With two bank holidays and a half-term holiday, May is a great month to get out and about and see what our county has to offer. Here’s a few of our favourite events taking place across East Sussex during May.
Jack in the Green Festival, Hastings, 3 to 6 May
Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green is an annual event that takes place in the historic seaside town of Hastings.
This four-day event attracts thousands of people and is a May Day celebration not to be missed.
The long-weekend festival includes puppet making and headdress workshops, dancing, concerts, and live bands. The festival’s highlight is a colourful procession through Hastings Old Town on bank holiday Monday.
Magnificent Motors, Eastbourne, 4 and 5 May
The biggest free motoring spectacular on the South Coast returns with over 600 vintage and classic vehicles on display, covering a century of motoring.
Visitors to the Western Lawns and Wish Tower Slopes will be able to view classic cars, motorbikes, buses and steam traction engines. There will also be commercial and military vehicles on display plus a French Market, live music and a fun fair.
The Crowborough Boundary Walk, Crowborough, 5 May
The annual Crowborough Boundary Walk is open to everyone. The walk takes approximately three hours to complete, after which the walkers will have beaten the bounds.
Beating the bounds is an ancient custom that sees members of the community walk the boundaries of the parish. Armed with birch or willow boughs, processional walkers would beat the parish boundary markers and priests would pray for the protection of the harvest to come.
The walk starts from 9am on Eridge Field at Goldsmiths Recreation Ground (next to the car park). Crowborough is surrounded by a designated area of outstanding natural beauty and the walk takes in some terrific views of the magnificent countryside around the town.
Branch Line Gala, Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park, 10 to 12 May
This event is a must for all fans of branch line railways, providing a chance to see unique, smaller locomotives in live action. The heritage railway will be hosting a range of distinctive visiting guest engines and exciting double header trains as well as freight trains which offer a glimpse into the transport history of the railways.
On Friday evening, visiting engine GWR Manor 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ will be pulling a unique pie and mash evening supper train – ‘The Pie & Mash Manor Special’!
Introduction to calligraphy workshop, Bateman’s, Burwash 10 and 11 May
Learn how to use modern dip-pen calligraphy to create stationery in the peaceful surroundings of Rudyard Kipling’s beautiful Sussex home. The two hour workshop is led by local artist Alina from Creative Feel Designs.
This course is suitable for complete calligraphy newbies as well as those who have tried their hand at calligraphy before and need a reminder of how much fun it can be! There are two workshops taking place on each day, 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.
Season Finale, Plumpton Racecourse, Plumpton, 12 May
Get all dressed up for the racecourse’s season finale.
There are seven races to conclude the season with Best Dressed competitions for Ladies, Gents and Children with some fantastic prizes. After the racing, there will be live music so stick around for some après-racing fun!
Charleston Festival, Firle near Lewes, 16 May to 27 May
Charleston Festival brings together today’s most exciting artists, thinkers and changemakers. The festival hosts 10 days packed full of events, conversations, performances and workshops.
Speakers and performers include chef and food campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall; comedian, actor and writer Lenny Henry; journalist and broadcaster Emily Maitlis; legendary actors Judi Dench and Bill Nighy; and the iconic art duo Gilbert & George.
Beer & Cider by the Sea, Eastbourne, 17 May to 19 May
This three-day event takes place on the Western Lawns on Eastbourne seafront. There will be fine ales and cask ciders to enjoy, plus bottled beers of the world, wines & gins. Volunteers from the Campaign for Real Ale will also be on hand to offer advice and tips for a perfect beverage.
A selection of top-class entertainment will be provided, including festival crowd pleasers Fat Freddie & The Queens and the laid-back sounds of jazz repertoire with The Frontier Jazz Jam.
Battle Medieval Fayre, Battle Abbey Green, Battle, 26 and 27 May
History comes alive at Battle Medieval Fayre! Prepare to be entertained by Battle’s Fighting Knights as they clash in combat, and delve into the past with Hands on History
Explore the variety of stalls by local traders, try hands-on leatherworking, or test your aim at the Crossbow Academy.
Sibelius’ 5th Symphony with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, 30 May
Join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Matthew Coorey for a concert full of lyrical orchestral favourites, beginning with sounds of sunrise, birdsong and a spring-like optimism in Grieg’s Peer Gynt.
In the second half of the concert, Coorey and the Orchestra will perform Plus Sibelius’ Symphony No.5.
The great outdoors – all month!
May is National Walking Month and East Sussex boasts lots of wonderful walks so get out and about and experience the great outdoors on your doorstep!
One of East Sussex’s most famous residents, the illustrator Raymond Briggs, regularly enjoyed wandering the county’s footpaths and walks. If you’d like to find out more about the man who brought us the Snowman, Fungus the Bogeyman, and The Puddleman visit an exhibition of Briggs’ life and work which has just opened at Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft (opens 27 April and runs to 27 October).
Photo credit: Duncan Price
