Whether you’re an Old-Towner, local resident or visitor to Hastings, Hastings Old Town Carnival Week has some good old-fashioned fun for everyone. 150 events are scheduled for the week, so here’s just a smattering of what to expect...
The heart of Hastings - the Old Town - has been holding its own carnival since 1967. It’s a happy collaboration between the Old Town Preservation Society and the Carnival Society that we have to thank for such a wonderful extent of entertainment. Kicking off on Saturday 4th August., the opening ceremony and procession start at 10.30am at Winkle Island, with the weekend seeing a rock festival on the beach, Tug of War and Old Town Criers Competition. Organiser Ian Porter says: “There are open houses, open studios, open gardens, open allotments, open Coastguard Station, coffee mornings, cream teas and ploughmans lunches. There are walking tours on local history, smuggling, ghosts, wartime, horror, architecture, shipwrecks, alcohol and many more quirky themes to provide something for everyone!” The Street Party on the High Street is on Thursday 9th and the grand Carnival Procession followed by a fantastic firework display on Saturday 11th. Friday 10th sees the return of Drop Dead Divas in concert at St Mary in the Castle at 7.30pm, with Alvin Stardust, Adele Anderson and Guests. Sarah Travis recently won a Tony for her orchestration of Sweeney Todd, currently on Broadway. Also on Friday at 8pm is Amsterdam Theme Night at the Royal Albion pub in George Street, with cabaret by international drag artistes. Dress code here is as glamorous as you like!	“Over the years the Carnival has become a wonderful community celebration shared by the local residents and many visitors to the town” says Ian. Just a glance at the programme is enough to see there’s something here for you: from cream teas to bungee jumping - the sublime to the ridiculous, forays into local history - be it smuggling, ghosts or architecture that interests you, whether you want to push your wheels in the pram race or ride them in the bike race, every Hastings resident should join in the Old Town Carnival. A 48 page (!) programme listing 150 events is available from the Tourist Information Offices, and from many shops throughout the Old Town. The programme is free, but a donation is always welcome.
The enquiries office at the bottom of the High Street (opposite Blue Dolphin Fish Bar) will be open every day for further information. Contact: Ian Porter 01424 812662 / 07974 081582 e-mail: ian-porter@supanet.com
Carnival Highlights... (A full 48-page Old Town Carnival programme is available from Hastings Information Centre) Saturday 4th to Sunday 12th August HAVE A GO ON A POTTER'S WHEEL Old Hastings Pottery, 3 Courthouse Street: 11am to 5pm every day. Make a pot and take it home for £2, or have it fired £1 extra. Children and adults. Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th BEER FESTIVAL: FIRST IN LAST OUT (FILO) High Street: 7pm to 11pm Celebration of locally brewed beers and classic real ales to delight the palate! Friday 3rd August BEACH SCREENING OF 'JAWS' 9.30pm Lifeboat House, beach Unmissable: Jaws in the first of Hastings open air beach screenings. Fancy a swim?.....da da…..da da….da da… Organised by the Electric Palace Cinema, High Street Hastings. Saturday 4th August OPENING CEREMONY PROCESSION 10am to 10.30am Join the procession which starts at Stade Coach Park. Stops at Stables Theatre to view the exhibition, continues along All Saints Street judging the Best Dressed Window on the way, ending at Winkle Island for the Opening Ceremony at 12noon. Headed by the Deputy Mayor of Hastings Cllr Vivienne Bond, and Michael Foster DL MP and includes the Carnival Queen & Princesses, the Iceni Belly Dancers and Section 5 Drummers. TUG OF WAR 11am At lifeboat House on the Stade. SUMMER FETE 1pm to 4pm Old Hastings House, 132 High Street. Children’s tombola, bottle stall, raffle, cake stall, strawberries & cream, bric a brac stall, barbecue, tombola, guess the name of the teddy. Childrens Entertainer at 3pm. Entrance 50p, children free CELEBRATE ST CLEMENT'S 2pm to 5pm St Clement’s Church, High Street. Bell ringing display 3-3.30pm. Conducted tour by Brion Purdey at 4pm. All profits go towards restoring this historic medieval church, the oldest building in Hastings which is still in everyday use. OPEN LIFEBOAT HOUSE 2pm to 5pm Demonstration of lifeboat and equipment HASTINGS BEACH CONCERT 2pm to 8pm. Beach next to the Lifeboat House. In aid of Hastings Lifeboat. Licensed bar, burgers, hot dogs, hot potatoes, HBC Childrens Playworkers and Tara's Pots of Play. TUSH & PAT'S now famous Fishermen’s Rolls. Donations to charity. TWITTENS & CAT CREEPS 2.15pm (and other times through week) Meet at Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore. An interesting and unusual guided walking tour of hidden narrow footpath and nooks & crannies with a tale to tell. The tour, lasting approx 1hr 20mins, involves some steps and steep inclines and will include amusing factual and historical anecdotes. Conducted by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets in advance £4 adults, children £2.50 under 14, from Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore or from guide on the walk at £4.50 adults, £3 children under 14. Donation to Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre and OHPS 'HOW TO FIND A DINOSAUR ON HASTINGS