A Village Full of Talent!

Welcome to Hurst Festival! We are here to entertain you during the second half of September every year. We aim to provide a fortnight packed with fun, humour, drama, music and a huge variety of community events - for people of all ages and tastes. Tell us what you would like and we shall try to do it for you!

Here's how it started... way back in 2003, a couple of people had an idea! Both had been members of the Parish Council and both had lived in Hurst for many years and recognised what an extraordinarily vibrant and talented community it is. They gathered a few more people together and decided to hold a one-day 'taster festival' in May 2004 in the Village Centre, with drama, music, singing, children's performances - everything that could be packed into a relatively short time-span. It was a resounding success with over 500 people attending during that one day.

Based on this enthusiasm and the energy generated by that one day, planning started almost at once for a full length festival and, to avoid clashes with other festivals, September was chosen as a suitable month. A committee was formed well, there has to be one - but it's a very informal affair, meeting over a few bottles of wine in various houses and occasionally pubs! The first two-week festival was held in September 2005 and we've been going ever since with an amazing range of events put on every year.

We can't do it without all the fantastic support we get from helpers, sponsors and businesses. It takes thousands of hours of work to put together a programme of something like 70 events over the fortnight and we do our best to provide something for everyone. As soon as one Festival ends, we start on the next one, so if you've an idea for next year, and would like to work with us, please get in touch.

Hurst Festival Committee



Hurst Festival

The 2012 Festival programme will be launched in July, first to the Friends of Hurst Festival (if you join, you get priority booking; it costs as little as £20 …subscriptions run from 1 June each year). 12,000 copies will be delivered to every house in Hurst and Sayers Common and also distributed through Sussex Living magazine outlets, as well as libraries, tourist centres and so forth.

Make sure the dates are in your diary right now … 15 to 29 September inclusive.

Opening Night Gala

Opening night

What an opening event this is going to be! We have an evening of fantastic foot tapping swing music courtesy of The London Swing Orchestra, who are specialists in authentic 1920s and 30's jazz. They have a truly international following and led by Graham Dalby have performed on stage amongst others, with Annie Lennox, Gloria Gaynor and Natalie Cole. They have even received the Royal seal of approval having played for HM The Queen Mother at her 90th and 100th birthday celebrations. To make our evening as much fun as possible we would love to see as many people as possible in period costume ie 20s and 30s and feel free to have a good dance!

The music will be sandwiched together with a cabaret performance from the fantastic Magician and illusionist Max Somerset, who thrilled a family audience last year with his Twilight Magic Show. Max tours the world stunning audiences with his wizardry and hilarious patter with a modicum of musicianship thrown in for good measure and is a member of the prestigious London Magic Circle. This event has the makings of a Saturday night to remember for years to come!