Eastbourne Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK)

The main industry in Eastbourne is tourism, and as such, the town works hard to continually raise its profile and popularity, by organising a series of yearly festivals and exciting events. Each year, things to do in Eastbourne seem to get better and better, with the annual AEGON International Tennis Championships each June now bringing more than 30,000 visitors to the town.

Most festivals take place between May and October, and include various vintage motor displays, a marathon over Beach Head and across the South Downs, a very colourful beer festival, and extreme sports at the Go Fast Speed Days event. Each year in August, the Airbourne (Eastbourne International Airshow) is the crowning glory and is the UK's largest free coastal airshow, being staged over four days and attracting more than 600,000 people, together with the world-famous Red Arrows display team.

Eastbourne Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

• Eastbourne Festival - mid to late April, combining theatrical events, comedy gigs, literature, concerts, dancing, arts and crafts, workshops and local talent
• Magnificent Motors - early May, a large number of vintage cars come to the town and line the seafront
• Bandstand Concerts - May to late September, with around 150 open-air summer concerts during this period
• AEGON International Tennis Championships - mid-June, attracting world-class tennis players and large crowds, held at Devonshire Park
• Eastbourne Extreme - mid-July, with a huge lineup of free extreme sports and related events, including Thundercar powerboat racing, land yachting, kite buggies, jet-skiing and more
• 999 Emergency Services Display - mid-July, a weekend event, with exhibitions and displays provided by the ambulance, fire and police services, together with the coast guard and RNLI
• Eastbourne Motor Show - mid-July, held in the grounds of Park College and also at the Sussex Downs, with literally hundreds of new vehicles and motorcycles
• Lammas Festival - early August, a folk music and carnival extravaganza, on the Western Lawns and with free entrance for everyone
• Airbourne - mid-August, also known as the Eastbourne International Airshow and featuring flying displays by the Red Arrows, parachute jumping and evening fireworks. Airbourne is held over four days and is best viewed from the Western Lawns or Beachy Head
• Go Fast Speed Days - late August, a major world-cup downhill speed event, featuring custom-made skateboards, gravity bikes, inline skates, slalom and luge. Racers zoom down Beach Head Road and reach high speeds
• Feastbourne - mid-September, an enjoyable food and drink festival, with wine-tasting events, cooking displays, celebrity chefs and lots of food stalls
• Victorian Festival - late September to early October, lasting a whole week and first held in 2003, hosted by the Eastbourne Society and including bell ringing, Charles Dickens readings, choir recitals at the All Saints Chapel, a backstage tour of the Devonshire Park Theatre, and a free town walk
• Beer Festival - early October, with over 100 different cask ales, ciders and wines, together with live music, other entertainment and a party atmosphere. The Eastbourne Beer Festival is staged at the Winter Gardens and also includes fun pub games, plenty of hot food and an 'Oompah' band
• Beachy Head Marathon - late October, the largest off-road marathon race in the whole of the United Kingdom, with a challenging route taking in the scenery of the South Downs. Each year, the Beachy Head Marathon attracts roughly 2,000 competitors from all over the world
• Local Life Show - late October, a popular event organised and hosted by the Trading Standards Service department of the East Sussex County Council and based around the 'Ideal Home Show'
• Christmas Magic - early December, with late-night shopping, ice-skating, reindeer, choirs, mulled wine and a Santa Special train at the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Adventure Park