BEACH' Talk by Ken Brooks 2.30pm, Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore. Rocks found on the beaches around Hastings are famous for fossil bones and footprints of dinosaurs. What to look for and where to find them. Talk lasts 1 hour. Entrance free, donations to the Centre. Part of 'Meet the Experts 2007' programme. SMUGGLERS WALK 7.30pm (also Tues 7th 2.30pm, Fri 10th 7.30pm) Meet at Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore. An atmospheric and entertaining guided walk of approx 1hr 20mins around the Old Town and fishing quarter, recounting true stories of smuggling in Hastings and the involvement of local people. Conducted by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets in advance £4 adults, children £2.50 under 14, from Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore or from guide on the walk at £4.50 adults, £3 children under 14. Donation to Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre and OHPS AFTER DARK HASTINGS GHOST WALK 8.30pm (also Sunday 5th and Thurs 9th 8.30pm) Meet at Swan Gardens, High Street. Spine-chilling close encounters of the supernatural kind vividly described with thought-provoking insights of the elusive spirit world. Duration 1 hour 30 mins. Participants with dogs on leads welcome. Adults £5, children under 16 £3.50. Sunday 5th August MARITIME HASTINGS: PAST –AND FUTURE? 11am Guided tour. Meet at Fishermens Museum, Rock a Nore. A guided tour of the Stade looking at how Hastings was shaped by the sea in the past and how global warming could soon bring dramatic changes. Walk led by Steve Peak, well-known local historian. Donation £2 to Hastings History House HASTINGS PRIORY v OLD ENGLAND XI CHARITY CRICKET MATCH 12.30pm Horntye Park Sports Complex, Bohemia Road. Celebrity cricket match. Tickets £7.50 adult, £5 seniors & children. Enquiries 01424 716666 FOYLES WALK 7pm (also Monday 2.30pm) Meet at Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Fascinating 'war time' guided walk of approx 1 hour. Conducted by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets in advance £4 adults, children £2.50 under 14, from Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre or from guide on the walk at £4.50 adults, £2.75 children under 14. OLD TOWN TREASURE TRAIL Register at Winkle Island by 6.30pm. Fancy dress a must! The idea is to find answers to questions but all the answers are in local pubs! Raising funds for St Michaels Hospice. Tuesday 7th August OFFICIAL OLD TOWN WALK 2.30pm (also Thurs 9th, 2.30) Meet at the top station of West Hill lift (lift at west end of George Street). The official Old Hastings Preservation Society walk, with experienced guides, is downhill and takes approx 90 minutes, visiting the many historical and picturesque sites of Hastings Old Town. No charge but donations to the Old Hastings Preservation Society welcome. PUTTING KNOCKOUT Crazy Golf on the Stade 7pm (also Weds 7pm) Organised by Hastings Winkle Club. A family event open to all with trophies and prizes for the lowest round men and women plus Junior cups for boys and girls. Proceeds to local good causes. Wednesday 8th August PRAM RACE 7.30pm Register at The Cutter Pub, on the seafront opposite boating lake, by 7pm Get your team together for a great night (with decorated pram, of course!). Thursday 9th August STREET PARTY High Street - sideshows, stalls, bands, jitterbugging, belly dancing, line dancing, children's rides and more. Non-stop entertainment. A section of High Street will be closed for the event. Organised by High Street Traders raising funds for local charities. CHILDRENS FANCY DRESS 5.30pm St Clements Church, High Street. Theme 'Mini Beasts and Lady Bugs'. Two classes: Under 8 and 8 & over. Entry 50p per child if booked in advance at 'Made in Hastings', High Street, or £1 on the night. Trophies for winners and runners up. Prizes for all entrants. For more info call Melanie on 429231. PAELLA! From 7.00pm 49 High Street. Sangria and Spanish food! Charge for food, donations to High Street Traders' charities and OHPS. Friday 10th August THE HASTINGS HORROR WALK Meet at Swan Gardens, High Street 8pm. True tales of terror from the town's less illustrious past revealed in grim detail. Guided walk, definitely not for the squeamish! Duration 1hr 30mins. Adults £5. Participants with dogs on leads welcome. BUNGEE JUMPING for Prostate Cancer Charity. Outside the Lifeboat House on the Stade Come and watch the bungee jumpers. To jump you need a voucher (cost £50) available from Mick Barrow (01424 713867) or Dolphin Pub, Rock a Nore (Laura). If you pick up a sponsor form and get sponsors, you can apply for a refund of some of your money. This event may start earlier depending on the number of 'jumpers'. Organised by Mick & Linda Barrow to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Charity. Saturday 11th August GRAND CARNIVAL PARADE 5pm - see guide for details, too many to list! FIREWORKS DISPLAY 9pm From the Castle on West Hill Sunday 12th August TRAWLER PARADE Approx 11am Watch from the Stade beach. Trawlers parade by sea from the Fishermen's Beach to the Pier and back WALK TO WRECK OF 'AMSTERDAM' AND 4000 YEAR-OLD PREHISTORIC FOREST 5.30 to 7pm. Led by Dr Peter Marsden. A walk at low tide to explore the wreck of the 'Amsterdam' sunk in quicksand and mud in 1749. £3 per person. Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre to book. Phone 01424 437452

