By Katherine Jackman
We have three fabulous Saturday nights for you with Abba’s Angels; the best Abba tribute band in the country, Le Freak! (the fabulous 8-piece live band) playing all of Nile Rodgers from Chic’s incredible string of hits from over the decades from the 1970s to the present and Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus return! We are also pleased to announce that the fantastic Joe Stilgoe will be returning due to popular demand. Alongside these will be the ever-popular comedy nights, classical music soirees, talks, workshops, walks and children’s’ events. You can also book wellbeing events and food events after the success of nutritionist Belle Amatt’s supper club and Georgie Higton’s mindfulness workshop.
We are booking children’s authors and more entertainment for the little ones, alongside such treats as choirs and dance classes and we have a whole batch of new experiences for you to try. If you wish to contribute, volunteer, or be involved on a committee level do please get in contact admin@hurstfestival.org.
The big Super Sunday launch… We are particularly delighted to invite you all to the FREE community day and Hurst Festival launch day – Super Sunday – with a stage and entertainment on South Avenue recreation ground, the Hurst Festival bar will keep your thirst quenched and, with your patronage, pays for all of the free entertainment, free bouncy castle and even free face painting for everyone! Sunday 18th September from noon until 6.30pm is when the whole Hurst community takes over the High Street and South Avenue recreation ground to come together to enjoy a full programme of free entertainment, good food, drink, crafts, local art and music.
We love to engage the entire community from performers and artists to suppliers, schools, venues and local organisations, which is a great way to enhance people’s mental health and sense of community. The annual treasure – The Transport Parade – at 1pm from Crossways to the recreation ground is being led by Brighton and Hove City Brass Band.
On the recreation ground we will have performances of live music from Brasseoke, Sussex Swing, Fizz Pop Science, Wishworks, and Sompting Morris Dancers topped off by a live performance by the Cheer Up Mollys! Don’t forget to buy your drinks from the Hurst Festival bar as it helps support the Festival and pays for the free entertainment for all, including the adventure zone bouncy castle plus a bouncy castle for under 5s and free face painting and art workshops.
The Purple Bus will be there with circus workshops, we will also have a seed swap stall and many local craft stalls. At The Village Garden we will have music from DJ Em, plus live music performances from Hurst Festival Music Club. Stalls will be spilling out from our beloved High Street shops, plus with all sorts of free activities from gingerbread decorating workshops to art workshops with Poponin. There will be face painting, balloon sellers, craft stalls, plant stalls and, of course, plenty of ice cream. We will also be offering sumptuous foods including Egyptian, creperie, Thai, and a Vietnamese.
So, come and be part of this magical day that makes the Hurst community so very special. We respectfully remind everyone to make sure all cars are removed from Hurstpierpoint High Street by 8am on Sunday 19th September, when we close the road – the space is allocated for local stalls.
