Exciting shows and festivals to look forward to across the county as the days get longer and warmer
Sussex is set to host a variety of exciting events in the spring of 2025. From traditional agricultural fairs to contemporary art exhibitions, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here, Absolutely picks out 10 that you should add to your diary now.
Days Out in Sussex this Spring 2025
Spring Live!
Taking place on the 26th and 27th April 2025 at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, Spring Live! is a hugely popular family-friendly event. Attendees can look forward to interactive entertainment, a diverse range of shopping stalls, a food hall featuring artisan treats from independent producers, and numerous activities for children, including farm animal encounters, chocolate and circus skills workshops, wand making, bushcraft, and funfair rides. Additional highlights include an Alpaca Show, Pygmy Goat Show, lawn mower racing, Morris dancing, a dog show, archery, and axe throwing.
Petworth Spring Festival
From the 5th to the 27th April 2025, Petworth House and Park will host their Spring Festival. The festival features talks, demonstrations, a community art installation, art and craft workshops, and family activities. A two-day Makers Market, held in partnership with Petworth Pop-Up, will take place on the 5th and 6th April. Notable speakers from the horticultural world, including Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost, authors Vanessa Berridge and Rebecca Bevan, and daffodil judge and exhibitor Richard Hilson, will give talks. Families can also enjoy the ‘Ben Plants a Butterfly Garden’ trail from the 5th-21st April.
The Seaside Siblinghood Holistic Craft Fair
On 15th March, the Brighton Unitarian Church will host The Seaside Siblinghood Holistic Craft Fair in celebration of the Spring Equinox. This event brings together artists, practitioners, and holistic therapists offering handmade crafts, tarot and astrology readings, holistic therapies such as massages and Reiki, and a chance to shop from inspiring creators. The fair also features a raffle with prizes donated by stallholders.
Wilbur’s Wild Welly Walk
Borde Hill will be hosting plenty of events in spring, but given the UK weather this one event catches our eye. Grab your boots for a fun-filled outdoor adventure on Wilbur’s Wild Welly Walk. Get outside, splash through puddles and let your inner wild animal roar.
Kids of all ages can enjoy this interactive trail, which runs until 23rd March, testing their agility by hunting for hidden wellies around the Garden before claiming their prize. Along the way, they’ll get to practice simple yoga poses, making this a great way to stretch both mind and body.
In addition to the trail, visitors can soak in the beauty of early blooming flowers like hellebores, snowdrops, viburnum, daffodils, and magnolias. Wellies are not essential as the trail is on paths, but dress for the weather!
Brighton Festival
Throughout May 2025, Brighton will come alive with the annual Brighton Festival, one of the UK’s largest arts festivals. The festival showcases a diverse range of art forms, including theatre, dance, music, literature, and visual arts, featuring both international and local artists. Events take place across various venues in the city, offering something for all ages and interests.
Brighton Festival has already announced its Guest Director for 2025 will be the Grammy-nominated musician, composer and activist Anoushka Shankar. Shankar’s many accomplishments include a series of notable firsts: with nine Grammy nominations under her belt, she was the first Indian musician to perform live and present at the Awards and the first Indian woman to be nominated. She was also the youngest and first female recipient of a British House of Commons Shield, recognising her as a pre-eminent musician of the Asian arts, and one of the first female composers to become part of the UK’s A-level music syllabus. With more than 25 years of performing behind her, she is a singular, genre-defying artist spanning the worlds of classical and contemporary and acoustic and electronic music.
Charleston Festival
From the 14th to the 26th of May 2025, the Charleston Festival will be held at Charleston Farmhouse near Lewes. This renowned literary festival brings together leading authors, thinkers, artists, and changemakers for a series of talks, discussions, and performances in the inspiring setting of the former home of the Bloomsbury Group.
The initial line-up includes Richard E. Grant, one of the nation’s most beloved actors, celebrated for his iconic roles in Withnail & I and Can You Ever Forgive Me? Known for his warmth, humour and candid reflections, both on and off screen, Grant offers heartfelt insights on love and connection, providing hope in an increasingly fractured world.
Newly announced for the 2025 festival is a new commission by Travis Alabanza for the Festival’s flagship event, ‘The Charleston Monologue’. Alabanza, the award-winning writer and performer whose work explores gender, trans identity and race will debut ‘I thought this would feel good’, a new 30-minute piece written in the weeks leading up to the festival. Previous authors of ‘The Charleston Monologue’ have included award-winning playwright Benedict Lombe, critically acclaimed performance artist Bryony Kimmings and internationally renowned writer and curator Inua Ellams.
Get your tickets at Charleston
Glyndebourne Festival
Starting on 18th May and running through the summer, the Glyndebourne Festival offers world-class opera performances in the picturesque setting of the Glyndebourne Opera House near Lewes. Known for its exceptional productions and beautiful gardens, it’s a must-visit for opera enthusiasts.
This year’s festival will open with Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Quick-witted comedy and sparkling romance take centre stage in a show full of Spanish colour and warmth. When Rosina teams up with cunning Figaro and amorous Count Almaviva to escape Dr Bartolo’s clutches, a hilarious battle of wills ensues. This is an evening of sharp humour and unexpected twists, all set to Rossini’s glittering score, and is the perfect curtain raiser.
Elderflower Fields Festival
Taking place from 23rd to 26th May at Pippingford Park in Uckfield, Elderflower Fields is a family-oriented festival designed especially for families with children. The festival offers a range of activities, including sports, arts and crafts, music, and nature exploration, providing a safe and fun environment for families to enjoy the great outdoors.
There are endless opportunities to get crafty and invite families to get messy and creative. Enjoy art installations, workshops, and drop-in activities for all ages. The Pop Up Science Festival offers hands-on experiences, interactive experiments and fascinating demonstrations. At Elderflower Fields, they aim to ignite curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists, artists, and innovators.
Book at Elderflower Fields Festival
Brighton Fringe
Running concurrently with the Brighton Festival throughout May 2025, Brighton Fringe is England’s largest open-access arts festival. It features thousands of events across various genres, including comedy, theatre, cabaret, and visual arts, taking place in venues throughout the city, from established theatres to pop-up spaces.
Easter Medieval Festival
Taking place over the Easter bank holiday weekend (Friday 18th to Sunday 20th April), this immersive experience at Arundel Castle invites visitors of all ages to journey back to the year 1214. The Castle’s lower lawns will be transformed into a vibrant medieval encampment, offering a glimpse into the sights, sounds and excitement of the 13th-century.
This year’s Easter event centres around a pivotal moment in history when King John called upon his barons to prepare for a daring campaign to reclaim Normandy from Philip, King of France. Against this backdrop, visitors can ‘witness’ how the Earl of Arundel and his forces will engage in rigorous training, showcasing their combat and archery skills in preparation for the journey ahead.
The event promises three days of dynamic reenactments, including exhilarating displays of 13th-century combat, falconry and archery. Visitors can enjoy various activities and entertainment, from live medieval music to trying their hand at archery or crafting in an activity-packed tent designed for families. Whether delving into hands-on experiences or simply enjoying the atmosphere, there is something to captivate everyone.
How Absolutely Picks the Best for You
At Absolutely Magazines, we pride ourselves on curating only the finest recommendations for our refined readers. Our editors leverage their extensive expertise in lifestyle journalism to ensure that every selection meets the highest standards of quality and relevance. From scouring local insider tips to understanding trends and feedback, we leave no stone unturned in identifying the most exceptional venues for you. Guided by an appreciation for your taste, we prioritise venues and events that epitomise luxury, style, and premium experiences. You can trust us to bring you the Absolute best, every time.
