they can understand our reasoning. We need to develop Hat Fair to ensure that the festival is here for many years to come.”

Hat Fair is the UK’s longest running outdoor arts festival and attracts over 60,000 visitors every year.

The move of the hat Fair mirrors that of the November fireworks display which was held at Oram’s Arbour until the 1990s when the police said the crowds were getting dangerous on the hillside. It also transferred to North Walls.