What's On In Sussex? Our Pick Of Coronation Celebrations This May

Events are being planned all over Sussex to celebrate King Charles III's Coronation (May 6).

• Landmarks across the city will light up in traditionally royal purple, including: The Royal Pavilion, Brighton Pier, Brighton Centre, Brighton & Hove Town Halls and Mazda Fountain. The Coronation will be shown on a big screen in Jubilee Square, Brighton. The big screen will be set-up with a covered area to ensure the space can be used whatever the weather. There will also be some food and drink stalls onsite as well as space for people to bring their own picnics. After the coronation, the site will become an outdoor music venue with big-screen capacity for the annual city-wide Children’s Parade on Sunday 7 May. Jubilee Street will be closed to allow for the additional footfall the events will attract, on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May.

• Other activities taking place in Brighton include:

• Coronation exhibition ‘A Right Royal Spectacle: The Coronation of George IV’.
  Featuring original costumes and items from George IV’s coronation in 1821.
  Date: 11 March - 10 September 2023
  Location: Royal Pavilion & Garden
  Brighton & Hove Museums
• ‘King Charles III Coronation Pennants exhibition 
  Featuring over 1,500 portraits of the King made by local schoolchildren.
  Date: 5 May - 4 June
  Location: Hove Museum of Creativity
  Brighton & Hove Museums
• The Music for Youth King’s Coronation Celebration will stage school bands who will perform all genres of music, musical theatre, dance and spoken word, on Brighton’s iconic Bandstand by the seafront.
  Date: 7 May, 1.00 - 6.00pm.
• The Big Help Out 
  An initiative to showcase the positive impact of volunteering . A number of charities will be presenting in Preston Park for residents who’d like to get involved. 
  Date: 8 May, 12.00 - 4.00pm

• On Sunday 7 May, Burgess Hill Town Council is hosting the ‘Burgess Hill Big Coronation Lunch’, in St John’s Park. Running from 12 – 4pm. Mid Sussex Search for a Star will be co-ordinating the performances throughout the day, showcasing the talents of local acts. Whilst you watch, you can grab some food from one of the local community groups. Burgess Hill Bonfire Society, Burgess Hill 7^th Scouts and St John’s Church will all be in attendance to provide snacks. Activities for children include bouncy castles, children’s entertainers, and crafts run by Burgess Hill Youth – all free.

• In Midhurst, the Town Council has organised a special event which will take place in the Market Square on Saturday 6 May, from 10am until 5pm. The Midhurst Parish Church bells will ring out from 9.30am to celebrate the occasion, and there will also be a big screen, market stalls and children’s crafts, plus tables and chairs set out on a first come, first served basis, with people also encouraged to bring their own. Find out more at: https://midhurst-tc.gov.uk/event/kings-coronation-watch-with-us/

• In Chichester, there will be a big screen set up on Chichester Cathedral Green on Saturday 6 May where people can watch coverage of the Coronation parade and ceremony. The free event will run from 10am until 3pm. Deck chairs will be set out for people to gather for picnics and there will be themed arts; crafts; games; and, face painting for children to enjoy. The main streets of the city will also feature Union flags and specially designed Coronation flags created by local schoolchildren, while the city’s side streets will be decorated with colourful bunting. Visitors are encouraged to bring a rug and a picnic or pick up a delicious lunch from one of the city’s eateries. People can find out more at: https://chichesterbid.co.uk/event/10283/. 

• People are also being encouraged to organise a Big Lunch to help raise money for local charities and bring people together. People can find out how to get involved at: www.edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-lunch

• The Coronation will be screened live in The Capitol theatre in Horsham on Saturday 6 May and will include a special feature showing the broadcast of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation from 2 June 1953. On Thursday 4 May when Benson’s Mini Funfair comes to Horsham Park with a selection of rides throughout the weekend until 8 May. Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May sees a special Majestic Market come to Horsham town centre, hosted by Coden Events and Food Rocks, offering local produce, a great food and drink offer, and a King Charles Spaniel dog competition! On Sunday there will be free live music from 12 noon to 9pm, a host of community stalls, a vintage double decker bus bar and live performances throughout the town including roaming ‘Royal Palace’ guards. Look out too for local favourites including Horsham’s Diva Sarah Esser-Haswell and Big Notes Choir, traditional dance from Mythago and Magog, as well as performances from HAODS and the Root and Branch Theatre. The Sussex Band of the Royal British Legion will be performing in Horsham Park from 2-4pm. Children can make their own royal crowns or colourful windmills at Horsham Museum and Art Gallery where coronation crafts and a free children’s trail will be on offer.

• The Coronation Celebration is taking place at Sharnfold Farm - situated on the Hailsham Road at Stone Cross - on Sunday May 7 and Monday May 8. As part of your entry, there will be a craft activity in the Sussex Barn where you can learn how to create your very own 'nature' crown fit for Royalty. This session lasts around 45 minutes and will be hosted by a crafting expert, who will provide ideas, design and resources to help everyone craft their very own craft. Pre-booked tickets are £5.45 per person and the slots are at 10am, 11am and noon. You can then stay on the farm all day. If there are tickets left, these will be available on the gate, on the day but we cannot guarantee so encourage everyone to pre book!  

• Visitors to Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens can see the newly-restored Coronation Garden, first created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1952. To mark the 6th May celebrations, the garden team are restoring and replanting the Coronation Garden, which the former owners, the Loder family, designed. The garden features the famous rhododendron Loderi King George, which Sir Edmund Loder created, along with over 30 other rhododendron hybrids that are featured on the estate. From 6th to 8th May, children can take part in a free Coronation crafts event in the Courtyard Café, where they can decorate their own crown to take home. There will also be a dedicated section in the gift shop with Coronation-themed gifts and household items to purchase. 

• “King’s Coronation Celebration” - after a successful Christmas concert, the dementia friendly choir ‘Stay Vocal’ will be rehearsing & performing to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III, alongside sketch shows & intergenerational performances with local schools. The event will be held at St Symphorian's Church, Durrington in May.

• ‘Community Rail Coronation Connections’ campaign by Southeast Communities Rail Partnership to coincide with 40 days to go until the Coronation. Representatives have selected various places on their railway lines which have links to the British Royal family and its rich history. They have calculated how much less a train journey emits in greenhouse gases compared with taking the same trip by car. Anne of Cleves House on the Sussex Downs Line, Arundel Castle on the Arun Valley Line, Battle Abbey on the 1066 Line, Bognor Regis on the Arun Valley Line, Guildford Castle on the North Downs Line, Hastings Museum on the Marshlink Line, Hever Castle on the Uckfield and East Grinstead - Oxted Line, Penshurst Place on the Tonbridge - Reigate Line, Reading Abbey on the Windsor - Reading Line, Royal Pavilion Brighton on the Sussex Downs Line, Royal Tunbridge Wells on the 1066 Line, Worthing on the Sussex Coast Line.

• St John’s Church in Burgess Hill. A Song for the King, with Coro Nuovo Voices. Singing a tribute concert for the coronation, supporting local singers and charities. Tickets are on Sale now at www.ticketsource.co.uk/stjohnschurch

• Other events have been organised by Petworth Town Council, Heyshott Parish Council; and East Wittering and Bracklesham Parish Council; and, Plaistow and Ifold Parish Council

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