– An incredible year celebrated as Portland and Weymouth prepare to pass the Towns of Culture hat to Wimborne Minster –
Portland & Weymouth will mark the finale of their Towns of Culture 2025 year with Hats Off!, a free community celebration on 30th December, 12 to 2pm at The Rectory, Weymouth (formerly The Clipper). The joyful end-of-year event brings together artists, performers and residents for one last creative gathering before the title is officially handed to Towns of Culture 2026: Wimborne Minster.
The afternoon’s centrepiece is the Big Hat Fling at 1.30pm – a mass moment of colour, craft and celebration – preceded by a packed programme of workshops, street performance and live music as the community comes together to mark the close of a landmark cultural year.
Families are invited to start the day by joining artists from Houseworks Dorset CIC to Make a Weird & Wonderful Hat, with crafting sessions open throughout the event. These bespoke creations will feature in both the Runaway Runway catwalk and the Big Hat Fling – giving everyone a starring role in the afternoon’s festivities.
Visitors can also enjoy:
- Live music from Voices Unbound and Weymouth Community Choir
- Street food and winter treats from local vendors, including free food options
- Creative activities and hands-on workshops for all ages
Runaway Runway: A Pop-Up Catwalk
One of the day’s highlights will be Eurotrash presents: The Runaway Runway, a pop-up catwalk inviting the public to take five minutes of fame and celebrate the beauty, quirkiness and character of Weymouth’s high street.
Expect: High camp. Low budget. Maximum glitter.
Eurotrash’s house-band soundtrack will bring the runway to life as locals turn their handmade hats into high fashion moments.
Meet the Art Detectives: Agents Kahlo & Dali
Adding to the sense of playful mischief, the Company of International Artists will unleash art detectives Agents Kahlo and Dali, who will be “breaking cover” across the high street to conduct spontaneous art investigations. As the flyer notes, they’ll “turn your theories into lyrics for a brand new song”—a collaborative finale built with the public.
Director, Rocca Holly-Nambi, Towns of Culture Project Management from b-side comments: “Hats Off is the perfect finale to a year that has shown just how creative, generous and imaginative the people of Portland and Weymouth are. This programme has always been about celebrating local voices, investing in artists and opening up space for people to take part in culture in ways that feel joyful and welcoming. Watching communities craft, sing, dance and make memories together has been a privilege. As we fling our hats into the air, we’re also lifting our eyes to what comes next – passing the title on with enormous pride to Wimborne Minster for 2026.”
Jane Biscombe, Town Clerk, Weymouth Town Council comments: “This final celebration captures exactly what Towns of Culture has meant for Weymouth and Portland: community spirit, creativity, and people coming together to make something brilliant. Over the past year we’ve seen thousands take part in events that have brought our neighbourhoods to life and shone a light on local talent. Hats Off brings everyone together one more time – families, artists, performers and volunteers – to mark a year we can all be proud of. We’re excited to celebrate this moment and to warmly hand the hat to Wimborne Minster for 2026.”
The Hats Off event marks the culmination of a year that has brought large-scale public art, festivals, performances, workshops and community participation across Portland & Weymouth as part of the Towns of Culture 2025 programme.
The Big Hat Fling acts as both a joyful closing moment and a symbolic gesture of passing the hat to the next Town of Culture: Wimborne Minster, which will take up the mantle for 2026.
To see more information on Towns of Culture 2025, please see: https://www.portlandweymouthculture.com/
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