What’s On in Rye and East Sussex
Rye, Hastings, Battle and the wider East Sussex coast keep a busy calendar of festivals, fairs and one-offs — many of them generations old.
Come for the one event you’ve been meaning to catch, or stitch a few into a long weekend. Stay at The River Haven Hotel and you’re in the heart of historic Rye, with the town’s events an easy walk from the door. Hastings, Battle and the rest are a short drive — and with a large car park on site, coming and going is straightforward.
October 2026
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Hastings Bonfire Night 2026
Hastings Borough Bonfire Society's mid-October torchlit procession through the Old Town, ending with a beach bonfire and fireworks.
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Hastings Storytelling Festival 2026
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Nine days of stories for adults and children across Hastings and St Leonards, from Axel Scheffler's Gruffalo show at the White Rock Theatre to a free Children's Day on the Stade.
November 2026
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Battle Bonfire Night 2026
The Battel Bonfire Boyes, with records going back to 1646, lead a torchlit procession through Battle that ends in a bonfire and fireworks on Abbey Green.
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Rye Bonfire Night 2026
Rye Bonfire Society's torchlit procession through the cobbled streets, with a beach bonfire and fireworks display over the Salts.
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Tenterden Christmas Market 2026
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Four days of Christmas stalls along Tenterden High Street — street food, artisan cheeses and fudge, handmade glass, silver jewellery and Romney Marsh wool — under the town's Christmas lights.
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Robertsbridge Bonfire Night 2026
Visiting Sussex bonfire societies join Robertsbridge's torchlit procession through the village to the Recreation Ground, where Bonfire Prayers are said before the fire is lit and the fireworks begin.
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Kent & East Sussex Railway Santa Specials 2026
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Santa walks the decorated carriages of a 75-minute steam train from Tenterden, handing every child a named present, on ten days from 29 November to Christmas Eve.
December 2026
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Hastings International Chess Congress 2026/27
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The 100th Hastings Congress brings grandmasters and club players to Horntye Park over New Year for the nine-round Masters and a week of Christmas, weekend and New Year tournaments.
February 2027
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Hastings Fat Tuesday 2027
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Five days of Mardi Gras music in the pubs and venues of Hastings and St Leonards, ending on Shrove Tuesday with bands playing short sets in venue after venue.
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Rye Bay Scallop Week 2027
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For nine days in February, restaurants, pubs and cafés in and around Rye put scallops landed by the town's own small fishing boats at the centre of their menus.
March 2027
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Hastings Half Marathon 2027
The 41st Hastings Half Marathon starts and finishes on the St Leonards seafront, with a hilly first half through the town and a fast run back along the sea.
April 2027
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Brett Lydd Half Marathon & 20 Mile 2027
A flat road half marathon and 20-mile race on the wide, quiet lanes around Lydd on Romney Marsh — a good last long run before a spring marathon.
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Hastings Beatles Day 2027
Dozens of bands and musicians play the songs of The Beatles in their own styles across one long Sunday in Hastings, raising money for local community projects.
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Kent Spring Marathon 2027
A two-lap marathon and one-lap half marathon on quiet, undulating lanes through the Kent countryside, starting from Woodchurch for the first time in 2027.
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Hastings Jack in the Green 2027
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Morris dancers, drummers and giant green figures fill Hastings Old Town for May Day weekend, ending with the slaying of the Jack on West Hill.
May 2027
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Rye Summer Running Series 2027
A flat and fast 5k and 10k race series on Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, five Friday evenings from May to September, with a Junior Run for the kids.
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Bewl Marathon 2027
Hermes Running's twin Bewl Water race days bring 10km, half marathon, marathon and 50km ultra distances to scenic woodland paths and lakeside trails in the High Weald.
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Tenterden Food & Drink Festival 2027
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Three days of regional producers, chef demos and street food on Tenterden's recreation ground — free entry, dog-friendly.
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Rye Half Marathon & 10k 2027
A half marathon and 10k on the quiet country lanes around Rye and Peasmarsh — the race formerly known as the Rye 10 & 5 Mile.
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Romney Marsh Wartime Weekend 2027
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Three days of 1940s atmosphere at the Romney Marsh Wartime Collection — re-enactors, military vehicles and trade stands on the site of the WWII airfield RAF Brenzett.
July 2027
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Spirit of Tenterden Festival 2027
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A free three-day community festival of live music, street food, artisan makers and family events on the Tenterden Recreation Ground each July.
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Hastings Beer & Music Festival 2027
Hastings' four-day beer, cider and live-music festival at The Oval cricket ground, raising money for local charities since 1982.
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Battle Festival 2027
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Battle's two-week arts and music festival fills the abbey town's churches and venues with classical, jazz, theatre and a curtain-raising Scarecrow Festival.
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Bexhill Carnival 2027
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Bexhill's eight-day carnival closes with a town-wide procession, with Party in the Park at The Polegrove and floats touring the seafront.
August 2027
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Eastbourne Airbourne 2027
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Four days of free flying displays over Eastbourne's seafront, along a two-mile display line above the Channel.
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Rye & District Country Show 2027
A traditional one-day country show on a farm between Rye and Hastings — horse and dog shows, classic cars and an open-air fair of stallholders, all for St Michael's Hospice.
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Bexhill 100 Classic & Custom Car Show 2027
Five hundred classics, customs, American cars and motorcycles fill the Polegrove on August bank holiday Monday — the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club's annual fundraiser.
September 2027
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Bewl Marathon 2027
Hermes Running's twin Bewl Water race days bring 10km, half marathon, marathon and 50km ultra distances to scenic woodland paths and lakeside trails in the High Weald.
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Rye Ancient Trails 2027
A true steeplechase race across the breathtaking scenery of the ancient trails surrounding the medieval town of Rye in East Sussex.
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