There are even more chances for residents to get involved in the fun of Basingstoke Festival, as acts appear in Basingstoke town centre, Popley and Beggarwood during the festival’s second weekend.

Autin Dance Theatre are back with Zig Zag! that has been developed in partnership with Basingstoke Festival. Audiences will find two performers building a playful world in Cross Street, Basingstoke, on Saturday 27 June, using wooden reels and bamboo rods. From chaos to calm, they will fix jams and rebuild together with comic clarity.

Also in Cross Street on Saturday and perfect for audiences of all ages, Gandini Juggling’s You Too Can Tutu features two ambitious characters determined to create the world’s first juggling-ballet in this tongue-in-cheek mash up. Colourful pointe shoes synchronise with hyper-coloured balls, creating mesmerising patterns and shapes.

On Basingstoke’s London Street on Saturday and then, as part of the festival’s Out and About programme, at Popley’s Chineham Park Splash Pad on Sunday audiences can watch some circus skills in action.  S(h)tick is a playful and imaginative diabolo show by Gee-Gee which explores themes of teamwork, friendly rivalry and the joy of learning together. They celebrate each other’s big wins and little slip-ups, turning every moment into part of the fun.

Local favourite Junk Jodie is back with the premiere of her new show Fashion-IFFICENT. Jodie has teamed up with Josh Dixon from Pumpkin Pantos to create a festival experience bursting with colour, creativity and eco‑friendly flair. This enchanting new fairy tale is a magical story filled with recycled, mythical creatures and Jodie’s much‑loved storytelling charm. With crafting, upcycling, music and mountains of imagination, Jodie will be at the Festival Place amphitheatre on Saturday and Popley’s Chineham Park Splash Pad on Sunday. This show has been made possible through the council’s Creative Incubator Fund.

Pirate Taxi by Pirates of the Carabina is a fabulous circus show taking place in, on and around an old-school London taxi. Sometimes serious, but more often funny, this show weaves in themes of journeys, companionship and the annual migration of birds. On Saturday, audiences will find it in Eastrop Park before it drives over to Beggarwood Park on Sunday as part of the Out and About programme.

During the last two weekends of the festival, The Magical Toy Hospital is opening a brand-new wing in Festival Place, Basingstoke. Made possible by the council’s Creative Incubator Fund, Scratch Built Productions will be opening up appointments for teddies, dolls and even the occasional dinosaur. Audiences are invited into a fun, interactive and immersive experience using puppetry – and of course 20 years at magical medical school – to bring their toys to life. On Sundays, they will be joined by Oakley Stitchers and the Repair Café should a favourite friend require some specialist care.

Back again this weekend are two drop-in experiences that can both be found in Festival Place. The Light Lab is an immersive exhibition, supported by the council’s Creative Incubator Fund, celebrating the creativity of children and families from local charity The Safe. Alongside an exhibition, the Play Space offers children, adults and families hands-on activities. The Studio of New will also invite young creatives to step into the future of fashion through virtual reality, as part of limited drop-in sessions and workshops. Those interested in taking part should secure their place on a pre-booked workshop by emailing festival@basingstoke.gov.uk.

Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Culture Cllr Kerry Morrow said: “The second weekend has even more on offer, along with more acts in Out and About part of the programme across the borough. It gives even more of our communities to experience the magic and fun of the festival.”

For more information about Basingstoke Festival, visit www.BasingstokeFestival.co.uk or follow the festival on social media channels @BasingstokeFestival on Facebook and @BstokeFestival on Instagram.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has been supported to deliver Basingstoke Festival 2026 with funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. 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.