Whether you’re an Old-Towner, local resident or visitor to Hastings, Hastings Old Town Carnival Week has some good old-fashioned fun for everyone. 150 events are scheduled for the week, so here’s just a smattering of what to expect...

The heart of Hastings - the Old Town - has been holding its own carnival since 1967. It’s a happy collaboration between the Old Town Preservation Society and the Carnival Society that we have to thank for such a wonderful extent of entertainment.

Kicking off on Saturday 4th August., the opening ceremony and procession start at 10.30am at Winkle Island, with the weekend seeing a rock festival on the beach, Tug of War and Old Town Criers Competition.

Organiser Ian Porter says: “There are open houses, open studios, open gardens, open allotments, open Coastguard Station, coffee mornings, cream teas and ploughmans lunches. There are walking tours on local history, smuggling, ghosts, wartime, horror, architecture, shipwrecks, alcohol and many more quirky themes to provide something for everyone!”

The Street Party on the High Street is on Thursday 9th and the grand Carnival Procession followed by a fantastic firework display on Saturday 11th.

Friday 10th sees the return of Drop Dead Divas in concert at St Mary in the Castle at 7.30pm, with Alvin Stardust, Adele Anderson and Guests. Sarah Travis recently won a Tony for her orchestration of Sweeney Todd, currently on Broadway.

Also on Friday at 8pm is Amsterdam Theme Night at the Royal Albion pub in George Street, with cabaret by international drag artistes. Dress code here is as glamorous as you like!

“Over the years the Carnival has become a wonderful community celebration shared by the local residents and many visitors to the town” says Ian. Just a glance at the programme is enough to see there’s something here for you: from cream teas to bungee jumping - the sublime to the ridiculous, forays into local history - be it smuggling, ghosts or architecture that interests you, whether you want to push your wheels in the pram race or ride them in the bike race, every Hastings resident should join in the Old Town Carnival.

A 48 page (!) programme listing 150 events is available from the Tourist Information Offices, and from many shops throughout the Old Town. The programme is free, but a donation is always welcome.

The enquiries office at the bottom of the High Street (opposite Blue Dolphin Fish Bar) will be open every day for further information.

