Summer has arrived, Brighton. Or at the least the rain has stopped (for now)
This week’s guide takes us from beach raves and ceramics workshops to Brazilian festivals, sunset music sessions, Sussex Day celebrations and a farmyard full of Morris dancers. There are saunas for a good cause, feminist art at Charleston, open-air cinema in some very lovely locations and enough food and drink (now in our separate guide) to keep you busy until Monday.
One final thing before we get started. Brighton has always been a city that celebrates diversity, creativity and community – values that feel especially important with the planned far-right protests coming to town on Saturday. If you’re heading into town, keep an eye on our note below for more information.
Ok, here we go.
Party by the sea with Puzzle
If you’re up for dancing by the sea for ten hours straight, you’re in luck. Local promoters Puzzle are launching the new Central Park beach venue at Black Rock with a huge open-air party featuring French house supremo Sweely, and loads of other top selectors. It’s the first event to take over the new beachside space this summer. And if ten hours somehow isn’t enough, there’s an official after-party at Horizon from 11pm until 5am, with the line-up still under wraps at the time of writing. Beach rave by day, club session by night. Summer has officially arrived (if you forget the rain).
Sat; 1pm – 10.30pm; from £34.90
Book tickets
Have a Glorious Day
More into your disco, house, funk and soul? Then you need this Glorious Day. Returning to Hove Lawns, the aptly named festival has assembled a heavyweight line-up of dance music legends, including a DJ set from Groove Armada and Jocelyn Brown for starters. It’s all about feel-good tunes, sunset dancing and good people. And with food vendors, cocktails, glitter stalls and VIP upgrades on offer, we reckon it’s one of this summer’s seafront parties not to miss. There are only VIP tickets left now, so that means posh loos, fast-track entry, a VIP space and a special viewing area right at the front. Just don’t blame us when you’ve got sore feet after dancing all day. There’s an after-party for this one too.
Sat; 1pm – 10.30pm; £109.69
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Spend golden hour at a free seafront gig
There’s something pretty special about live music on the seafront as the sun sets. Especially when it’s free. Sunset Sessions is back on the beach by the Bandstand on Saturday evening (Friday got cancelled) with live music, including some West African drumming, and DJ sets. It’s perfect for just parking up with a drink and listening to whatever happens next. Summer evenings don’t get much better than this. (And if you fancy playing next time, you can sign up here.)
Sat; 6.30pm; free
More information here
READ ALSO: 9 FOODIE HAPPENINGS TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR THIS WEEKEND
Get crafty in Preston Park
Not every weekend activity needs to involve a DJ. This relaxed outdoor workshop in Preston Park lets you decorate your own terracotta plant pot in the sunshine, with all materials provided and no artistic talent required. You’ll leave with a customised home for your next houseplant and maybe even a newfound appreciation for pottery-based self-care.
Sat; 12pm – 2pm; £7
Book tickets
Head to a street party for a good cause
Brighton’s all about community and it doesn’t get much more community than a street party in colourful Hanover. The annual Washington Street Party fundraiser is back with live music from local acts like Gladyz Friday and The Weak Ends, drag bingo with local resident Davina Sparkle, Bollywood dance, well-priced drinks and BBQ food, plenty of kids activities, and a raffle with some stonking foodie prizes. Better yet, all money raised will support the Hanover Homeless Project and Pelican Parcels. Come for the community spirit, stay for the drag bingo.
Sat; 2pm – 8pm; free
More information
Swap Brighton for Brazil
Maybe your weekend plans could do with more live music, dancing and Brazilian street food. Then check out Festa Junina do Clube dos Sabiás. This traditional Brazilian midsummer celebration is taking over Brunswick Primary School with a burst of colour and live music from Tudo Bem!, DJ sets, dancing, food stalls and plenty of fun festivities. One for anyone who fancies swapping a standard Saturday afternoon for a little slice of Brazil.
