To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site. Find out more here.

You are here: Home > What's on > Festivals

Festivals

The 1066 Country festival programme spans the whole year. Bexhill After Dark lights up the streets in January with illuminated displays and performances. From February, Hastings is centre stage with Hastings Fat Tuesday – the UK's biggest Mardi Gras celebration – and the International Piano Concerto Festival.

As spring arrives, Pashley Manor goes all out for its Tulip Festival, with more than 35,000 coming into bloom in late April.

The May bank holiday weekend sees Hastings deck itself in ribbons, leaves and green facepaint for the Jack in the Green festival, culminating on the Monday when the town's population chase a giant tree up the West Hill and slay him to release the spirit of summer. Simultaneously – and perhaps incongruously – thousands of motorbikes roar into Hastings at the end of the Mayday Run, and congregate on the seafront.

July hosts Pirate Weekend, where thousands of bloodthirsty pirates descend upon Hastings, which currently holds the Guinness World Record for 'largest gathering of pirates in one place'. The St Leonards Festival brings together homegrown talent and international artists with street arts, festival markets, live music and theatrical performances.

You can't miss Battle's Scarecrow Festival, as they stuffed creations sit out on the high street and beyond to welcome all to the town. This is part of the Battle Festival of arts and music, a cultural gem in the South East's calendar.

Then the Hastings Old Town Carnival Week follows in August, including open houses and gardens, the famous Pram Race, Seaboot Race and Bike Race, and ending with the carnival procession. Rye hosts its International Jazz Festival, with a packed programme of headline concerts, free outdoor music stage and fringe events spanning jazz, blues, RnB, soul, Latin, Cuban and funk.

The Rye Arts Festival spans two weeks in September, a feast of cultural activities from literary talks to concerts and immersive theatre. This is followed by Hastings Storytelling Festival in October.

Hastings Week commemmorates the anniversary of the famous battle on 14 October 1066, and includes a Classic Car Show, National Town Criers Championship, Battle of Hastings Re-enactment at Battle Abbey and the grand finale of the Hastings Bonfire Torchlight Procession. Sussex's famous bonfire season continues with events in Battle, Rye and Robertsbridge's celebration take place on weekends through November.

Number of results:

Number of results: 13

Sort By: A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest

Holly Newman Art Exhibition

Address

The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3BN

Telephone
01424465100

hello@thecrownhastings.co.uk

Hastings

ART EXHIBITION @ THE CROWN
Holly Newman: People Places Things
29th August - 2nd October 2025
People Places Things is Holly's largest solo exhibition to date and will feature as part of the Coastal
Currents arts festival. Expect to see a colourful…

Dates

From:

29 Aug 2025to2 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 23:00

More Details
Bexhill Street Market

Address

Devonshire Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1AS

Telephone
07377259153

market@bexhill-lions.org.uk

Bexhill-on-Sea

Bexhill-on-Sea Street Market Supported by Bexhill-on-Sea Town Council 20th / 21st September 2025
Bexhill Street Market returns to Devonshire Road from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September, selling locally sourced items,…

Dates

From:
20 Sept 2025Open 09:00 - 17:00
From:
21 Sept 2025Open 09:00 - 17:00

More Details
Oktoberfest at The Crown

Address

The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3BN

Telephone
01424465100

hello@thecrownhastings.co.uk

Hastings

The Crown is hosting the annual Oktoberfest from Fri 26th September to Sun 28th September.

Dates

From:

26 Sept 2025to28 Sept 2025Open 11:00 - 23:00

More Details
Journeys Festival of Dance

Address

Multiple Locations, Uckfield, Hailsham, Bexhill, East Sussex, TN40 2JE

office@18hours.org.uk

Uckfield, Hailsham, Bexhill

Journeys Festival of Dance is a unique festival that brings excellent quality dance performance to everyday outdoor space, raising the profile of dance, encouraging participation and reflecting local diversity.

Venue

18 Hours, Rother

Dates

From:

26 Sept 2025to28 Sept 2025

More Details
Hastings Tap Takeover

Address

The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3BN

Telephone
01424465100

hello@thecrownhastings.co.uk

Hastings

Hastings Tap Takeover is an annual event celebrating the very best independent breweries from the UK and beyond. It takes place in multiple venues across the historic towns of Hastings and neighbouring St Leonards, on the Sussex coast.

