Stay Safe!

We're all aware of violence around the country as right-wing thugs have been visiting local communities, attacking businesses and houses of worship, looting, burning cars, and attacking the Police who are there to defend us. Many businesses and health centres have closed early, and many people have been allowed to stay away from work. The Pram Race in the Old Town is still going ahead this evening, as I write, so the road along the seafront will be closed for most of the rest of the day, and some of the smaller H.O.T. Carnival events are not going ahead. The Police and local politicians have urged us to not get involved with any counter demonstrations, as this will just make the work of the Police harder, and they assure us that sufficient Police resources are available, as are prison cells for anyone arrested (Sussex Police Statement), respect. Updates can be found at the Argus website. Stay safe folks...

Hastings Old Town Carnival Thursday 4th August.

Carnival Week continues today as well, as my blog described yesterday, but tomorrow:

How many doughnuts can you eat in a minute?!? Well, on Thursday you have the chance to enter the Donut Eating Competition (website), from 5.30 to 6.30pm at Butlers Gap in George Street. If you can refrain from being ill, there are also the ongoing events, plus Ancient Streets of Hastings Old Town, Twitten and Cat Creeps and the Original Old Town walks; the Grand Auction at Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association 7.00 to 9.00pm in aid of Hastings Borough Bonfire Society; and at Hastings Adventure Golf from 6.00 to 8.00pm Winkle Club Crazy Golf.

For more details of the events on Thursday see the website, enjoy! 👌

Hastings Old Town Carnival Wednesday 3rd August.

Carnival Week continues today too, as I said in my blog yesterday, but tomorrow...

OK, the main event of Wednesday is the return of the Old Town Pram Race (website), apparently a large number of teams competing in this pub crawl of the Old Town, and raising money for charity of course. If you've never seen it, there will be themed 'prams' supported by team members in fancy dress, racing around the Old Town (roads closed), collection boxes galore, and each team has to visit each pub/bar on the 'crawl' and have a drink and answer a question in each, or make a forfeit, before continuing on to the next. By 10.00pm it can be quite enlightening, and debauchery indeed, cheers! 😄

But yes, there are other events on Wednesday too, including the ongoing events, of course, and a much less raucous Children's Workshop earlier in the day from 11.00am to 3.00pm at St Clements Church; Organic Cream Tea from 2.30 to 5.00pm at the former Old Town Rectory; and Lost Pubs and Breweries and Ancient Streets of Hastings Old Town walks; more details at the website.

Have a great Wednesday, and watch out for stragglers late in the evening!

Hastings Old Town Carnival Tuesday 2nd August.

Carnival Week continues today too, see blog, but tomorrow...

If you have great muscles and a strong heart, events on Tuesday include the 32nd Jimmy Read Memorial Bike Race, starting at 5.30pm and heading up the rather steep Crown Lane on a bike provided by the organisers, but don't expect multiple gears. 😉 If that's too much for you, it is for me, the much less exhausting Winkle Tossing commences at Winkle Island a little later at 5.30pm (website).

More events include the ongoing ones and tours and walks galore: tours of St Mary Star of the Sea Church, the All Saints Church Tower and of the Stables Arts Centre; Hastings Ghost, Twilight Smugglers, Twitten and Cat Creeps, Foyles and the Original Old Town guided walks.

In addition, Lifeboats on Display, and allowing for the chance one or both boats may be called out on a 'shout' I presume, both of the lifeboats will be on display, which is always a great time to show our respect of the brave volunteers and the coxwain, and beach crew, who maintain this valuable service. The website suggests that Christmas Cards will be on sale in the shop too, time to start purchasing cards methinks!

For more details see the website, and enjoy your day!

Hastings Old Town Carnival Monday 1st August!

Well, according to the Met Office the weather for this first week in August will continue to be pretty much fine, so there shouldn't be any problems with the rest of the Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2022 events, fingers crossed; I've lived in this country for too long to feel secure about weather predictions! 😉 Anyway, the events on Monday include the Seaboot Race (above), where competitors have to run the length of Courthouse Street wearing a top hat and seaboots, round a lobster pot, and back again, great fun! The race starts at 6.00pm and is held in memory of an Old Towner who died 20 years ago, Peter Tricket, and the winner is presented with Peter's walking stick as the trophy, to keep until next year; but all entrants receive 'Timed Certificates.'

In addition the ongoing events continue, and other events on Monday include Ancient Streets of Hastings Old Town, Lost Pubs and Breweries and Stade guided walks; Old Town Treasure Trail (register by 6.30pm at Winkle Island); Open Garden, Owlers Cottage; Coffee Morning with Tombola in the crypt of St Mary Star of the Sea Church and an Organ Concert at All Saints Church at 7.30pm.

