Festivals and Events in Brighton and Hove – 2012
Every year Brighton and Hove host a variety of great festivals that have wide appeal.
As a venue for a great weekend away even in the cold months, Brighton has it all from the biggest arts Festival in England to comedy, food, music, film and artists’ open houses. This city really knows how to celebrate and they pack venues and fill the accommodation all year round!
Here’s a rundown on what happens each year.
September
Brighton Summer Pride
This event is held in the first week of September every year and is quite simply the best Pride festival in the UK celebrating everything lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
Brighton Food & Drink Festival, April and September.
This festival is a must for foodies everywhere and celebrates of the best food and drink available across Sussex by bringing together local producers, bars, restaurants, chefs and retailers to showcase every type of food and drink offered in this vibrant area!
Brighton Art Fair, 20 – 23rd September.
The Art Fair is one of the biggest such events on the South coast and is all about art in every form from traditional painters to contemporary sculpture, photography and printmakers.
October
City Reads
At this annual month-long literary festival, one book is selected for the whole community to read, discuss, debate and creatively engage with.
Brighton Comedy Festival, 5th – 20th October
The Brighton Comedy Festival laughs its way through 3 weeks of thigh slapping comedy, establishing itself as one of the top comedy events in the country. Attractions include Andi Osho of ‘All the single ladies’ fame on the 11th Oct and Jack Dee to name but a few!
November
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
This is the Royal Automobile Club’s annual Veteran Car Run. It’s the world’s longest running and greatest motoring celebration. The annual November event attracts entrants from all over the globe and for the owners of these highly valuable veteran cars it represents a rare opportunity to take their extraordinary automobiles on the historic 60-mile run from Hyde Park in central London to the seafront on the Sussex resort of Brighton.
Made famous by the film ‘Genevieve’ and the world’s longest running motoring event, the London to Brighton car run offers a fantastic opportunity to catch extraordinary automobiles on the 60 mile run from Hyde Park to Brighton.
CINECITY, 15/11 – 2/12
Celebrating 10 editions of CINECITY the festival stretches across the city into 10 separate venues including the Duke of York’s Picture house for a packed programme featuring the very best in international cinema with a glorious mix of premieres and previews, artists’ cinema and installations, treasures from the archive, retrospectives, free education screenings and events, talks and debates. Brighton’s annual celebration of the moving image, CINECITY features a global mix of premieres and previews, treasures from the archives plus the latest digital adventures.
December
Christmas Artists Open Houses – 1 – 16 Dec
The Artists Open Houses festival provides the opportunity to view and buy artwork directly from artists and makers in the artists homes and studios. Exhibiting artists include many experienced and professional artists, others starting out on their careers, as well as marginalised artists, school and college students.
Work in the houses includes jewellery, ceramics and textiles, as well as painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and many other media. Entry to Open Houses is free and many houses offer homemade tea and cake. There are two annual Artists Open Houses festivals, one during the Brighton Festival period in May and the other in the run up to Christmas.
The Christmas Artists Open Houses festival covers the first three weekends of December and is a great opportunity to find affordable, unique and personalised Christmas presents for friends and family as you sip at mulled wine and nibble the Xmas goodlies!
Burning of the Clocks – 21st December
The burning of the clocks started in 1995 and is in reality a pyrotechnics dream with spectacular fireworks and fire show combining a family solstice lantern parade with the burning to usher in a new sun, invest your hopes and dreams and pass them into the fire. It really is a brightly burning event and one not to be missed! It’s a great way to start the Winter!