A CIRCUS performance in a park started with a bang as thousands of people gathered for hours of free entertainment.

Crowds flocked to see the World Beaters’ drumming group who heralded the start of Up in the Air at Baiter Park in Poole on Saturday.

The event formed the finale of the Daily Echo-backed Inside Out Festival, which finishes today.

A variety of outdoor acts performed throughout the day including juggling acrobatic clown duo Carré Curieux, classic street performers Circus Geeks, and highwire couple The Bullzini Family.

Chris Bullzini said he and his wife, Phoebe, enjoyed the “beautiful sight” of Poole Harbour as they performed stunts eight metres in the air.

“The biggest challenge was the wind, which was blowing at around 20mph yesterday.

“But the festival itself was really well organised and a pleasurable experience. We felt really welcome in Poole, and the reaction from the audience was really good. They were cheering and clapping, which was amazing.

“We do various tricks on the highwire – my wife does the splits and walks with buckets on her feet. I do handstands, and we cycle across the wire and sit on chairs.

“The performance also has a story behind it, which is becoming more and more popular with contemporary circus.”

Against the backdrop of the harbour, Acrojou’s All At Sea captured the audience’s imagination as a theatrical installation set in a boat rowed gently through the crowds.

Shortly after, the crowd was roused by a New Orleans-style jazz band, which created a riot of reeds and brass as it performed in the park.

Jen Walke-Myles, co-producer for Inside Out Dorset, described the whole festival as a success.

She said: “We’ve had fantastic weather for the festival and large audiences for performances in amazing locations.

“Up in the Air got off to a great start with Worldbeaters moving about the crowd with their spooky drumming.

“It’s wonderful to see lots of families enjoying these amazing performances against the beautiful backdrop of the water.”

And co-producer Bill Gee thanked Poole for “another successful Inside Out Dorset” there.

“It's been such a great afternoon and evening in Harbourside Park, so many of the thousands of people have been coming up to our volunteer stewards saying how much they enjoyed the performances, the food stalls, the Lighthouse bar, the drummers with pyrotechnics and the extraordinary location.”