Hastings Old Town Carnival Climax!

Despite the fear of the Pram Race being a washout, it wasn't, indeed, I've heard nothing but praise for how yesterday evening turned out, a bit damp beforehand, some rain whilst most prams were in George Street, but no trouble, a great atmosphere, and everyone being nice to each other, and generous. If the forecast had been better, no doubt, more money would have been raised, and we wait to see the amount from that event, but the folk of Hastings continue to dig deep to support local charities... Amazing how the less wealthy in society contribute more than the wealthy!

Anyway, there is plenty to happen still, although the culmination to the week is the Carnival Parade on Saturday (website), and I have no shame in including my archive photograph above, which includes the retired RNLI lifeboat, and I fully understand the reasons behind why the new Shannon Class lifeboat cannot lead the parade now, but I can't help but feel that the parade was so much better with the main lifeboat leading the rest! But, of course, there will be so much more happening from tomorrow (Friday) through to Sunday, including guided walks galore, and, well have a look at the website, and enjoy the rest of the Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2023!

Hastings Old Town Carnival Parade Returns & more to come still!

OK, we're very unlikely to see the lifeboat heading the parade this year (I took this photograph 3 years ago - blog), or ever again, as I believe it's too long to get around the roundabout by Iceland, but thinking back to past parades what great days they were; but maybe the RNLI inshore boat will lead the procession this year? 

Anyway, the carnival procession shouldn't be too spoilt by the morning thunder and lightning predicted by the Met Office, as it begins during the afternoon (website). And there are still many other events going on this weekend. Look at the website for details of the events being held on Saturday, and again at the website for Sunday. 

Keep a check with the website for changing weather conditions.

Whatever you do, please enjoy the weekend folks, and remember, be safe! 

Musicians and Coastal Currents, and LIVE MUSIC!

I'm a wee bit behind the times (only just saw this on facebook), but:  

Sussex musicians, Coastal Currents want to pay you! They "know times are tough with performances being cancelled and the creative economy struggling. But Coastal Currents raised money from the Arts Council England to be able to give you a space online to stream your live gigs! We support you during COVID and plan to continue supporting you. SO - If you want an hour of live streaming for you, your band, an experiment, to launch a track... to build an online audience - our online stream, gets around 3k watches - get in touch at info@coastalcurrents.org.uk and we can arrange a time for your live stream AND PAY YOU FOR IT! We can also facilitate it to stream to your page too!"  

I hope this information can help local musicians, and, by the way, live music is available on Hastings Pier at weekends, as I mentioned in my blog last week, and a small cover charge of £4 to see the music on the second half of the pier was brought in yesterday for LIVE & UNLOCKED (facebook); the front half of the Pier remained free to enter. Apparently there will NOT be a charge for Saturdays and Sundays (I have just read), but if you want to check on this weekend and future gigs, and see film of previous gigs, please go to the Hastings Flyer facebook page. By the way, tomorrow's music includes Kingsize Slim + Rufus Stone, and Dr Savage, have fun!

OK, Hastings Old Town Carnival Week (website) this year has mostly been a 'virtual' event, but I thought I'd include a photograph from 2 years ago, the last year the lifeboat could take part in the Carnival Parade (blog), sadly no parade this year... 😥

I have missed opportunities to walk along the middle of the road as well 😉

St Leonards Festival & Carnival Parade Saturday 29th June 2019

Tomorrow sees the return of the St Leonards Festival & Carnival Parade 29th June 2019, from 12.00 noon to 10.30pm (website). There will be a festival market, food and refreshments, street art, story telling, bands playing live, and the Carnival Parade from the Azur Pavilion to Warrior Square Gardens at 2.45pm. Events venues include Warrior Square Gardens, Goat Ledge, and the Street Market will be in Kings Road from 10.00am to 6.00pm; the full programme can be seen at the website.

Enjoy your Saturday!

The Carnival is over!

