Summer in Gosport: big weekend of free fun coming up

This weekend is a big one when it comes to free summer entertainment in Gosport.

There's Party in the Park, a two-day festival-style event, with a huge range of live music. In the High Street, a packed programme of free family entertainment gets under way. And on Walpole Park Lake, model yacht fans will be celebrating a major milestone with exciting displays of racing.

The Party in the Park, a council-supported event on Walpole Park, is this Saturday and Sunday, 29 and 30 July. It's a free-entry family event with live music, a funfair, go-karts and bouncy castles.

Live performers will cover the musical spectrum, including contemporary sounds from young local bands, 60s and 70s classics, heavy rock, 80s electronica, soul, and timeless tunes from across the decades.

Each day starts at noon, and there will be plenty of refreshments to keep you going, including wood-fired pizza, Thai street food, burgers, jacket potatoes, Greek gyros, doughnuts and ice-cream. A licensed bar will be available.

For full details of the line-up see the Your Party in the Park Facebook page.

The event has been organised by Montserrat Events and 32 Events, supported by the council and Hampshire Cultural Trust.

Meanwhile, in Lawrence Square, on the High Street, the council will host the first of five fun-filled Saturdays for local families.  

These free events, running until 26 August, will feature varied entertainment. But every Saturday there will be free go-karting from 10am to 3pm.

This Saturday (29 July) will see performances by a flamingo stilt walker at 10.30am, 12pm and 1.30pm. Punch and Judy will be in action at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm, while St Vincent College music department performs from 12pm to 1pm.

Other Saturdays will feature face painting, a flea circus show, juggling, brass band music, the Reilly craft bus and a bubble artist.

For full details see the Discover Gosport Facebook page.

The council has also given support to Gosport Model Yacht and Boat Club for centenary celebrations taking place from this Saturday. Vintage and classic A class yachts are in action on Walpole Park Lake on Saturday and centenary national championships start on Sunday. For more details see www.gosportmybc.club

Cllr Peter Chegwyn, Leader of the Council, said: "Following on from the amazing Hi! Street Fest last Saturday, this weekend is even bigger. The Party in the Park promises live music for all tastes and a great festival atmosphere over two days. And starting this Saturday, there's our programme of free fun for families in the High Street.

"There's even more free entertainment coming up next month, including a series of arts events from 5 to 20 August at local parks. These include a magical carousel for younger children, a comic performance of Alice in Wonderland, live jazz and theatre performances.

"The council is really proud to be supporting these free events and helping to make this a great summer for residents."

Details of these events, and many others, can be found in the council's Celebrate Gosport what's on guide. Printed copies are available at the Town Hall, Gosport Museum and Art Gallery and Gosport tourist information centre.

In the event of circumstances beyond the organisers' control, such as severe weather, events may be modified or cancelled. Please check online.