An exhibition of work by Dutch artist, Rob Thyssen. Oils on canvas and steel plates.
An exhibition of work by Hastings artists in this unique open-air gallery. All works are for sale.
Exhibition of art and ceramics.
Pose for your picture in a 19th Century Shanghai style photographic portrait studio, which has been recreated for this exhibition. Grace Lau, who is Chinese, will be taking the photographs and a free print will be set to sitters. Funded by the Arts Council of England.
Local antique prints and collectables. Browsers welcome.
The Val Mascal Artists are influenced by shape, natural form & colour and take inspiration from the everchanging local landscape and seascape.
See a working flower museum in operation.
Tour and beer tasting at the only brewery in the Old Town. Usually Tuesdays and Thursdays. Full details not available at time of going to press. See Festival Office for details.
10am Belly Dancers give a 30 minute performance of this scintillating eastern dance.
11.30am Nicola Rodmell School of Performing Arts give modern dance demonstrations.
Ever wondered how this is done? Demonstration by Bob Arrowsmith. An OHPS event.
To be judged by the Mayor of Hastings, the Carnival Queen and Princesses. First prize is an engraved glass frame with a photo of the winning window. Winner announced by Old Town Crier during the Opening Ceremony at 12noon on Winkle Island.
Inter-pub competition for the Hastings Tug-o-War Shield. All registrations to the Fishermens Institute as soon as possible. Tel: 429300. Draw takes place at the Institute at 10.30am.
Jackie Cullen from Hastings Bird Rescue brings her owls to the Old Town. Learn about the birds and stroke them – you could even have your photo taken with them for a small donation! Jackie usually flies her birds in Priory Meadow to ward off the pigeons and has recently appeared on TV. Hastings Bird Rescue relies solely on donations. All proceeds to Hastings Bird Rescue and donation to OHPS. This event will not take place if it is raining or very wet.
Charity concert in aid of RNLI showcasing some of the fine musical talent to be found playing in and around Hastings.
To satisfy insurance and licenses NO BEACH BBQs ALLOWED. Any BBQs will be extinguished or the music will be stopped. A big thank you to all our sponsors.
An interesting and unusual guided walking tour of hidden narrow pathways, flights of steps and nooks & crannies, many with a tale to tell. The tour, lasting approx 1hr 20mins, involves some steps and steep inclines and will include amusing factual and historical anecdotes. Led by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets £3.75 adults, £2.50 children under 14, from Shipwreck Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore, or from guide on walk at £4 adults, £3 children under 14. Donations to Shipwreck Heritage Centre & OHPS.
An atmospheric and entertaining guided walk of approximately 1hr 20mins around the Old Town and Fishing Quarter, recounting true stories of smuggling in Hastings in the 18th and early 19th centuries and the involvement of local people. Conducted by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets in advance from Shipwreck Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore, at £3.75 adult, £2.50 children under 14, or from the guide on the walk at £4 adults, £3 children under 14. Donation to Shipwreck Heritage Centre & OHPS.
Join us for a 75 minute spooky stroll around the Old Town. An entertaining and different way to discover the area. Hear tales of terror and things which go 'bump in the night'!
An interesting and unusual guided walking tour of hidden narrow pathways, flights of steps and nooks & crannies, many with a tale to tell. The tour, lasting approx 1hr 20mins, involves some steps and steep inclines and will include amusing factual and historical anecdotes. Led by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets £3.75 adults, £2.50 children under 14, from Shipwreck Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore, or from guide on walk at £4 adults, £3 children under 14. Donation to ShipwreckHeritage Centre & OHPS.
The annual Old Town Criers Competition. Come and hear their spectacular cries – or, better still, have a go yourself!! Winner is presented with trophy and prize and is appointed Old Town Crier for the year. Costumes preferred but we can supply on the day if necessary. Just turn up! Judging by the Mayor of Hastings & Ray Goode, ex-Hastings Town Crier. Prize for Old Town Crier kindly donated by Mike Bigg from the FILO. An Old Hastings Preservation Society event, organised by High Street Traders.
St Mary Star of the Sea Church Hall, High Street/The Bourne.
Entrance £1 to include tea or coffee. Proceeds to church funds.
Proceeds to Soil Association and Lower Torfield Allotments Association.
Fastest runner wearing seaboots and a top hat along the length of Courthouse Street, round the lobster pot and back again! Timed certificates to all entrants. All welcome. Organised by High Street Traders.
Tickets £6 at the door. Refreshments available during interval – donations.
Children must be accompanied by adults. This walk is around the Old Town and includes steps and narrow footpaths.
Enjoy your coffee in this delightful courtyard garden.
Tickets £2.50 on the door or in advance from the Old Town Festival Shop at bottom of High Street.
The Lions Youth Brass Band is in its 16th year and provides an opportunity for young people between the ages of 6 and 19 to benefit from playing to an audience. The musical director is Nigel Birch, who has been with the band for 15 years, and over those years they have enjoyed national success having been National Youth Band Champions two years running. Come along for an enjoyable couple of hours listening to music ranging from traditional brass band to the Beatles! The band is supported by Lions Clubs in Cheshire and Staffordshire. Proceeds to Lions Youth Brass Band funds and OHPS.
Sit and relax in the garden. Cold drinks and refreshments.
£1 entry in aid of WSPA and OHPS.
An interesting and unusual guided walking tour of hidden narrow pathways, flights of steps and nooks & crannies, many with a tale to tell. The tour, lasting approx 1hr 20mins, involves some steps and steep inclines and will include amusing factual and historical anecdotes. Led by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets £3.75 adults, £2.50 children under 14, from Shipwreck Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore, or from guide on walk at £4 adults, £3 children under 14. Donation to Shipwreck Heritage Centre & OHPS.
Meet at top station of West Hill Cliff Railway.
This enjoyable walk is organised by Old Hastings Preservation Society and is one of many walks which take place every summer. An experienced guide will take you down into the Old Town and around the narrow streets. The walk lasts between 1½ - 2hrs, finishing at Winkle Island on the Stade fishing quarter.
Join us for a 75 minute spooky stroll around the Old Town. An entertaining and different way to discover this area. Bring a pen as a quiz is included. Hear tales of terror and things which go 'bump in the night'! Adults £3.50, concs £2.50, family £10 (2 adults/2 children).
Winner is the quickest to ride up the steepest hill in the Old Town. Riders must keep bums on saddles to stop the 10 shilling note blowing away! Winner will be presented with the Jimmy Read Memorial Trophy. Organised by High Street Traders.
An atmospheric and entertaining guided walk of approximately 1hr 20mins around the Old Town and Fishing Quarter, recounting true stories of smuggling in Hastings in the 18th and early 19th centuries and the involvement of local people. Conducted by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets in advance from Shipwreck Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore, at £3.75 adult, £2.50 children under 14, or from the guide on the walk at £4 adults, £3 children under 14. Donations to Shipwreck Heritage Centre & OHPS.
Lynda Murray's Neshamah - cool Latin jazz quartet with silent movies of Old Town Bike and Pram races by Glen Veness. Saxes, jazz guitar, double bass and Cuban percussion.
Doors open 8.30, music starts 9pm. Entry £5. Proceeds to charity.
£2.50 to include tea and coffee. Sweets 50p extra. Proceeds to church funds.
An afternoon of fun chess! Donations to Two Towers Trust.
All entrants must register by 7pm. Get your team together for a great night.
Ham or Cheese Ploughmans Lunch plus Sweet and tea or coffee.
Jackie Cullen from Hastings Bird Rescue brings her owls to the Old Town. Learn about the birds and stroke them – you could even have your photo taken with them for a small donation! Jackie usually flies her birds in Priory Meadow to ward off the pigeons and has recently appeared on TV. Hastings Bird Rescue relies solely on donations. All proceeds to Hastings Bird Rescue and OHPS. This event will not take place if it is raining or very wet.
The Electric Palace invites you to a screening of films featuring Hastings and its inhabitants captured by local film maker, Glen Veness. Donation to OHPS.
Home made cakes with coffee. In aid of Two Towers Trust which raises funds for the restoration of the Old Town's two medieval churches.