The Carnival Parade on Saturday, not quite here yet, but a crowd's gathered...

 

So a wander down the road, and the Coastguard truck at the front...

 

And a few on foot following the Coastguard truck...

 Lifeboat coming up!

The lifeboat and crew/volunteers, and with her last journey as the leading light of the Hastings Old Town Carnival Parade. In case you weren't already aware, the new Shannon Class Hastings lifeboat will be arriving this autumn, apparently it is too long to get around the roundabout at Iceland, though you will still be able to view the new boat at the lifeboat station, when it isn't out on call.

Respect to the RNLI lifeboats and their crew and volunteers!



Carnival Day and Weekend

The weekend really culminates in the Carnival Day Parade, starting at Rock-a-Nore Road at 5pm, and finishing back at Rock-a-Nore Road too, but, of course, there's so much more going on all day on Saturday, and on Sunday too, and not just because of the Hastings Old Town Carnival. Indeed, you could promenade from Rock-a-Nore all the way along to the Bo-Peep, and/or deviate onto Hastings Pier, where there are specific events in addition to the usual facilities (website), and it appears the Pavilion Restaurant has now reopened! You could also visit the parks, beaches, castle, caves, aquarium and museums, let alone the amusements, restaurants, cafes and pubs, good food, drink and music galore!

Then there are many more carnival events... walks, exhibitions, food and drink. Whatever, enjoy the weekend; see Carnival website for more details.

The Day gets going!

Early doors, and people had been queuing up already to make donations before 10.30... Can't beat those Hastingers! Hastings Foodbank website.

And preparing to close Rock-a-Nore Road for the Carnival Parade.

Carnival Day! Saturday 6th August 2016

There is plenty going on, of course, so I shall mention the events that I feel are most important, and the ones I tend to support (you'll probably know which interests I tend to follow by now, if you're a regular reader!), however, the full details are at the website, and don't forget, there will be music in other pubs and bars not mentioned too, after all, this is Hastings on a Saturday! There is an Arts & Crafts Fair, together with refreshments appropriately, at St Clements Church 10am to 2pm, where friend of William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti married Elizabeth Siddal in 1860 (see my blog of 7th March 2015).

From 11am to 4pm Mick Barrow is on duty in Rock-a-Nore Road talking about Fishing, Past and Present at an Open Net Shop and Display of Nets and Pots; any donations will be passed on to Prostate Cancer UK. Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) have organised for their 2 regular walks on the one day, so, meeting at Hastings Fishermen's Museum at 11am for their Stade Guided Walk and at 2.30pm by the top of West Hill Lift for their Original Old Town Walk, for which donations to the Fishermens Museum and OHPS respectively would be appreciated, many thanks.

Of course, the climax of the day will be the Firework Display up at the Castle at dusk, following the Carnival Parade, which starts at Rock-a-Nore Road at 5pm and wanders around the old town for a few hours, with breaks for music at various locations; for further details of the organisation of this event, please go to the website. 

Enjoy Carnival Day!

Carnival Parade

Not the easiest of days to drive round Hastings, surprisingly... not! 

Rock-a-Nore Road already closed, and quiet, in the morning! 

The Procession has started, and the roads are closed in the afternoon too... 

And music started! 

The parade comes out onto the seafront!

The Normans are back!?!  

 

The lifeboat joins in, not a surprise either... 

The driver here appears to be happy to wait for a couple of hours, so that she can recharge her car locally... later... 

Carnival Parade today!

The Carnival Week just carries on, and not completely over at the end of today either! Today's events are designated on the website, but pretty much culminate in the parade that builds up for much of the day at Rock-a-Nore, and starts at 5pm (assembly commences at 1.30pm), then ending the day with a firework display up by the castle on West Hill later in the evening. 

Don't forget that Rock-a-Nore Road is closed to traffic for most of the day, DO forget about parking in the car park there, but don't forget to enjoy yourself!