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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.

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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

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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

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Hastings Bonfire

Address

Pelham Car park, Pelham Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3AD

Telephone
07743 487369

secretary@hbbs.info

Hastings

Bonfire, Procession, fireworks.

Dates

From:
18 Oct 2025Open 19:15 - 23:00

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Hastings Science Fair

Address

East Sussex College, Station Approach, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1BA

jacqueline@science-projects.org

Hastings

Bring the whole family for a day of hands-on discovery in Hastings! With free planetarium shows, interactive science activities and crafts, there's something for everyone. Explore how science contributes to everyday life with scientists and…

Dates

From:
18 Oct 2025Open 11:00 - 16:00

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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

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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

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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 -

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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 -

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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

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BATTLE BONFIRE BOYES GUY FAWKES CELEBRATIONS

Address

High Street, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 0AE

Battle

ORDER OF EVENTS
06:00am – A maroon signals the start of Bonfire day.
10.00am – The Church Bells will signal the arrival of 'The Oldest Guy in the World' on the Abbey Green accompanied by Saxon Warriors and children's procession. The…

Dates

From:
8 Nov 2025

More Details
Winchelsea Christmas Fair

Address

New Hall, Rectory Road, Winchelsea, East Sussex, TN36 4AA

Telephone
07960945235

rakaposhi123@hotmail.com

Winchelsea

Please join us for the splendid Winchelsea Christmas Fair at the New Hall, Rectory Lane, TN36 4AA. This year the fair is held on Saturday 15th November 2025, between 10.30 am and 3 pm.
In addition to the Grand Raffle, Tombola and Refreshments,…

Dates

From:
15 Nov 2025Open 10:30 - 15:00

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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

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