Dates

From:

3 Oct 2025to5 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 23:00

More Details
The Battle of Hastings Re-enactment 2025

Address

1066 Battle Abbey and Battlefield, High Street, Battle, Sussex, TN33 0AE

Telephone
0370 333 1181

battle.abbey@english-heritage.org.uk

Battle

The one and only Battle of Hastings re-enactment takes place on the very spot where King Harold and Duke William fought in 1066. Don't miss 300 reenactors recreate the drama and intensity of this legendary conflict.

Venue

1066 Battle Abbey and Battlefield, Rother

Dates

From:

11 Oct 2025to12 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 17:00

More Details
Hastings Storytelling Festival

Address

Multiple Locations, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1HE

office@18hours.org.uk

Hastings

Hastings Storytelling Festival will be back in October 2025 spanning over 2 weeks, Friday 17th October - Sunday 26th October.
The festival celebrates the art of storytelling through spoken word, dance, puppetry, parades, theatre, talks and…

Venue

18 Hours, Rother

Dates

From:

17 Oct 2025to26 Oct 2025

More Details
Autumn Pop-up Fair

Address

Hub on Rye Hill, Kiln Drive, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7SQ

fundraising@saraleetrust.org

Rye

Come along to our Autumn Pop-up Fair where we will have a variety of local stallholders selling handmade wonders to seasonal gifts.
Handmade Gifts
Beauty Products
Clothing & Accessories
Therapy Taster Sessions
Raffle & Tombola
☕️ Refreshments…

Dates

From:
18 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 14:00

More Details
Harvest Festival

Address

Tillingham Winery, Peasmarsh, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 6XD

Telephone
01797208226

info@tillingham.com

Rye

Oct 25, 5.00pm
Harvest Celebration with Live Music & Dancing
Celebrate the end of Harvest & our new Vintage '24
Join the Winery Team as we toast the end of Harvest and the arrival of our brand-new Vintage '24. Expect a night of great food, live…

Dates

From:
25 Oct 2025Open 05:00 - 11:00

More Details
Oktoberfest

Address

White Rock Theatre, Hastings, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1JX

Telephone
+441424462280

box.office@whiterocktheatre.org.uk

Hastings

Join us for beer, pretzels, bratwurst and music inspired by everyone's favourite Bavarian festival. Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere featuring a live oompah band, and toast to good times. Prost!

Venue

White Rock Theatre, Hastings

Dates

From:
1 Nov 2025Open 12:00 -
From:
1 Nov 2025Open 18:00 -

More Details
Hastings Old Town Cider Festival

Address

The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3BN

Telephone
01424465100

hello@thecrownhastings.co.uk

Hastings

Hastings Old Town Cider Festival. Old Town pubs filled with cider!

Dates

From:

7 Nov 2025to15 Nov 2025Open 11:00 - 23:00

More Details
The Legends of Drag

Address

White Rock Theatre, Hastings, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1JX

Telephone
+441424462280

box.office@whiterocktheatre.org.uk

Hastings

Join Cherry in the forgotten attic of drag as she celebrates the drag legends that came before her. Buckle up and get ready to travel back in time as early as 1604 when drag first started to emerge.

Venue

White Rock Theatre, Hastings

Dates

From:
7 Nov 2025Open 20:00 -

More Details
Robertsbridge Bonfire Night 2025

Address

Station Road, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5DE

Telephone
+44 01580 880639

secretary@robertsbridgebonfiresociety.com

Robertsbridge

The Sussex bonfire season goes out with a bang with the Robertsbridge Bonfire and its torchlit procession.

Dates

From:
22 Nov 2025

More Details

How to travel to and around 1066 Country
Despite the feeling of seclusion, it's easy to get here by rail, sea or road and there are plenty of transport options for getting around.
Maps and guides
View our interactive map of 1066 Country, and download the Visit 1066 guide.
Plan your visit
Use our itinerary planner to create the perfect visit.
Special offers
Looking to get more out of your trip? Take a look at our latest offers.
Newsletter Sign Up
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter.