Sussex: Festive Events Over Half Term, Halloween And Christmas!

We've selected some of the best of the festive events happening all over Sussex, spanning the beginning of half term until after Christmas.

Twilight Festival At Beachy Head

A series of free events between October 23 and 31 will mark the clocks going back, featuring stories of folklore, twilight nature walks and night time astronomy.  

The nine-day festival will take place around the vicinity of The Beachy Head Story exhibition. The event includes:

• Sussex folklore storytelling for children, light and shadow craft workshops creating naturescapes and the chance to meet the owls from Sussex Falconry, while evening talks for adults reveal the some of the stories from Eastern European legends to Viking warriors and Norse gods.
• Wildlife lovers can join a twilight nature walk with Sussex Bat Group, or for a stellar evening try a spot of star gazing with Eastbourne Astronomical Society and then pop into the pop-up planetarium courtesy of The Observatory.  
• Halloween will also see spooky Sussex folklore stories for children, with more festival events to be announced.  Events are free but must be pre-booked, with tickets available to book online at the end of the month.

Eastbourne Borough Council Lead Cabinet Member for Tourism and Culture, Cllr Margaret Bannister said:

"Despite hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, many do not stay to see Beachy Head's unique evening glow, mystical landscape and starry night sky which make this such a beautiful and unrivalled location.  
 
"With this event we can really immerse ourselves into its rich history with tales of myths and legends, discover some of our rare wildlife at twilight and see for ourselves why this unique part of the country is now classed as a Dark Sky Reserve."
 
For more information visit www.HeritageEastbourne.com 

Halloween at Sharnfold Farm

Sharnfold Farm is staging a family-friendly October half-term and Halloween event, running from Saturday October 23 until Sunday October 31.
Attractions include a Bewitched Monster Trail and craft sessions.

Thirty-minute craft sessions are on offer from Tuesday October 26 until Sunday October 31 in the undercover Sussex barn.
Children will be able to create their own spooky monster magnet and Halloween scratch art mask that they can wear around the farm and take home to scare unsuspecting friends and family.

Donna Bull from owner Kent Entertainments Limited said:

“This is a great way to get children out of the house and into the spirit of Halloween. There have been some very curious things going on recently on Sharnfold Farm, so we are calling on the help of all young brave hunters to come along and help us solve the mystery of the Bewitched Monster Trail.

“We dare you to head off on an adventure along the Trail and put your hunting skills to the test and see if you can find the monsters hiding along the way and collect then unscramble the letters to figure on the mystery spell word.

“It’s all treat and no trick because every child who completes the trail and solves the mystery will receive a treat at the end.”

Tickets are available online now. Bewitched Monster Hunt Trail and Activity (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bewitched-monster-hunt-trail-halloween-craft-activity-at-sharnfold-farm-tickets-169355977287)
 

Drusillas Halloween-themed fun run for Sussex families affected by cancer

Drusillas Park near Alfriston are calling all monsters and mummies, ghosts and ghouls, witches and werewolves to join their wicked new virtual race for 2021 - The Monster Dash - to help raise vital awareness and funds for incredible local charity, Wolo. 

You can complete the Monster Dash any way you like. All you need to do is complete a 2.5k, 5k or 10k distance, whilst dressed in a creepy costume, during Drusillas' Shriek Week 23rd-31st October. 

You don't need to visit the park and you don't need to complete the Dash all in one go, as long as you've done it by midnight on Halloween.

Drusillas suggest a minimum donation of £5 per participant which can be donated via the event's JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/monsterdash2021.

https://www.drusillas.co.uk/news/the-monster-dash-2021-virtual-fun-run-for-wolo.

Wolo Foundation, founded in 2020 by husband and wife team Justin and Fler Wright, offers practical help and support to families affected by cancer living in Sussex. The services are provided by local businesses, helping the community come together for families in need. And anyone can help Wolo continue providing this amazing support by taking part in The Monster Dash virtually this half term.

Deputy Managing Director, Cassie Poland, spoke about the event:

"Wolo were such an easy choice for our charity of the year; they are local, they are passionate, they have an incredible story to tell, and they are making such a difference to the lives of those going through the hardest of times."

"As Wolo work with families with children under 16, we wanted to make sure our virtual race was accessible to all," continued Cassie "so no one should feel they have to accomplish a gruelling athletic feat to take part! Choose a distance and take it at your own pace, it's about fun and coming together as a community in a moment of recognition and support for those families affected by cancer - and raising as much as we can for them all."

"Our visitors love getting into the spirit of Halloween and each year come up with some fangtastic costumes, so this is a fun excuse to wear them more than once over half term whilst fundraising - we can't wait to see photos of zombies crawling along the seafront, or witches in the woods!"

Halloween Whodunnit at Borde Hill Garden, October 16-31.

Families are invited to dress up for halloween when they visit this English Heritage Garden, for a costume party at Foolish Mortal Mansion.

Young witches and wizards can explore the garden on a daily story trail, helping Detective Snoop discover what happened to Sir Dangerous Powers, the owner of Foolish Mortal Mansion. He was found laying face down on the dance floor... but is he really dead?  

Along the way meet some of the shady characters who live at the Mansion to find out ‘whodunnit’!
 
Book in advance at: www.bordehill.co.uk/bookyourvisit

Photo by Alex Rickard Photography 

SteamLights to light up the winter nights in Sussex at the Bluebell Railway

Launched last December, The Sussex heritage railway is bringing its SteamLights event back over the festive period.

Music and narration will accompany the train, which will be covered in thousands of colourful lights as it steams through the dark Sussex countryside between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes.

The journey begins with a big switch-on at Sheffield Park, before boarding. Visitors will be treated to festive scenes among the clearings, bringing shimmering light and colour as you go.

Once trains arrive at Horsted Keynes, passengers can disembark for 30 minutes to take photos and enjoy the atmospheric station adorned with lights and festive decoration. The train will then return to Sheffield Park, giving passengers a second chance to see the festive scenes they may have missed.

SteamLights will be running at Bluebell Railway on selected dates from Friday 5 November to Saturday 8 January.

Tickets are now on sale.  https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats-on/steamlights/

Museum of the Moon at Chichester Cathedral

Chichester Cathedral will host Luke Jerram’s touring artwork, the Museum of the Moon, from this October.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, the Museum of the Moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally-lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface.

The installation, which will be on display within the Cathedral’s Nave, is a fusion of lunar imagery, and surround sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning Bristol-based composer Dan Jones.

Over its lifetime, the Museum of the Moon is being presented in a number of different ways both indoors and outdoors, so altering the experience and interpretation of the artwork. As it travels from place to place, it gathers new musical compositions and an ongoing collection of personal responses, stories and mythologies, as well as highlighting the latest moon science.
 
The artwork will be accompanied by a programme of events, concerts and late-night openings, delivered by a variety of organisations, including the South Downs Planetarium, Chichester’s Novium Museum and the West Sussex Library Service, encouraging people far and wide to celebrate the night skies of Sussex. Activities for children and families will also be made available from October Half Term.
 
Canon Chancellor of Chichester Cathedral, the Reverend Dr Daniel Inman, said:

“We are thrilled finally to be hosting the Museum of the Moon, which was originally due to arrive at Chichester in 2020, but was delayed as a result of the pandemic. Chichester Cathedral has a rich history of showcasing and celebrating the visual arts and Luke Jerram’s work is incredibly striking. We warmly invite you to experience the artwork, and to come along to the various events and activities which are due to take place alongside it.”
 
The Museum of the Moon will be on display from 25th October – 14th November 2021. Entry to the Cathedral is free, and donations are welcome. 

Live Music and Real Ale Return to the Winter Garden for Eastbourne’s November Beer Festival.

The three-day event takes place in the newly refurbished Winter Garden in the town’s Devonshire Quarter on Thursday, Friday and Saturday November 18-20.

Tickets are available now with online ticket prices starting from £9 per adult with discounts for students and CAMRA members.

Sessions are available 5.30pm – 10.30pm on Thursday, 6pm – 11pm on Friday and 11.30am – 4.30pm and 6pm – 11pm on Saturday.

To book tickets visit www.EastbourneBeerFestival.co.uk or visit the Eastbourne Visitor Centre in the Welcome Building.

The festival promises more than 90 cask ales on offer, specially selected by the local CAMRA team and customers can take their pick from award winners, local favourites or those with a suitably quirky name.

This year’s offerings include the Long Man Brewery’s Rising Giant, Gun’s Chummy Bluster, Roosters’ Capability Brown, Buxton’s Right To Roam and Any Porter in a Storm from the Thirst Class Ale brewery.

There is also a great selection of ciders and perries available if beer isn't for you, plus a variety of international bottle beers and wines, not to mention cocktails.

Each festival session brings customers a variety of entertainment and live music from acoustic to rhythm and blues, and the weekend soundtrack will come courtesy of a superb line up of musicians performing on stage across all three days.

Eastbourne Borough Council Lead Member for Tourism and Culture Margaret Bannister said:

“The festival is the opportunity to enjoy tasting some delicious beers, ales and ciders all washed down with an accompaniment of live musical entertainment.

“The beer festival is being held inside the beautiful and newly refurbished Winter Garden and this much loved venue is the perfect backdrop for this. It’s an event not to be missed.” 

Winter Garden Beer Festival 

Online Digital Craft Festival - from across the world to your home

The team behind the multi-award winning, Craft Festival have curated their fourth online-only International Digital Craft Festival (www.digitalcraftfestival.co.uk) taking place from 13 -14 November.

Representing 100 of the finest designer makers from across the UK and the rest of the world, the Digital Craft Festival will feature a curated collection of new works as well as a programme of live talks, workshops and making sessions for all ages. 

The line-up includes Aardman’s top model maker, Jim Parkyn. The full programme of activities is all free and on Zoom, which you will need to book.

Sarah James, Craft Festival Director says: 

“At our Digital Craft Festival in March we harnessed the power of  the internet, Instagram and Zoom to reach out to over 10,000 visitors and introduce them to our maker community. Over 700 people joined in our live Zoom events participating in making sessions, watching demonstrations, enjoying films and listening to talks. We hope to do the same in November!”

To get the full effect, follow Craft Festival on Instagram @craftfestival, take part in a Zoom activity and browse our makers on https://www.digitalcraftfestival.co.uk/

Paultons Park, home of Peppa Pig World: Celebration of Christmas

This year's celebration will run from December 4th to the 23rd and feature illuminations and park characters dressed in festive gear - including your favourite pigs.

Paultons Park’s newest attraction, Tornado Springs, will be decorated for Christmas and open for Americana inspired festivities. Guests can enjoy a magical light show at the gateway building with giant musical Christmas tree coming to life every 15 minutes.

Additionally, Santa’s Special Christmas Show featuring Father Christmas himself will run twice daily with additional performances from Frosty in his ‘Snowtime Show’ all in the park’s undercover show area. Families can also settle down for a spellbinding Christmas story with Santa and meet famous festive faces, including Frosty the Snowman and Paulton’s Park’s very own snow princess.

James Mancey, Operations Director at Paultons Park said:

“We know families are hoping for a particularly magical Christmas after so many missed out on last year’s celebrations. We’ve packed this year’s event with multiple festive experiences, to immerse our guests in a wonderful world of Christmas charm." 

Pre-booking online is required - paultonspark.co.uk