Events in Brighton
Springwatch Festival Brighton
This one-day event in June has been running since 2006 and is free to attend. It takes place in the field outside Stanmer House and Stanmer church and aims to promote local wildlife and wildlife-friendly living.
The family-friendly festival has wildlife zones and hands-on activities aimed at all age groups. The event is run by Brighton & Hove City Council and Sussex Wildlife Trust and attracts over 15,000 people.
Activities for the family include workshops to make bug hotels, heavy horse and cart rides, wildlife storytelling and fun fair rides.
Performances during the event include subjects such as birds of prey, bee keeping and sheep shearing as well as entertainment from Morris dancers and live music.
A farmers’ market offers a chance to sample, taste and buy cheese, ale, jam, chutneys and fresh bread. Experts are on hand to answer gardening and wildlife questions.
The festival is solar powered and visitors are encouraged to travel by public transport.
£Free
Brighton, BN1 6JG Map
Added by: Helen Blakey
The Brighton Japan Festival
The Brighton Japan Festival runs for one week in June to celebrate Japanese film, art, performance and culture.
The celebrations look at the traditional and the modern and take place in a variety of Brighton venues including cafés, bars, shops, exhibition spaces, restaurants, cinemas, concert halls and theatres all take part. Previously a café turned into a Nintendo gaming parlour and bookshops promoted Japanese literature.
Among the list of things celebrated are taiko drumming, theatre based on the art of origami and Gothic Lolita fashion.
The festival launches with the Moshi Matsuri, a street festival that features performing talent from all over the country, including taiko drumming, shamisen and koto performances and Okinawan dance.
The Brighton and Hove Japanese Club organises classes and games and stalls selling Japanese food and wares.
A festival hub is set up for the week. Events take place in the hub tent at night including Japanese rock concerts and comedy performances
£POA
Brighton, BN1 1JS Map
Added by: Helen Blakey
Brighton Pride
Brighton Pride in August is the festival celebrating the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community in the city.
This festival began in 1992 with a small afternoon event and has since grown into a week-long celebration in the summer. It claims to be the biggest Pride festival in the UK, and in 2004 it was granted charitable status. A week of events is also held in the winter and this is known as Winter Pride.
The summer Pride week ends with a parade of costumes from the seafront, through the city and on to Preston Park for a day of celebrations. Festival organisers estimate the 2009 park celebration attracted 150,000 visitors.
Facilities at the park include a Women's Tent, BME Tent and Access Tent, outreach work from the Police forces of Sussex, Hampshire and Kent as well as the local Fire Brigade. There is entertainment in the form of dance and cabaret tents provided by local businesses.
The festival has won many awards.
£Free
Brighton, BN1
Added by: Helen Blakey
Brighton Festival and Festival Fringe
The Brighton Festival in May has been running since 1967 and celebrates the themes of freedom and liberty using arts such as music, dance, circus, theatre, art and film. The event also hosts talks and free outdoor events for people of all ages to enjoy.
Events have included a Children’s Parade, music by Asian Dub Foundation and a performance of The Owl and the Pussycat. There was a joint performance by music journalist Dorian Lynskey, singer/songwriter Billy Bragg and Associate Editor of Observer Music Monthly Luke Bainbridge, as well as a discussion about the future of Burma.
Brighton Festival Fringe runs alongside the main festival and celebrates and provides a platform for diverse art forms. Unlike the main festival, there are no selection criteria and anyone who registers can perform.
£POA
Brighton, BN1
Added by: Helen Blakey
Brighton Comedy Festival
This festival is gaining a reputation as being one of the top comedy events in the country. It has been running since 2002 and takes place over three weeks in October.
The festival, which celebrates live stand-up comedy, centres around the main venue of the Brighton Dome. Shows also take place in the Pavilion Theatre and the Corn Exchange.
The opening gala has included performances by Alan Carr and Michael McIntyre. The list of other big names to take part over the three weeks included Frankie Boyle, Jimmy Carr, Julian Clary, Sarah Millican and Sean Lock. Proceeds from this night went to the Sussex Beacon, a care centre specialising in HIV and Aids.
One of the festival’s highlights is its Best of the Fest nights, which take place once a weekend over three weekends and feature a line-up of comedians.
£POA
Brighton, BN1 1EE Map
Added by: Helen Blakey