Sat; 1pm – 5.30pm; from £4.50
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Sing, chant and switch off for a couple of hours
If you’re after a different kind of dance party and your nervous system could do with a little attention, Atomic Kirtan might be worth a look. Taking place at the Unitarian Church, the evening combines live music, chanting and meditation in a relaxed, welcoming setting. No experience required, no pressure to sing perfectly and no need to know what a kirtan actually is before you arrive. Just turn up and see where it takes you. And we should also mention there’s free cacao.
Sat; 7pm; from £8 donation
Book tickets
Brighton says no to hate
Brighton has always been a city that celebrates diversity, creativity and community – there’s no place for racism, fascism or hatred here. So it’s no surprise that a huge turnout is expected for Carnival Against Fascism’s counter-protest against the far-right groups due to gather in the city on Saturday. Musicians, bands, choirs and community groups are expected to help create a joyful, carnival-like atmosphere throughout the day. Stay safe if you’re attending, and keep an eye on Carnival Against Fascism’s Instagram for the latest information.
Sat; from 11am
More information
SUNDAY
Make yourself a ceramic shelf for all your tiny treasures
Running out of places to display your trinkets, candles and inexplicably growing collection of bits and bobs? Here’s your solution. This hands-on ceramics workshop with local ceramicist Pollyanna Doyle lets you create your own wall-mounted trinket shelf from clay, with guidance throughout the process and no previous experience required. You’ll leave the session with something genuinely useful and the satisfaction that you actually made it yourself rather than clicked on a button to get it sent to you.
Sun; 11am; £44.04
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Sweat it out for a good cause
Sauna lovers, this one’s for you. Yoyo Sauna is hosting a full day of sauna rituals in aid of the Hummingbird Refugee Project, bringing together some of the UK’s top practitioners for everything from Aufguss sessions and breathwork to storytelling, meditation and sound baths.There’s a different experience running every hour throughout the day, plus delicious cakes from Bee May Bakery and the chance to embroider a sauna hat between sessions.
Sun; from 8am; £14
Book tickets
Journal your way into authenticity
Seen Sophie Jones, the brilliant woman on TikTok who’s embracing rejection therapy? She’s spent the last year or so doing increasingly ridiculous challenges to prove that most people are too busy worrying about themselves to judge you. Well, she’s Brighton-based and she’s started an authenticity journaling workshop at Kemptown’s A Table on Sundays, sharing prompts to help you slow down and reconnect with your true self – not just the one you think should be. And given what she regularly puts herself through – all with a huge smile on her face – we’ll happily follow her guidance.
Sun; 6.30pm; £9.38
Book tickets
READ ALSO: The open-air cinemas worth leaving the sofa for this summer
GET OUTTA TOWN
See the Guerrilla Girls at Charleston
Anonymous feminist art collective Guerrilla Girls have spent decades calling out sexism, racism and power structures in the art world with bold posters, sharp humour and the occasional gorilla mask. Their latest exhibition at Charleston brings some of their most famous graphic interventions to the walls of the Bloomsbury artists’ former Sussex home, asking who gets represented in our cultural institutions – and who gets left out. The exhibition is reason enough to visit, but let’s be honest, the free-to-visit gardens, designed as a living painting, are half the attraction. Art, countryside and a lovely little café stop? That’s a pretty solid Saturday.
Wed – Sun; from £10
Book here
Celebrate Sussex day with cider and morris dancing
Sussex Day officially falls on 16th June, celebrating the county’s history, culture and identity, but Trenchmore Farm is getting the party started early. Head to the dog-friendly Cowfold farm on Saturday for excellent burgers from 3 Bros Munch, cider, live music and appearances from Mythago Border Morris and Magog, who’ll be bringing one of Sussex’s oldest folk traditions to the farmyard. There’s also a new sundowner deck for summer drinks and extended taproom hours to make the most of it. While you’re in the area, add on a visit to the gorgeous Wobblegate Orchards just down the road where you can stroll around the orchards, eat and indulge in the apple-y stuff. After all, if you’re going to celebrate Sussex, you might as well do it properly.
Sat; 11am – 4pm; free
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