MAY Day weekend celebrations in Highworth are kicking off with a circus-themed May Day Market on Saturday featuring circus acts, live music, farm animals and lots of other free fun and games.

The town centre will be closed to traffic to accommodate more than 60 stalls, a stage, and a packed programme of events.

The annual event is free to enter and will run from 10am to 4.30pm.

Families are encouraged to get into the spirit of the occasion by dressing up in their finest circus gear.

The event was organised by members of the Highworth May Day Committee and was started by the Highworth Community Partnership Group in association with the Highworth Historical Society.

Committee chair Sandra Rendall was excited about bringing the event back for its eighth year.

She said: “Last year was really exceptional, it was a fantastic day, we had a lot of fun.

“It takes a lot of time to organise but I have help from the other members. We’re nearly there, I’ll stop panicking on Friday.”

Entertainment will be provided by Falding’s Fandangos with juggling and tricks from Paddy the Hat, Ms Merlin’s hula show and rope-walking and bike-riding from The Men in Slacks.

The grand finale is a Pub Challenge where teams from The Goldfinger, The Wine Bar, The Globe and The Saracen’s will take part in an obstacle course in front of a cheering crowd.

Miss Rendall added: “The winner gets an engraved glass they can show off in their pub and there’s also a new award this year for the best dressed.”

A circus skills workshop will be held at noon in the grounds of St Michael’s Church. Visitors can park their cars at Warneford School and Southfield Junior School.

Loads of local businesses are getting involved in the big day and raising money for charity, including Karoliina Saunders Hair Design.

The award-winning hairdresser is offering haircuts and styling throughout the day with a special ‘Hair Freak Show’ at 3pm to raise money for Prospect Hospice.

Miss Saunders said: “We’ve been involved every year since we opened four years ago and this time we wanted to take the opportunity to raise money for charity.

“There’ll be some quite out-there styles in the freak show, which children really love, and a raffle with three great prizes.”

For more information, visit the Highworth May Day facebook page.