Contact: Ian Porter
01424 812662 / 07974 081582
e-mail: ian-porter@supanet.com

Carnival Highlights...

(A full 48-page Old Town Carnival programme is available from Hastings Information Centre)

Saturday 4th to Sunday 12th August

HAVE A GO ON A POTTER'S WHEEL Old Hastings Pottery, 3 Courthouse Street: 11am to 5pm every day. Make a pot and take it home for £2, or have it fired £1 extra. Children and adults.

Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th

BEER FESTIVAL: FIRST IN LAST OUT (FILO) High Street: 7pm to 11pm Celebration of locally brewed beers and classic real ales to delight the palate!

Friday 3rd August

BEACH SCREENING OF 'JAWS' 9.30pm Lifeboat House, beach Unmissable: Jaws in the first of Hastings open air beach screenings. Fancy a swim?.....da da…..da da….da da… Organised by the Electric Palace Cinema, High Street Hastings.

Saturday 4th August

OPENING CEREMONY PROCESSION 10am to 10.30am Join the procession which starts at Stade Coach Park. Stops at Stables Theatre to view the exhibition, continues along All Saints Street judging the Best Dressed Window on the way, ending at Winkle Island for the Opening Ceremony at 12noon. Headed by the Deputy Mayor of Hastings Cllr Vivienne Bond, and Michael Foster DL MP and includes the Carnival Queen & Princesses, the Iceni Belly Dancers and Section 5 Drummers.

TUG OF WAR 11am At lifeboat House on the Stade.

SUMMER FETE 1pm to 4pm Old Hastings House, 132 High Street. Children’s tombola, bottle stall, raffle, cake stall, strawberries & cream, bric a brac stall, barbecue, tombola, guess the name of the teddy. Childrens Entertainer at 3pm. Entrance 50p, children free

CELEBRATE ST CLEMENT'S 2pm to 5pm St Clement’s Church, High Street. Bell ringing display 3-3.30pm. Conducted tour by Brion Purdey at 4pm. All profits go towards restoring this historic medieval church, the oldest building in Hastings which is still in everyday use.

OPEN LIFEBOAT HOUSE 2pm to 5pm Demonstration of lifeboat and equipment

HASTINGS BEACH CONCERT 2pm to 8pm. Beach next to the Lifeboat House. In aid of Hastings Lifeboat. Licensed bar, burgers, hot dogs, hot potatoes, HBC Childrens Playworkers and Tara's Pots of Play. TUSH & PAT'S now famous Fishermen’s Rolls. Donations to charity.

TWITTENS & CAT CREEPS 2.15pm (and other times through week) Meet at Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore. An interesting and unusual guided walking tour of hidden narrow footpath and nooks & crannies with a tale to tell. The tour, lasting approx 1hr 20mins, involves some steps and steep inclines and will include amusing factual and historical anecdotes. Conducted by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets in advance £4 adults, children £2.50 under 14, from Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore or from guide on the walk at £4.50 adults, £3 children under 14. Donation to Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre and OHPS

'HOW TO FIND A DINOSAUR ON HASTINGS BEACH' Talk by Ken Brooks 2.30pm, Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore. Rocks found on the beaches around Hastings are famous for fossil bones and footprints of dinosaurs. What to look for and where to find them. Talk lasts 1 hour. Entrance free, donations to the Centre. Part of 'Meet the Experts 2007' programme.

SMUGGLERS WALK 7.30pm (also Tues 7th 2.30pm, Fri 10th 7.30pm) Meet at Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore. An atmospheric and entertaining guided walk of approx 1hr 20mins around the Old Town and fishing quarter, recounting true stories of smuggling in Hastings and the involvement of local people. Conducted by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets in advance £4 adults, children £2.50 under 14, from Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre, Rock a Nore or from guide on the walk at £4.50 adults, £3 children under 14. Donation to Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre and OHPS

AFTER DARK HASTINGS GHOST WALK 8.30pm (also Sunday 5th and Thurs 9th 8.30pm) Meet at Swan Gardens, High Street. Spine-chilling close encounters of the supernatural kind vividly described with thought-provoking insights of the elusive spirit world. Duration 1 hour 30 mins. Participants with dogs on leads welcome. Adults £5, children under 16 £3.50.

