October is a wonderful month to get out and about before the cold winter months arrive. Enjoy autumnal sunshine and crisp air as you explore all East Sussex has to offer. “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”* – we couldn’t agree more!
Guided Woodland Walk, Arlington, 2 October
Discover the secrets of autumn on this woodland wander through Beatons Wood.
Join your experienced guide from Cherry Wood Adventures who will help you get to know the trees, birds and plants as well as the wide range of fungi in this ancient and magical woodland.
Afterwards, enjoy a hot drink and a slice of homemade cake. Booking essential.
Pop Up Cider Taps, Bignose & Beardy Cidery, Framfield, 3 October
The Bignose & Beardy team will be serving their ciders and nibbles in a wonderful setting in the heart of the beautiful Sussex countryside.
Relax with friends and enjoy an autumnal evening with live music and a traditional Sussex cider. A local food van will be providing delicious catering options.
All Bignose & Beardy ciders are wild fermented, slow matured, unfiltered and unpasteurised. Entry ticket includes your first cider.
Fawlty Towers – The Play, Congress Theatre, Eastbourne, 7 to 11 October
The ‘Greatest British Sitcom of All Time’ (Radio Times) is back – this time on stage! This laugh-out-loud production is fresh from a sold-out West End season.
Nearly 50 years since it first graced our TV screens, Fawlty Towers is now a brand-new stage play adapted by comedy legend John Cleese and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger.
Autumn bracelet workshop, The Crown, Hastings Old Town, 11 October
Join this NourishMe Wellness Box workshop and get crafty creating beautiful bracelets.
Crafting is a beautiful way to unwind, and focusing your mind on a creative task can really nurture your wellbeing.
The autumn-themed bracelet workshop offers a chance to get crafting, chatting, and creating while taking time for you.
The Battle of Hastings Re-enactment, 1066 Battle Abbey and Battlefield, Battle, 11 and 12 October
Taking place on the very spot where King Harold and Duke William are said to have fought in 1066, over 300 reenactors will recreate the drama and intensity of this legendary conflict.
Take the day to explore all the action in the rival Saxon and Norman camps. Experience first-hand the intricacies of the soldiers’ weapons and the weight of their armour. Discover the clothes they wore, what food they ate, and watch them practise their 11th century skills and craftsmanship.
There’s something for everyone especially the younger knights and damsels, with storytelling, have-a-go archery, and sword schools.
Hastings Storytelling Festival, Hastings, 18 to 26 October
This lively festival celebrates the art of storytelling for adults and children through spoken word, dance, puppetry, parades, theatre, talks and digital media.
Festival patron and internationally acclaimed illustrator of The Gruffalo, Axel Scheffler, has chosen this year’s theme: ‘Welcome’ – a celebration of openness, imagination, and shared stories for all.
Axel will be at the festival exhibiting his work and delivering engaging talks, alongside other contemporary storytellers.
Beachy Head Marathon, Eastbourne, 25 and 26 October
The Beachy Head Marathon is one of the biggest off-road marathons in the UK.
The event also features an Ultra run, a Half Marathon and 10k run.
The marathon course is popular for its scenic and challenging route through the South Downs National Park countryside, while the 10k takes a shorter route across the Downs to Belle Tout Lighthouse and back.
Bonfire Processions
Bonfire season starts early in Sussex, with the first events taking place in September. October sees more towns and villages hold their bonfire celebrations.
Events in Rotherfield, Northiam and Eastbourne take place on 4 October, with Heathfield Bonfire the following Saturday, on 11 October.
On 18 October Seaford, Hailsham and Nevill Juvenile (Lewes) hold their celebrations.
Hastings Bonfire, the longest single torchlit procession in Sussex, also takes place on 18 October. This year Hastings Borough Bonfire Society is celebrating their 30th anniversary.
Ewhurst and Staplecross Bonfire celebrate on the final weekend of the month (Saturday 25 October). Isfield and Little Horsted round off the month’s celebrations with their bonfire event on Friday, 31 October.
Bonfire is a unique Sussex tradition. Come and watch the amazing spectacle of the torchlit processions, distinctive costumes, drummers, effigies, bonfires and firework displays.
Most bonfire societies raise money for local charities and good causes, so whichever event you attend please take along some small change to throw in their collection buckets.
For more ideas on places to visit around East Sussex this autumn, check out September’s article with lots of information about what’s on around the county.
Finally, don’t forget the clocks go back at 2am on Sunday, 26 October giving us all an extra hour in bed!
Image: Fawlty Towers – The Play, credit Hugo Glendinning
* Quote from Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
