Basingstoke Festival might be drawing to a close this weekend but there are many more acts to discover and enjoy on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July.

Produced by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, free performances will pop-up in Basingstoke town centre and then other locations across the borough on Sunday.

Working Boys Club’s Noisy Noise Noise is a playful sound library with over 90 books that trigger weird, wonderful and occasionally rude noises. This can be found popping up in Basingstoke town centre on Saturday and in Tadley on Sunday.

As the sun comes up on a new day, the garden wakes up. Audiences can join Nick Ash for DIG! which is a gentle first theatre experience, perfect for children aged six months to two years, with music, rhythm and singing. The story, which brings to life a world of growing plants, busy bugs and wriggling worms, can be found in Basingstoke town centre on Saturday and in Tadley on Sunday.

Earlier this year, Kayte West of The Memory Box Foundation teamed up with artist Kym Devine and students from Queen Mary’s College for a powerful reminiscence project that brought stories about Basingstoke to life, with the help of local residents. In the pop-up gallery Sounds Like Home visitors can hear moving poems and explore memory boxes that might stir a few memories of their own.

Weaving together juggling, storytelling, dance, puppetry and a love of all things living, Bumble Movement Arts’ Bee-ology is a funny, heart-warming and interactive outdoor circus show, inspired by the honeybee’s waggle dance. Audiences can buzz along in Basingstoke town centre on Saturday and Russell Howard Park on Sunday.

Pumpkin Pantos’ Rapunzel follows the enchanting story of the princess with magical golden hair. It features sensational songs, colourful costumes and a laugh-a-minute script, perfect for younger audiences. Audiences can enjoy this summer pantomime with shows at 11am and 2pm on Saturday.

Artist Trapped in Zone One will be assisted by students from Chiltern Way Academy for a vibrant, hands-on graffiti workshop. Festival-goers are invited to help create a large collaborative temporary artwork using spray paints. The Graffiti Lab doesn’t need to be booked, but visitors should be prepared to wait their turn and be dressed for mess, since spray paint can be permanent.

Crafted live through improvisation, Inverted Theatre’s Jump, Fly, Sit, Stand  is different every performance. The audience isn’t just watching; they can participate or even direct the performers in the show. No matter how they interact, each person will help create an unforgettable experience.

Audiences may recognise Simple Cypher who captivated audiences at Basingstoke Festival in 2023. Their show SNDFX features a realm where movement bends sound and objects pulse with rhythm. This performance, another première for Basingstoke Festival, is a fusion of hip hop dance, physical performance and musicality. 

Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Culture Cllr Kerry Morrow said: “Every year I’m blown away by how many fantastic local and national acts come to our borough and wow audiences. This weekend’s line up is no exception and is a perfect way to end this year’s festival.

“This is just the start of what we have on offer this summer, including live music performances, activities for children during the summer holidays and Limitless, our extreme sports and wellbeing event which will take place on Saturday 26 July at War Memorial Park.”

More information about Basingstoke Festival, including times and locations of performances, is available at www.BasingstokeFestival.co.uk or on social media channels @BasingstokeFestival on Facebook and @BstokeFestival on Instagram. Any short notice changes due to the weather will be found on the social channels as well.

Basingstoke Festival is part of Without Walls, a network of organisations bringing innovative outdoor arts to towns and cities across England. Find out more on www.WithoutWalls.uk.com.