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!

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!

Tug-o-War Fun...

The Tug-o-War is not just competed for by the enormous teams who are going for the trophies, and that knocked out these 2 pub teams, but also by the smaller pub teams made up of customers and staff, eg the Plough Inn, up on the West Hill, above, and the...

Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore Road. They all look pretty big lads to me, but you should have seen both of the McKimmie men's teams, and a few of the others! But, the important thing about the 'smaller' pub teams competing is that it keeps up the number of entrants (25 men's teams!), it keeps up the fun for local folk, and it keeps the event going.

Nice one, and congratulations again to the McKimmie A men's team and the Anchor Black women's team, the 2 champions. Plenty more happening over the next 8 days, so do carry on enjoying Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2016! 

Many thanks to Marcus J Lamb-Bentley for these photographs, cheers Marcus!

Carnival Kicks Off!

As previously said, the tug-o-war starts the festivities, and the rope is already placed before the RNLI Lifeboat Station early doors...

Teams are already thirst quenching before they tackle each other, here, the Dolphin team discuss tactics opposite RX134, Stacey Marie, and, coincidentally...

They were the first team knocked out, though after giving a good performance against the much heavier McKimmie B team, but going down 0-2. The McKimmie A team went on to win in the final against the Anchor.

The first women's bout was between the McKimmie women's team, who lost to the Anchor, who went on to tug against themselves in the final, where the Anchor Black team beat the Anchor Animals.

And the Home Secretary was seen, together with some men with hearing aids, and lumpy clothing, presumably her bodyguards!

1st weekend of Carnival Week!

Having written very little over the past few days, I feel I may be overawed by how much there is to write in this coming week plus! Hastings Old Town Carnival officially starts tomorrow morning, but there's stuff on today too, and runs until Sunday week (website). Today, from 5.30pm, the windows of All Saints Street will be judged as to which is the "best dressed" and, from 6.30pm on the stage at Reeves Corner in the High Street, will be the Old Town Criers Competition, oh yez! 

Carnival Week, as usual, kicks off proper with the Tug of War competition, weather permitting, in front of the RNLI Lifeboat Station at the Stade at 10.30am tomorrow morning, between teams from various pubs and bars of the Old Town, male and female...

And there's so much more happening, look to the website for full details of the many events to come, including, on Saturday, the Coronation of the Carnival Queen at the Stade Open Space at 12.30pm, a Summer Fete at Old Hastings House, and the Carnival Procession, starting at Winkle Island, Rock-a-Nore Road, from 1.20pm. On Sunday, events include a Car Boot Sale in the Stables Theatre car park from 10am to 1pm, an hour with DJ Wendy May at the Stade Open Space from 1pm, and there will be Children's Entertainment at the Stade Open Space between 12 noon and 2pm on Saturday, and between 12 noon and 1pm on Sunday.

And music... The "Nearly" on the Beach Concert runs from 2pm to 8pm on Saturday, and from 2pm to 7pm on Sunday, and was considered a greater success than was envisioned by many last year, following it's moving off the pebbles... Also, all day on both days, there will be entertainment on the stage at Reeves Corner, High Street, not to mention the many pubs and bars with music laid on Saturday evening!

The Carnival is organised by Old Hastings Preservation Society and the Hastings Old Town Carnival Association, and plenty is happening at Hastings History House in Courthouse Street all week, from Saturday including exhibitions of Sixty Years of Carnival and Lost Roads of Hastings & St Leonards, plus numerous walks...

Indeed, walks include a Twilight Smugglers Walk, Foyle's Walk, Ghost Walks, and the Stade Walk I often mention, except not just on Saturday this week, but on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, not to forget next Saturday and Sunday too, though I may just remind you! For the Stade walks, meet at the Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road at 11am each day; remembering these walks are organised by the charity, so donations to the Fishermen's Museum would be much appreciated, many thanks. More details of these, and many other walks, can be seen at the website too.

Not forgetting that the Carnival isn't the only thing happening in Hastings this coming week, though you may be forgiven for thinking so, but, for example, on Hastings Pier there will not only be the usual facilities, but Wilde's Punch and Judy Show will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm (see website).

Whatever you do, and wherever you go, enjoy your weekend!

Carnival continued (including photographs)

Hastings Old Town Carnival 2015 kicked off yesterday...  

... effectively, with the 34th Tug-o-War! Captains being called over before the start, above.

The first 2 teams to compete, though Team McKinnie eventually won the men's event.

Women competed too, all's fair in love and war...

... and Anchor Pink were the eventual winners in their event.

My first pint of the day at the Dolphin, now with bunting adorning the exterior! 

The bar, now looking more like it, just before the nearly beach concert started.

The Coronation of the Carnival Queen will be held, here at Winkle Island, at 2.30pm today, followed by a procession, of course.    

Certainly an eclectic mix of music at The Nearly on the Beach Concert... 

Still early doors, but lovely weather and quite a few in the audience already.

I'm standing in front of the bar whilst taking this photograph, where I enjoyed a rather good pint or two (the Pirate's Gold is pretty damn good!).  

As I said, an eclectic mix of music yesterday, and TODAY too, from 2pm. So, for today's events, please see the website, and enjoy yourselves! 

Thanks to Facebook for a couple of these photographs, cheers!

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week starts today! 

OK, I haven't taken any photographs today yet, but shall for later! This is the bar at the Stade Open Space being erected yesterday... Doesn't look too impressive at this stage, but will do by the time you reach the Stade today. 

The Week opens with numerous exhibitions (eg at the History House in Courthouse Street or Fishermens' Museum at Rock-a-Nore), many guided walks, and other events, eg the Tug-O-War begins very shortly, outside the RNLI Lifeboat Station at 10.30. See website for more full details of today's events.  

The bar started taking shape! So why is there a bar this year, and why isn't the free Concert ON the Beach, but "NEARLY on the Beach Concert" at the Stade Open Space? Many have huffed and puffed about sitting on pebbles, drinking beer out of cans, and moaned that listening to the free music was fun, and it won't be the same, but the concert had to be moved because the beach area where it is usually held has been used as a functioning builders' yard whilst the Winch Road has been worked on, and it's not quite finished (and planning had to be made for the concert in the meantime). Though who knows what may happen next year, if this year's turns out to be a success? 

Anyway, it is still a free concert, and any money collected goes to local charities and the RNLI, the musicians are playing voluntarily, and free still, and it's free to get into the fenced area on the Stade! However, bringing your own drinks in isn't being encouraged as a bar is being provided, with the bar staff all working voluntarily for nothing, and all profits going to the charities associated with the event, as ever, so please do feel free to place coins and notes in collection boxes!  

Steve the Beermeister has enquired already, and found out what ales are on at the Stade, these include locally brewed FILO ales, Gold, Crofters Best Bitter, Mike's Mild, Old Town Tom and Churches Pale Ale; a new local peripatetic brewer, also from Hastings, FT's Bespoke Brewery's Jack Russell's Extra Ale; Harveys Sussex Best; Dark Star Hophead, and Longman's Copper Hop... All East Sussex brewers! 

I know what I'm about to do, have a shave, nip along and take some photographs, and have fun, please also enjoy yourselves today!