Basingstoke Festival, the award-winning free annual celebration of outdoor arts and community, starts with the Parade of the Mythical Beasts on Friday 19 June.

The festival, produced and funded by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, provides free performances that will pop-up in Basingstoke town centre and other locations across the borough over three weekends.

The fun begins with an evening of magic, music and myth at this year’s spectacular opening parade. Around 20 community groups, local schools and more than 500 marchers will launch the 15th year of Basingstoke Festival.

Festival performers Mr Wilson’s Second Liners will bring music and unmistakable energy, along with the thunderous rhythms of the Basingstoke Silver Band Cavaliers and the Royal British Legion Band, as the joyful street party moves through Basingstoke town centre.

The celebrations start from 5.30pm on Cross Street at the Top of the Town, then the parade route winds through the streets ending at the Festival Place amphitheatre at 6.30pm, where Mr Wilson’s Second Liners will continue the party vibe performing 90s club classics. The winners and runners up for the Beast of Basingstoke children’s design competition will also be announced.

Returning performers Tit for Tat Circus will then bring mischief and mayhem with the premiere of their new show, A Disorder of Knights, ending the evening at 7.15pm with a bang and kickstarting three weekends of fantastic festival fun.

Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Culture Cllr Kerry Morrow said: “Every year the festival parade brings people together, spreading joy and fun across the town centre for those watching and participating.

“My favourite part of the parade is how accessible it is and how people who may not normally get to see performances, bump into one.

“It sets the scene for this year’s bigger festival, which is bursting with more creativity as it celebrates 15 years of bringing free outdoor arts, culture and community together.”

More information about Basingstoke Festival and how residents and visitors can take part is on the website at www.BasingstokeFestival.co.uk or on social media channels @BasingstokeFestival on Facebook and @BstokeFestival on Instagram.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is supported, using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, for Basingstoke Festival 2026. Basingstoke Festival is part of Without Walls, a network of organisations bringing innovative outdoor arts to towns and cities across England. There is more information at www.WithoutWalls.uk.com.