Festivals

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1066 Country’s official website for tourism and travel information

The 1066 Country festival programme spans the whole year. February kicks it off with Rye Bay Scallop Week showcasing the most delicious scallop dishes, 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.

In June the Cycling Festival takes place in Bexhill and Hastings, with a series of fun cycling activities. There's also the Midsummer Fish Festival in Hastings, a weekend of delicious fish dishes, workshops and live music.

July hosts Pirate Day, where thousands of bloodthirsty pirates descend upon Hastings, which currently holds the Guinness World Record for 'largest gathering of pirates in one place'.

Carnival season begins in July in Bexhill, with a week of events including a party in the park and a shop fancy dress competition. Over in Battle, the Scarecrow Festival is in full swing. 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 in August, with a packed programme of headline concerts, free outdoor music stage and fringe events spanning jazz, blues, RnB, soul, Latin, Cuban and funk.

England's Medieval Festival takes place in Herstmonceux over the August bank holiday, an immersive three-day celebration of the Middle Ages. The month is rounded off by Hastings Litfest, a celebration of writers and writing of all kinds.

In September the Coastal Currents art festival sees a wide range of art exhibitions, performances and events throughout Hastings and St Leonards, and surrounding areas. Also this month we celebrate the sea with two delicious festivals, Bexhill Festival of the Sea and the Hastings Seafood & Wine Festival.

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 the month-long Battle Festival of arts and music 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 and the grand finale of the Hastings Bonfire Torchlight Procession.

October is bonfire season throughout 1066 Country, with Battle holding its own bonfire celebrations shortly after Hastings, and Robertsbridge and Rye bringing the season to a spectacular close.

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Number of results: 22

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Hastings Pirate Day

Address

East Beach Street, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3AR

Hastings

Join us for the world record attempt to build the largest human image of a pirate ship – 6,000 people needed!

Dates

From:
12 July 2020

More Details
The Great Gatsby Fair

Address

Lawns by De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, East Sussex, TN40 1DP

Bexhill

A fabulous Roaring 20s themed weekend celebrating the swing eras from 1920 -1950 with fun for the whole family.

Dates

From:

17 July 2020to19 July 2020

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Hastings Old Town Carnival Week

Address

Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3EY

Hastings

The Old Town Carnival, Gurning Competition and Pram Race will not go ahead as usual this year. The organisers are in discussions with other Old Town Organisations and are hoping to put on a virtual event instead – watch this space.

Dates

From:

31 July 2020to7 Aug 2020

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Dubs at DLWP 2020

Address

De La Warr Pavilion, Marina, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1DP

Telephone
01424 229111

boxoffice@dlwp.com

Bexhill on Sea

Dubs at DLWP is back for the third year and this time to make it even more family-friendly we are adding extra Baby Rave in the afternoon for parents and their little ones.

Venue

De La Warr Pavilion, Rother

Dates

From:
1 Aug 2020Open 10:00 - 22:30

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Hastings Pride

Address

Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1EU

Hastings

The theme for third Hastings Pride is 'heroes'. Now, more than ever, we need to come together to celebrate our differences.

Dates

From:
25 Aug 2020

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Hastings Literary Festival

Address

Hastings and St Leonards (various venues), Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1HE

Telephone
07545141616

info@hastingslitfest.org

Hastings

A celebration of writing and writers, featuring workshops, talks, interactive sessions and more.

Dates

From:

27 Aug 2020to30 Aug 2020Various Opening Times

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Rye International Jazz Festival

Address

various locations, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7JT

Telephone
+44 01892 277984

info@ryejazz.com

Rye

Chill out at the Rye International Jazz Festival, a boutique music festival presenting world class international artistes and talent from across the region.

Dates

From:

27 Aug 2020to31 Aug 2020

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England's Medieval Festival

Address

Herstmonceux Castle, Herstmonceux, East Sussex, BN27 1RN

Telephone
02081506767

info@mgel.com

Herstmonceux

Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and spectacle of medieval England.