Spend the afternoon sipping wine and enjoying French cheese in this delightful cottage garden. Garden courtesy of Beatrice Clover, wine & cheese courtesy of Deeday & Bev White. £3 per person. Proceeds to High Street Traders & OHPS.
£5 on the door to include Afternoon Tea.
Songs for the sea sung by Tanya Richards, Mezzo Soprano, accompanied by Richard Eldridge, in the historic and atmospheric setting of St Clements Church. Tanya has played supporting roles in many musical theatre productions and appeared in the Millennium show at the London Palladium. This year she will appear in the Magic Flute and Divinas Palabras, along with a variety of concerts and recitals as well as continuing her classical singing studies with Jenny Miller. In aid of Two Towers Trust which raises funds for the restoration of the Old Town's two medieval churches.
Come in fancy dress – prize for the most original! Bring a torch for this one!!
Demonstration of hoisting the sail on the Rebecca May, the oldest fishing boat on Hastings fishing beach.
Cakes, refreshments, raffle, items for sale. Come and meet our 'unusual' Devon Rex cats (and Siamese). These cats, and any kittens, we may have are not for re-homing.
Exhibition of paintings and crafts, ceramics, textiles and paper. Admission free. Donation to OHPS.
Afternoon Tea with home made scones, strawberry jam and lashings of fresh cream served in this pleasant garden. £3.50 per person. Organised by Hastings Borough Bonfire Society. Donation to OHPS. NOTE: there are several steep steps in the garden.
Is 'Rock a Nore' French for Rock to the North? Or could it be Black Rock? Any why was one of Britain's first-ever recycling centres built at Rock a Nore? Find out on this fascinating tour. Led by local historian Steve Peak.
Open garden with refreshments. Sea views from tree-top lookout. Donations welcome.
'Out of their Skins' tour of Hastings Old Town. Starting at Butlers Gap, moving on to the beach and then on to other locations containing beer!
An exhibition of garden railways by local enthusiasts. Entrance £1.50 adults, 50p children. Proceeds to club funds.
Sit and relax in the garden. Cold drinks and refreshments. £1 entry in aid of WSPA. Donation to OHPS.
Enjoy wines from regional Bodegas, Rioja, Castilla Leon, Valdepenâs, Penedés and Aragon.
£3 a head. Donations to High Street Traders.
£2 for trail, £3 for bar-b-q. You can do the trail any time during the Festival weeks. Entry forms from Festival Week office at bottom of High Street (opposite Blue Dolphin Fish Bar) or from the Lib Dem centre in London Road, St Leonards. Proceeds to OHPS, Lower Torfield Allotments Society, Lib Dems.
Entrance fee set by Stade Crazy Golf at reduced rate for competitors.
A family event open to all with trophies and prizes for the lowest round men and women plus Junior Cups for boys and girls. There will be a children's tombola and a raffle. All proceeds will go to local charities. This year the Winkle Club donated £16,000 to local good causes.
Proudly presented by Mary Donnelly. All clothing has been kindly provided by Mel Pointer from The Wardrobe clothes agency in High Street. Don't miss this great event. Musical Director: Meg van Kuyk. Choreographer & Stage Director: Harris Woodcock. MC: Andy Donnelly. Proceeds to local organisations and charities.
Sing-a-long with John Wilson at the piano. Fancy dress or outrageous hat! The Master of Ceremonies will introduce various acts including the Bonfire Society's own 'Shady Ladies' ! All welcome. Organised by Hastings Borough Bonfire Society.
Have a photo taken of your little one. We provide the fairy outfits, wings and wands. Age 3-8 years. £5 per child. No appointment needed. Donation to OHPS.
Mugsborough (Hastings) is the setting for the most influential work class novel ever published. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell. He was a local painter & decorator, and his book describes the horrors he saw in the town a hundred years ago. Come on a guided tour with historian Steve Peak. Tour free but donations welcome.
Town Centre and Priory Meadow - sponsored by Priory Meadow Shopping Centre and Town Centre Management.
Featuring the Terry Seabrook Quartet.
A medly of Musical Entertainment in Swan Gardens organised by Colin Bailey.