THE new artistic director of the UK’s largest outdoor arts festival has revealed her vision for this year’s event.

Held in Winchester, Hat Fair celebrated its 40th anniversary last year and will officially launch for 2015 in May.

Michelle Walker joined the Theatre Royal in January from her role as producer at Oxford Playhouse, and has been hunting talented, weird and wonderful artists to take part in the festival.

She told the Chronicle she is shaking up the format this year, with 20 locations across the city and performances on both Friday and Saturday nights.

The Sunday will be completely based at Oram’s Arbour.

“For the first time, this year we are extending the activity in to the evening on Friday,” she said.

“There will be a really full programme of artists, activity happening all day from midday with the children’s parade. Shows, events and hatters will perform through to 10pm. For the first time, if you work nine to five in the city you will be able to come out of work and see what is going on.”

The theme for the children’s parade, which launches the festival, will be birds. Last year it was ‘Mexican’ and saw children create colourful banners representing the nation.

Ms Walker is also planning to take the festival to new areas of the city, including the train station.

“I want there to be the sense that Winchester is in full festival mode, from the minute people arrive,” she said.

The artistic director also revealed one of the acts that will feature, called The Knowledge Emporium – a sweet truck based for a week before the festival outside the discovery centre.

In return for knowledge about Winchester, visitors can take away a bag of sweets. The performers will then create a piece based on what they find out.

Also new for this year is Swingtime, which will see people learn a simple dance based on swing music in the run up to the festival.

At midday on the Saturday it will be performed across all 20 city centre locations.

Ms Walker said it will unite the city.

She added: “Everything in life evolves over 40 years, it’s not going to be the same, but what I hope to do is preserve the spirit of which Hat Fair was conceived, but move it on.”