It’s currently not raining (hurrah!), so it’s definitely still summer, right? Right? We’re launching into September with a weekend of magical moons, powerful poems and more cabaret chaos than you can shake your sequins at. Come on in to our latest Brighton guide (or check out the mini version on Instagram).

BOTI’S BEST BITS

🎬 Did someone say adventure?

We’re not done with outdoor cinema yet. Frontier Sapiens is back with a line-up of some of the best adventure films from 2025 on the One Garden lawn. Dive into Norwegian mountain climbing with a five-year-old, one man’s journey from software sales to sheep-herding, three friends with spinal injuries’ life-affirming ice cap adventure, and more inspiring watches (Sat; 7.45pm; £17.50; dogs allowed).

💋 Don’t be a drag

Head to one of our favourite venues, Brighton Open Air Theatre, for Drag in the Park on Saturday (can you tell we’ve checked the forecast?). Alfie Ordinary’s back hosting and iconic saxy drag queen Snow White Trash (see our video of their gravity-defying Pride show on the i360) and cockney queen Scarlett Hartlett are taking to the stage. Expect filthy fabulous fun (Sat; 7pm; from £15.95). Top tip: make the most of BOAT before the end of the season and make a return trip on the Sunday for Ilyria’s production of the classic G&S operetta HMS Pinafore (Sun; 4pm; £16.50).

♪ Fresh out of the Box

If you love immersive music experiences, then we reckon you’ll REALLY love the In The Box series at The Old Market – it plunges you into a full 360-degree experience with wall-to-wall sound and visuals. The series kicks off with a live reading of beat poet Allen Ginsberg’s Howl, a hallucinatory celebration of the marginalised, set to a genre-blending electronic soundtrack (Sat; 7.30pm; £17).

🌕 Glow with the flow

It’s full moon time again and that means another Ruby Moon swim, paddle, yoga and dance party. This Sunday’s is even more special as it’s a Blood Moon – a total lunar eclipse will turn the moon red for 82 minutes on Sunday evening. (In reality, though, you might only see it change colour for a couple of minutes.) Head to Hove Lawns Cafe on Sunday at 7.30pm – the exact time of the eclipse.

EXCELLENT EATS (AND DRINKS)

🍺 Beer we go again

Free beer! Did we stop the scroll? Did you make it over to the Lion and Lobster’s relaunch party last night? Don’t worry if you missed out, you’ve got another chance to see it in all its glory tonight, with the tasty addition of free beer from 360 Brew. Get there early, though, once they’re gone, they’re gone (Fri; 6pm; free). PSA: their whopping Sunday roasts are back this weekend, too.

🍷 Wine me up

Beer not your thing? Then how about a wine tasting? Over in Saltdean, Italian cafe Crocodile have got their very first on Sunday. Opt for a three or five-course menu with paired wines or skip the food and just try the Italian vinos at 4pm.

🌿 Wine, but make it natural

Or head out of town to Titch Hill, just outside Worthing for a pizza (courtesy of Love’s Pizza), wine and music combo eve at this natty wine vineyard (Fri; 4pm – 10pm) that’s a world away from the hustle of the city, but also really not that far.

🌮 Y viva los tacos

Have a side of Spanish with your tasty tacos at Casa Azul. Pop in at 11am on Saturdays to rejuvenate/learn/practise your Spanish with Paola. Because how good are you going to feel if your skills extend beyond ‘una cerveza, por favor’.

🍔 Burger up

Feast your face with some of the best burgers in (and out of) town as Chuckaburger is back at Beak Brewery in Lewes on Friday (6pm – 9.30pm) and the Foghorn in Hove on Saturday (midday – 9pm).

CABARET, COCKTAILS, CHAOS

🎭 Get immersed

Like your theatre emotion-laden and boundary-breaking? Then check out Last Rites at the Corn Exchange. Part of the four-day deaf-led Flarewave arts festival, it promises a feast of visual storytelling, electrifying movement and an immersive soundscape you can actually feel (Fri; 7.30pm; £19.50).

🪩 We’re in our soft clubbing era

Or feel the music in a slightly less visceral way at day club Brighton Sundae, featuring DJ’s DJ Marcia Carr bringing feel-good deep house, Afro and Motown to Sunday afternoons at Patterns (Sun; 2pm – 10pm; £11.33).

🎉 (Street) party time

If you’re looking for a different kind of immersion, followed by a crawl (literally, these hills are steep) of the excellent pubs of hilly Hanover, check out Southampton Street’s street party on Saturday. Feel-good community vibes guaranteed (from 2pm; free).

👯 Life is a cabaret

And if that’s all a bit too staid, take yourself over to Kemptown, for the Charles Street Tap and Queens Arms double birthday bonanza. Expect cabaret chaos from 12 drag queens working both venues, all in the name of fun and fundraising (for the Sussex Beacon). Sat; 7pm – midnight, but the party carries on (and on) at the Queens Arms.

♫ All together now

For some free festival action, head to Jubilee Square on Sunday for the Summer Fusion Festival, which celebrates refugee and asylum seeker stories and cultures. Think live music from the likes of Ukrainian Voices and Bhangra Fusion, dance, art workshops with Same Sky, and community film screenings (from 11am; free).