Dates

From:

29 Aug 2020to31 Aug 2020

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Rye Festival of The Sea

Address

North Salts, RYE, East Sussex, TN31 7NU

Telephone
07974001818

ryefestivalofthesea@gmail.com

RYE

This combination of two fantastic events strives to honour the deep maritime history we embrace here in Rye. Proud to be a Cinque Port Town, we welcome locals and visitors from all over to join us in celebrating.

Dates

From:
6 Sept 2020

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Bexhill Festival of the Sea

Address

Bexhill Seafront, Bexhill, East Sussex, TN40 1DP

bexhillseaanglingfestival@hotmail.co.uk

Bexhill

A brilliant weekend event next to the De La Warr Pavilion highlighting local produce and seafood cuisine.

Dates

From:

7 Sept 2020to8 Sept 2020

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Rye Arts Festival

Address

RYE, East Sussex, TN31 7YB

Telephone
+44 01797 224442

RYE

A packed fortnight of opera, classical and contemporary music, drama, walks, authors, performers and artists.

Dates

From:

12 Sept 2020to26 Sept 2020

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High Weald Walking Festival

Address

High Weald Area of Outstanding National Beauty, various locations, TN5 7PR

Telephone
01424 723011

info@highweald.org

Explore one of the UK’s finest landscapes with knowledgeable guides and inspiring walks, most of which are free of charge.

Dates

From:

12 Sept 2020to20 Sept 2020

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Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival

Address

Stade Open Space, Hastings Old Town, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3AR

Telephone
+44(0)1424 451111

hic@hastings.gov.uk

Hastings

Indulge in a mouth-watering weekend of delicious seafood and luscious wines at this spectacular festival.

Dates

From:

19 Sept 2020to20 Sept 2020

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Battle Festival

Address

various venues, Battle, East Sussex

info@battlefestival.co.uk

Battle

The month-long arts and music festival is running throughout October in Battle, East Sussex, drawing visitors from throughout the UK, Europe and the US.

Dates

From:

29 Sept 2020to31 Oct 2020

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Hastings Oktoberfest

Address

St Mary in the Castle, 7 Pelham Crescent, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3AF

Telephone
07817521677

russnisbet79@gmail.com

Hastings

We are back for the fifth installment of Hastings Oktoberfest at St Mary in the Castle. Expect all the usual shenanigans alongside great German beer & bratwurst.

Dates

From:
3 Oct 2020Open 14:00 - 21:00

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Re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings

Address

Battle Abbey, High Street, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 0AD

Telephone
+44 01424 775705

customers@english-heritage.org.uk

Battle

Get up close to one of the most important battles in English history, as armies clash in the famous Battle of Hastings re-enactment. Taking place on the very spot where King Harold and Duke William fought in 1066, our re-enactment is an epic…

Dates

From:

10 Oct 2020to11 Oct 2020Open 10:00 - 17:00

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Hastings Week

Address

various locations, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1JR

Telephone
+44 (0)1424 451111

Hastings

A week long celebration to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.

Dates

From:

10 Oct 2020to18 Oct 2020

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Hastings Bonfire Celebrations

Address

Hastings Beach, Hastings, East Sussex, TN35 5BT

Telephone
+44(0)1424 440604

info@hbbs.info

Price
Free

Hastings

The spectacular torchlit procession, starting from The Stade, bonfire and fireworks commemorate the Battle of Hastings, as well as the traditional gunpowder plot.

Dates

From:
10 Oct 2020

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Hastings Storytelling Festival

Address

Stade Hall, Stade Open Space, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3FJ

Hastings

This year's Storytelling Festival will be delivered digitally rather than through public-facing events, due to Covid-19.

Dates

From:

17 Oct 2020to25 Oct 2020

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Hastings Herring Fair

Address

Stade Open Space, Old town, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3AR

Hastings

Sea shanty-fuelled festival where you can discover more about this undervalued but versatile fish, herring.

Dates

From:

21 Nov 2020to22 Nov 2020

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