While the weekend forecast might not be all sunshine and rainbows, we won’t let that put a damper on our plans. There’s a whole bunch of exciting stuff to do, even if you didn’t manage to get tickets to On The Beach or the first weekend of Brighton’s new roller rink. Whether it means escaping indoors for a cheeky night of karaoke, partying in head-to-toe pink, exploring amazing art exhibits, indulging in delicious beer, or entering this great competition, our guide has something (hopefully) for everyone. Just remember to bring your trusty umbrella if you do decide to venture outdoors!
1. Get the beers in at Bitter Women Brewery’s beer launch party
Bitter Women Brewery are on a mission to end gender bias in beer, promote female friendship and get women who don’t usually like beer to give it another go. To that end, they’ve created their very first beer and it sounds pretty juicy to us. Say hello to Mary Queen of Strawbs – a blend of strawberry and rosemary saison, what’s not to love? To celebrate the new beer, they’re hosting a launch party on Saturday. You can expect music, nibbles, and, of course, the star of the show on tap. Cheers to great women and their brews!
Saturday 22nd July; 6pm till late; free
The Independent, 95 Queens Park Road, Brighton, BN2 0GH
bitterwomenbrewery.com
2. Party in Pink at Komedia
In case it’s escaped your notice, the highly anticipated Barbie film hits the screens this weekend. To celebrate, Komedia are throwing the ultimate pink party this Saturday. Grab your pals, slip into your sassiest pink outfit, and head to Komedia for a camp club extravaganza. Their DJs will be serving up the ultimate bubblegum pop megamix, jam-packed with all your fave pop hits, floor fillers, and sing-along anthems. Come on Barbie, let’s go party!
Saturday 22nd July; 11pm – 3am; £8.30
Komedia Brighton, 44 – 47 Gardner Street, Brighton, BN1 1UN
komedia.co.uk
3. Sing your heart out at a drag karaoke party
If you’re up for belting out the tunes this Saturday, head to one of our favourite LGBTQ+ hotspots, Arcobaleno. Join the one and only Dick Day for a cheeky evening packed with unforgettable performances, catchy tunes, and an inclusive atmosphere. Plus they’ve got some pretty tasty drink deals to keep the party going strong (and help you bear any off-key notes) all night long.
Saturday 22nd July; 8pm; free
120 St George’s Road, Brighton, BN2 1EA
myarcobaleno.com
4. Try up to 40 different beers at a beer festival
More beer! Yes, Fogfest is back and they’ve promised it’ll be bigger, better, and, um, foggier this year. With 40 different beers over three days, including exciting collaborations and one-off cask specials, it’s a beer lover’s paradise. DJ Fading Objects is kicking off the good vibes on Friday. The downpour has meant Saturday’s live music has been postponed, but on Sunday from 3pm, there’s a locals mic session hosted by Ronnie Cash & Hodge, featuring an array of local performers. Food-wise, you’ll find a mix of seafood, tacos, and homemade ice-cream to satisfy your cravings.
Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd July; midday (from 4.30pm Friday) – 10pm; free
55 Boundary Road, Hove, BN3 4EF
thefoghornmicro.com
5. Discover local creativity at a makers’ fair
Paper Daisy are back with another edition of their excellent Makers’ and Design Fair. You can expect a diverse showcase of talented local makers, artists and designers with a treasure trove of handcrafted goodies, from ceramics and jewellery to textiles, self-care products, and unique gifts. There will be stalls both inside and outside, with a pop-up cafe and a licensed garden bar, where you can kick back and enjoy the (hopefully) sunny vibes.
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd July; 11am – 5pm; free
Wagner Hall, 2 Regency Road, Brighton, BN1 2RU
paperdaisyevents.co.uk
6. Get your zen on at a yoga festival
Brighton’s biggest yoga festival is back for the ninth (!) time this Saturday. As ever, there’s an incredible line-up of yoga teachers from all over the city, all coming together to share their passion for yoga, wellbeing and meditation. The festival caters to everyone, from complete beginners to experienced yogis, in line with its core principle that ‘yoga is for everyone,’ regardless of age, experience, or fitness level. Get ready for a jam-packed day of classes, talks, live music, meditation zones, and a wellbeing marketplace. Oh, and did we mention the delicious-sounding food and drink stalls?
Saturday 22nd July; 10am – 7.15pm; from £5
St George’s Church, St George’s Road, Brighton, BN2 1ED
brightonyogafoundation.org
7. Enjoy an evening of food and performance in a botanic garden
If you’re looking to escape the city, you can’t go wrong with a trip to beautiful Wakehurst, the wild botanic garden in West Sussex (near Haywards Heath). This weekend, it’s your last chance to make the most of their Summer Nights sessions and immerse yourself in another world. There’ll be botanical cocktails from Bower + Hawthorne and wood-fired food from The Herb Kitchen to enjoy as the gardens come alive after hours. Watch aerial performers up in the trees and roaming dancers while enjoying a range of world music, African Kora (to save you googling, it’s a 21-stringed instrument), and choirs. If you really want to get into the mood, you can get your face painted by one of the roaming face artists.
Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd July; 6.30pm – 9.30pm; from £12 (walk-ins are available, but booking’s recommended)
Wakehurst, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6TN
kew.org
8. Head to a contemporary art exhibition
This is for all of you art aficionados, The Cab Run has returned for their third vibrant contemporary art exhibition. Set in the charming Victorian cobblestone street beneath Brighton Railway Station – the eponymous cab run – this event promises to be bigger and better than ever before. As ever, there’s an eclectic range of artists across a wide range of styles exhibiting, from the brilliant Haus of Lucy to Brighton artist Kingez and sea-swimming artist Bec Hopkins.
Friday 21st –Sunday 23rd July; various times; free
Brighton Railway Station, Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 3XP
donotobstruct.co.uk
9. Make your way to the Hanover festival of the summer
Forget Glastonbury, it’s time for Cobfest! Yes, Hanover’s Cobden Road is back with another edition of its friendly summer street festival. Dubbed the Summer of Love, the event promises live music, a fun samba workshop and a BBQ from the Cobden Arms. But that’s not all – there will also be a pop-up by Kitgum Kitchen, where East African and Gujarati cuisines come together in a fusion that’s impossible not to love. And yes, it is well worth walking up the hill for.
Sunday 23rd July; midday – 7pm; free
45 – 46 Cobden Road, Brighton, BN2 9TJ
10. See new work from a talented range of performers
Fringe arts festival FemFest are bringing us another round of Scratch Night this weekend. The first one in March sold out, so don’t hang around if you plan on going (and you should plan on going). Here’s the deal: you’ll watch five award-winning and up-and-coming performers across theatre, comedy, drag and clowning share 20 minutes of what they’re currently working on, and you, the audience, get to give some feedback. With explorations of female friendship, grief, cake, Helen of Troy and AI, it’s a pretty broad spectrum and a great chance to see and help shape new work.
Saturday 22nd July; 7pm; from £5.50
The Actors, 4 Princes Street, Brighton BN2 1RD
femfestbrighton.co.uk
By Beth Musselwhite
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