Sunday 5th August

MARITIME HASTINGS: PAST –AND FUTURE? 11am Guided tour. Meet at Fishermens Museum, Rock a Nore. A guided tour of the Stade looking at how Hastings was shaped by the sea in the past and how global warming could soon bring dramatic changes. Walk led by Steve Peak, well-known local historian. Donation £2 to Hastings History House

HASTINGS PRIORY v OLD ENGLAND XI CHARITY CRICKET MATCH 12.30pm Horntye Park Sports Complex, Bohemia Road. Celebrity cricket match. Tickets £7.50 adult, £5 seniors & children. Enquiries 01424 716666

FOYLES WALK 7pm (also Monday 2.30pm) Meet at Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre,
Fascinating 'war time' guided walk of approx 1 hour. Conducted by Clive Richardson, British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. Tickets in advance £4 adults, children £2.50 under 14, from Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre or from guide on the walk at £4.50 adults, £2.75 children under 14.

OLD TOWN TREASURE TRAIL Register at Winkle Island by 6.30pm. Fancy dress a must! The idea is to find answers to questions but all the answers are in local pubs! Raising funds for St Michaels Hospice.

Tuesday 7th August

OFFICIAL OLD TOWN WALK 2.30pm (also Thurs 9th, 2.30) Meet at the top station of West Hill lift (lift at west end of George Street). The official Old Hastings Preservation Society walk, with experienced guides, is downhill and takes approx 90 minutes, visiting the many historical and picturesque sites of Hastings Old Town. No charge but donations to the Old Hastings Preservation Society welcome.

PUTTING KNOCKOUT Crazy Golf on the Stade 7pm (also Weds 7pm) Organised by Hastings Winkle Club. A family event open to all with trophies and prizes for the lowest round men and women plus Junior cups for boys and girls. Proceeds to local good causes.

Wednesday 8th August

PRAM RACE 7.30pm Register at The Cutter Pub, on the seafront opposite boating lake, by 7pm Get your team together for a great night (with decorated pram, of course!).

Thursday 9th August

STREET PARTY High Street - sideshows, stalls, bands, jitterbugging, belly dancing, line dancing, children's rides and more. Non-stop entertainment. A section of High Street will be closed for the event. Organised by High Street Traders raising funds for local charities.

CHILDRENS FANCY DRESS 5.30pm St Clements Church, High Street. Theme 'Mini Beasts and Lady Bugs'. Two classes: Under 8 and 8 & over. Entry 50p per child if booked in advance at 'Made in Hastings', High Street, or £1 on the night. Trophies for winners and runners up. Prizes for all entrants. For more info call Melanie on 429231.

PAELLA! From 7.00pm 49 High Street. Sangria and Spanish food! Charge for food, donations to High Street Traders' charities and OHPS.

Friday 10th August

THE HASTINGS HORROR WALK Meet at Swan Gardens, High Street 8pm. True tales of terror from the town's less illustrious past revealed in grim detail. Guided walk, definitely not for the squeamish! Duration 1hr 30mins. Adults £5. Participants with dogs on leads welcome.

BUNGEE JUMPING for Prostate Cancer Charity. Outside the Lifeboat House on the Stade
Come and watch the bungee jumpers. To jump you need a voucher (cost £50) available from Mick Barrow (01424 713867) or Dolphin Pub, Rock a Nore (Laura). If you pick up a sponsor form and get sponsors, you can apply for a refund of some of your money. This event may start earlier depending on the number of 'jumpers'. Organised by Mick & Linda Barrow to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Charity.

Saturday 11th August

GRAND CARNIVAL PARADE 5pm - see guide for details, too many to list!

FIREWORKS DISPLAY 9pm From the Castle on West Hill

Sunday 12th August

TRAWLER PARADE Approx 11am Watch from the Stade beach. Trawlers parade by sea from the Fishermen's Beach to the Pier and back

WALK TO WRECK OF 'AMSTERDAM' AND 4000 YEAR-OLD PREHISTORIC FOREST 5.30 to 7pm. Led by Dr Peter Marsden. A walk at low tide to explore the wreck of the 'Amsterdam' sunk in quicksand and mud in 1749. £3 per person. Shipwreck & Coastal Heritage Centre to book. Phone 01424 437452