Bonfires and fireworks

Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes night, is a much-loved date on the Sussex events calendar, with many towns and villages celebrating it between September and November.

The Sussex Bonfires have a 300-year-old tradition of remembering the day Guy Fawkes and his band of conspirators were foiled in their plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Events in Sussex take on their own meanings as they also commemorate the 17 Protestant martyrs burned at the stake in Lewes, East Sussex, during the reign of Mary I (Bloody Mary) in the 1500s. Hastings Bonfire falls on Hastings Week which celebrates the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

Each town has their own Bonfire Society who raise funds throughout the year to ensure the events can go ahead. At each event, the socieities join together to march their way through the streets in a flaming torchlit procession, before lighting the giant bonfire, burning the secret effigy, and igniting the fireworks for a spectacular finale.
 

Important Information

Bonfire events throughout Sussex are extremely busy with large crowds. They are also noisy with regular large bangs heard from firecrackers and pyrotechnics. You must plan your journey in advance as there will be road closures and limited parking, as well as planned train cancellations in the interest of public safety.
Each event is entirely dependent on donations, so please bring spare change with you.