✮⋆˙Tatts entertainment

Or head over to Lewes for an end-of-summer party with a difference. Beauty studio Shy have put together an evening of tattoos and piercings with cocktails (yours, not the technicians), a live DJ and tasty street food from private chef Richard Falk (Sat; 7pm – 11pm; free but RSVP).

SUNSETS, SPORTS, SHAVASANA

♫ Music + beach + good vibes

Music, good vibes and, by the looks of it, sunshine, the Brighton Sunset Sessions are back by the bandstand for their last beachside event of the summer (yep, we’re still holding on). Turn up with an instrument or just soak up the atmosphere (and the sun). Fri; 6pm; free.

🧘🏻‍♀️ Namast-sea

We’re still denying it out loud, but we’ll give in here: autumn is in the air. So we’re not missing one of the last chances to do some yoga on the beach. All day long. Brighton Natural Health Foundation have organised a full day of classes, with eight local yoga teachers taking you through poses, flows and meditations for all levels right by the i360. You can just turn up or book your spot online (Sun; 11am – 7pm; donate what you can; mats provided).

💃 Dance if you wanna

Move your body on Sunday at South East Dance’s free dance taster day. See whether your inner dancer wants to make like a flapper in a charleston class, live out a West End dream in a musical theatre class, or just stretch it all out. There will be some drop-in spots on the day. Sun; 11a, – 3pm; free.

🏈 A sporting chance

For more free days out with a side (ok, a main) of sport, check out the temporary fan zone in Victoria Gardens for the Women’s Rugby World Cup. As well as eight live match screenings over the weekend, there’s free music, dance, fitness taster sessions, and plenty of food and drink. England v Australia kicks off on Sat at 5.30pm (Fri 1pm – 8pm; Sat 11am – 11pm and Sun 11am – 7pm; free).

THIS LITTLE PIGGY WENT TO (ALL THE) MARKETS

🛒 Take me to market

It’s another weekend of market magic: Paper Daisy have their makers’ market at Jubilee Square (Sat; 11am – 5pm); Kemptown Village Collective’s food and makers’ market is at Brighton College (Sat; 10am – 3pm); it’s the Food and Lifestyle market at the Open Market (Sat; 10am – 5pm); Preston Park Food Market is back by the Rose Garden (Sun; 10am – 3pm), Lewes Road Inn has got a mini craft market in the pub (Sat; midday – 4pm), and, as part of deaf-led arts festival Flarewave, there’s a community fair in the Unitarian Church (Sat; 9.30am – 6pm) showcasing the work of deaf and hard-of-hearing artists. And yes, they’re all free.

/┆\ (Street) fair’s fair

And, over in Hollingdean, Growing Hollingdean are putting on a summer street fair inspired by their 2020 carless boot sale. Expect bargains and community spirit galore (Sun; 10am – 2pm).

👗 Weight and see

In Hove, Martlets charity are holding a preloved kilo sale at their furniture showroom on Old Shoreham Road. Stock up for just £8 a bag (Sun; 11am – 4pm; free).

💍 Pop(-up) ’til you drop

All good things come in… fives. At least at Fiveways, where five artists are selling their jewellery, art, womenswear and homeware at the April Studio pop-up on Ditchling Rd (Sat & Sun; 10am – 5pm; free).

🎨 Putting the heart in art

And on Sunday (midday – 5pm; free), head to Lock In Gallery for a fundraiser for Medical Aid for Palestinians. Local artists have donated works, and tees from Revolting Threads, designed by Palestinian and international artists, will also be on sale.

OTHER GOOD STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

🦅Gulls allowed

Head back to the beach on Saturday for a just-announced free beach gig by Brighton rockers The Gulls (Sat; 5pm; free; by the carousel). 

⛵ It’s the sailing life for me

Over in Shoreham, a huge replica Spanish galleon has drawn up anchor: the Galeon Andalucia is docked until 8th September so you can explore the interactive exhibition, wander its five decks and meet the crew navigating the 55-metre whopper (various times; from £7).

🐶 Best in show(ground)

Dog lovers might want to head over to Hove this weekend for the Friends of Hove Lagoon’s Dogs and Sprogs event. Yes, it’s a day filled with good stuff for little ones and furry (big and little) ones. Think dog shows, puppets and clowning, a huge raffle, market stalls, and plenty of food to fuel the day (Sat; 11am – 4pm; free). It’s also a perfect chance to check out the new Yellowave by the Lagoon. Want more dog show action on Sunday? Head Saltdean way for the Helping Paws charity day of classes (Sun; 11am – 3.30pm) from waggiest tail to best trick, plus doggie games and rallies, plus stalls, refreshments, a tombola and a raffle for the humans.

📖 Read all about it

And finally, there’s double book fun on Sunday evening at Eyestorm Women’s meet-the-author event, which sees Karen Dobres (Pitch Invasion: My Story as a Feminist on a Football Club Board) and author and coach Lulu Minns (The Genius Wheel) come together to talk about their books and the journey to writing them (Sun; 6.30pm – 8pm; £8, includes a glass of wine).

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