Oh yes, and at St Clements Church, until Saturday 6th (although I can't see that it's on for Friday 5th, so maybe give that day a miss) there is the St Clements Rossettis in Love Exhibition. Regular readers will be aware that I have a big interest in the Pre-Raphaelites, indeed, I wrote a blog about the Pre-Raphaelites in 19th Century Hastings some years ago now. Included in that blog are details regarding Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal getting married in St Clements Church in 1860, with some more details of their relationship with each other, and their relationship with Hastings, not to mention further details of other Pre-Raphaelites in relation to Hastings. What a great venue in which to hold this exhibition, I'll be there! 👍

For further details of all events on Monday go to the website and enjoy!

Carnival Week: Friday

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week carries on this Friday (website) with walks galore, including Lost Pubs of Hastings Old Town (West), Twilight Smugglers Walk, Windows and Glass Walk, and the OHPS Stade Guided Walk (see previous blog). And so much more, including the continuing Guess the Weight of the Cheese, Old Town Country Market, Cheese and Wine Lunch, Old Town Gurning Competition and, from 4.00 to 5.00 pm at Reeves Corner, Onion Eating Competition, a case of mixed wines for the winner, that is, the fastest to eat a raw onion and to whistle 'Sussex by the Sea', and another case for the "most tears" 😵

Have an excellent day!

Carnival Week Thursday:

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week continues this Thursday (website) with many more events, including walks, for example the free OHPS guided walk of the old town (see older blog), Guess the Weight of Cheese, Great Whelk Eating Competition and Grand Charity Auction! Carry on enjoying the week folks!

Carnival Week, Wednesday

It's not just about the Pram Race, but it's mostly about the Pram Race on a Wednesday during Hastings Old Town Carnival Week, so I've included impressive prams from the recent past for both images... So, what else is there on Wednesday (website)? Not to forget the continuation of Guess the Weight of the Cheese, and other events, there is also from 6.00 pm the charity Winkle Club's Annual Putting Competition at Hastings Adventure Golf (website), please do join in!

Then, in the evening is the Pram Race, not for the faint hearted, but an event that raises £thousands for charity every year, the local roads are closed off from 6.00 pm, the event going on from 7.00 pm until 11 pm (website), and it gives you the chance to walk safely in the middle of the road for a few hours! And not a few pints are supped...

Carnival Week: Tuesday 6th August!

The carnival week continues to entertain, including the legendary Crown Lane Bike Race from 5.30 pm and not easy at all (website), the OHPS led Old Town Guided Walk from 2.30 pm and another on Thursday too (see blog for last week as same details, and the lift still was under maintenance earlier today), continuation of the Guess the Weight of the Cheese, Free Music, Winkle Tossing, many more guided walks, a Hastings Lifeboat Station Open Day, and much more to enjoy (website), please do!



Carnival Week Monday: Seaboot Race!

Still plenty to do on Monday 5th August, and within Hastings Old Town Carnival Week too (website), including the OHPS led free guided walk of the Stade from 11.00 am, as I mentioned in one of my Friday blogs. In addition there is the Seaboot Race that starts at 6.00 pm in Courthouse Street (website), and in which a friend of mine joins in every year, silly man, just joking Jason! 

In addition events include the Old Town Treasure Trail, Guess the Weight of the Cheese, Music, Coffee Morning, Craft Stalls, more walks and tours, and the Cheese & Wine Extravanza, and much more (website), have fun!



Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2019

Carnival Week (3rd to the 11th August - website) returns! As traditional, it really begins with the Tug-o-War at 10.30 am, by the Stade, and in front of Hastings Lifeboat Station by the railway line, but officially the opening ceremony begins at 12.00 by the flagstaff outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road.

Every year plenty is organised for Carnival Week, including many recurring events, for example, in liaison with Stade Saturdays, the Nearly on the Beach concerts, Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings (3rd-4th): starting 1.30 pm on Saturday and 1.00 pm on Sunday (website). For full details of events for the week, please go to the website, as there are way too many to mention here, although I have written a separate blog about the return of the OHPS free Stade Guided Walk (among many other guided walks this week!) that meets outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum on many days this week.

Whatever you do this week, enjoy yourselves!

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.

Carnival: Wednesday 2nd August 2017

Events planned for Wednesday can be seen at the website, but the big question is, will the Pram Race go ahead this Wednesday, or will it be postponed because of the forecast deluge all afternoon and evening?!?

