By Katherine Jackman, Festival manager
We are excited to bring you our latest programme for Hurst Festival 2023 – our 19th year! As always, we have the ever-popular Hurst open studios, cinema in the garden, live band nights, blues, soirees, children’s shows, Hurst Players theatre, talks, wellbeing events and much more. Stephen Grant returns to compere the traditional Friday night comedy nights and bring us the fabulous new and up and coming comedians that we are so proud to have in our village.
We have three large Saturday night events for your pleasure: The first Saturday, 16th September, is Absolute Bowie, Winners of the National Tribute Music Awards, with a full live band for you in Holy Trinity church.
The second Saturday, 23rd September, we are pleased to announce that Mid Sussex Sinfonia will be in concert and on the last Saturday we have a fabulous Motown Party for you with the amazing live singers All that Soul bringing true soul and party vibes to our community!
We are also delighted to announce a fabulous new addition to our Super Sunday community event on the afternoon of 17th September, ‘Hufts’ - the new Hurst Festival Dog Show. To add to the excitement, we are very pleased to have secured Brigadier Humphrey Portleroy Trotter and Judge Janey – two extremely experienced Official Judges to oversee proceedings at the Arena on South Avenue Recreation Ground.
Also, on Super Sunday in the afternoon, we will be having a large Barn Dance for everybody on South Avenue Recreation Ground courtesy of the amazing live band and callers ‘Shenanigans.’ Remember on Super Sunday the Hurst Festival bar on the Recreation ground helps pay for all the free entertainment on the day so please support our bar. Indeed, at all of our events the income from the bar ensures that the festival is able to continue and helps us keep ticket prices low and provide the free entertainment – so please don’t bring your own alcohol to events.
Next year will be our 20th anniversary year and we will be inviting all our old favourites to perform – do let us know if there is anyone you would love to see again. We look forward to seeing you all during the two weeks in September – book tickets asap! www.hurstfestival.org As a registered Charity Hurst Festival relies on our brilliant team of volunteers – if you wish to help out during Hurst Festival or before, please contact us at admin@hurstfestival.org.