Carnival: Monday 31st of July

Plenty happening again today, even Mondays are busy during Hastings Old Town Carnival Week! Walks plus plus, including, today, another Stade Guided Walk (meet at Hastings Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road at 11am), Exploring Lost Roads of the Old Town (meet at Hastings History House in Courthouse Street at 2pm), and a Ghost Walk (meet at Butler's Gap, George Street, at 7.30pm). Plus, a Coffee Morning with Stalls 10.30am to 12.30pm, and the Old Town Treasure Trail from 6.30pm, and an Organ Concert at All Saints Church from 7.30pm.

In addition, much happening in Courthouse Street, between High Street and The Bourne, including the Cheese & Wine Extravaganza from 12 noon onwards, I've always enjoyed, and proceeds going towards charity, of course, plus the annual Seaboot Race! See the Carnival website for further details... 

Apologies for the photograph I took yesterday (top) looking down at Rock-a-Nore Road, but I was focussing on the Stacey Marie, the horizon therefore, is a wee bit skew whiff!

Carnival: Sunday 30th July 2017

And it carries on... with special church services, guided walks (Stade Walk, Foyles Walk, Twittens & Cat Creeps Walk), Coffee in the Garden, Family Barbecue & Picnic, and the Big Beach Breakfast with music from 10am to 12.30 at the Stade Open Space (website). Not to mention the Hastings Fishermen's Museum Exhibition from 10am to 5pm, and from 11am, Hastings Net Shops Museum (until 2pm) and the Hastings History House Exhibition (until 4pm) and plenty going on in Courthouse St.

Plus! Film shows at the Stade Hall (I Love this Town and The Ghost of Dunkirk), yet more music with the Nearly on the Beach Concert from 1pm to 7pm, and (why I've included a photograph of Winkle Island above) Winkle Tossing from 2pm to 4pm at Winkle Island, extraordinary traditional Hastings fun!

More details at the Carnival website, enjoy your day!

Many Police About?

A heavy police presence in Hastings Old Town yesterday gave evidence that the Home Secretary, and Hastings MP, was in town for the Old Town Carnival; at least 5 police officers, and a police vehicle can be seen in this photograph taken yesterday midday!

Old Town Carnival: Saturday 29th July 2017

I tend to think the Old Town Carnival begins with the Tug-O-War in front of the Lifeboat Station (land side) at 10.30am on the Saturday, though beware of the Miniature Railway! But there will be a number of other events already happening, including the Coastguard Station Open Day, Rock-a-Nore Road, 10am to 4pm; Car Boot Sale at the Stables Theatre (10am to 1pm); and numerous other exhibitions and fairs; see website for full details of Saturday's events.

There are also numerous guided walks this coming week, including the Old Hastings Preservation Society's Stade Walk, meeting up at 11am outside the Fishermen's Museum. Sturdy walking shoes are advised, and, seeing the weather forecast, it may be worth wearing/carrying wet weather protective clothing; the guided walk is free, but a donation to the Fishermen's Museum would be appreciated, many thanks. 

The crowning of the Carnival Queen is planned for 12 noon on the stage at the Stade Open Space, quickly followed by the official Opening Ceremony of Hastings Old Town Carnival Week at the Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road, at 12 noon, or 12.30pm, depending on where you look (I'm guessing they'll get the coronation over with first!). The Union Flag will be raised up the Museum's flagstaff, and various local 'dignitaries' will be present, no doubt Mayor included, and who knows who else?!?

Plenty more happening, of course, and from 2pm until 8pm is the free "Nearly on the Beach" Concert, though collection boxes will be all over the place in support of Hastings RNLI, Pett Level Rescue, and Hastings Sea Cadets, so have plenty of small change, at least, available!

I presume the FILO will be providing a bar, as usual, but remember to look at the Carnival website, as there are many other things going on, so enjoy the fun!

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week...

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week starts this evening, and events cover 10 days in fact! This evening, registering at Reeves Corner, High Street, at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, will be the annual Old Town Criers Competition. 

More details can be found at the Carnival website; the bells, the BELLS!

Carnival Ends with a Bang!

The fireworks last night were quite impressive, always good to enjoy their majesty! There's still plenty of Carnival events to enjoy today, including numerous walks and exhibitions Garden Parties (see website). And don't forget the postponed Jimmy Read Memorial Bike Ride is set for this evening up Crown Lane!

Plus plenty more to do and visit elsewhere, Hastings Fishermen's Museum, the Castle, Blue Reef Aquarium, and Hastings Pier with the Circus and today, The Science on Sea Family Workshops with Blast Science! See the Pier's website for further details. 

Have fun!

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.