How many mulled wines and mince pies have you had this week? We’ve still only had one of each and part of our mission this weekend is to significantly improve those stats. If your goals are slightly less gluttonous, then you’ll find plenty more inspo below and on the rest of the site. For starters, it’s the Seven Dials Christmas late-night shopping event on Friday (5pm – 9pm), with discounts and festive fun galore (we’re there for the dog jumper contest) around the cool shops and pubs that fill the buzzing area. Brighton Drag Idol winner Felix Le Freak has got a festive cabaret special on Saturday, and it’s also the first weekend of The Brighton Lights (after the storm messed things up last week), and there’s a heap more Christmas fairs and happenings where you can run around (there’s a clue there) and get your festive on. We reckon even the most hardened of Scrooges will catch the teensiest bit of Christmas spirit by the end of all that.
Visit some of our favourite artists’ open houses
We’re into the last weekend of the artists’ open houses and with over 50 houses across Brighton, Hove and beyond to get through, you’ve got your work cut out to see them all. So here’s a couple of our perennial favourites: the gorgeously maximalist Picture Palace, which gets transformed into a piece of festive glory by artist Sarah Arnett. As well as her joyful artwork, fashion and accessories, you’ll find an eclectic range of leather accessories, cushions, printed sweatshirts, jewellery, and more from other artists and makers. Her joyful venue – part of the Seven Dials trail – is definitely one for your must-visit list. She also holds workshops and other events there, so keep an eye on her Instagram for those. We’d also highly recommend checking out the Keep Art at Home open house (6B Eastern Terrace, on the Kemptown trail) where you’ll find all kinds of gorgeousness, including brilliantly bonkers tube map dresses and jewellery by Fway Lawn and Little Papa Doll House’s clever miniature models.
Sarah Arnett: Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December; 11am – 5pm; free
Ground floor garden, 33 York Avenue, Hove, BN3 1PJ
saraharnett.co.uk
Get festive at a Christmas market
We’ve got another gorgeously packed weekend of festive fairs. On Saturday, you’ll find artisan craft fair regular Beau-Events at Jubilee Square, it’s the festive food and drink market at the Open Market, Paper Daisy are back with more artisan festive goodness, fun and workshops at Wagner Hall (Saturday and Sunday), the weekly farmers’ market at Florence Road has gone all festive and super-sized in the run-up to Christmas and this week you’ll also find Silver Spurs Makers’ Market (including BOTI in the pre-loved section) there. On Sunday, head to the Brighton Toy and Model museum for a Christmas makers’ fair in a nostalgic slice of toy heaven. Further afield, Gun Brewery in Gun Hill are holding a festive fair on Saturday and Sunday and further down the coast in Hastings, you’ll find a makers’ market full of indie creators on Saturday. Get the full lowdown over in our main Christmas fairs article here.
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December; various times and locations; free
Dash through the streets dressed as St Nick
Ho-ho-how fast can you run in a Santa suit? The city’s most festive 5km, the Brighton Santa Dash, is back for more fancy-dressed frolics. If for some strange reason you don’t have a Santa costume ready and waiting in your wardrobe, you can still sign up, as your ticket includes a Santa suit for you to pose and prance in. Whether you walk, jog or sprint your way around the course, everyone gets a bespoke medal and a warm fuzzy endorphin hit at the end of the race.
Saturday 14th December (postponed from 7th); 10.30am; £20
The race starts at Hove Lawns opposite Adelaide Crescent near the Peace Statue
santadashbrighton.co.uk
Get Christmas tree envy
Some places always do Christmas beautifully and The Grand is one of those places. Their Christmas lights have been on a while now, but if you haven’t been inside, you’re missing out. Their twinkling facade and towering tree are things of beauty and having a few drinks (we rate their festive specials) in the opulent Victoria Lounge-Bar and admiring them gives us all the festive feels. If you’re lucky their pianist might be playing too. This year, you can also write a message on a Christmas tag to someone special or a Christmas wish to be hung on their imposing staircase. You can buy a tag at reception – all proceeds go to their chosen local charities.
The Grand Hotel, 97 – 99 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2FW
grandbrighton.co.uk
Get inspired at a charity Christmas light display
We’ve just about managed to get a tree and reckon we’re doing pretty well, so we are always in awe of the people who really go to town with their Christmas decorations. Thornbush Crescent in Portslade have done it again with their lights to support the Purple People Kitchen food bank – the cul-de-sac is home to 20 beautifully decorated houses. Donate money if you can or you can also leave donations (tinned/dried goods, long-life milk, juice and squash, toiletries/personal hygiene items, etc) in the boxes outside number 37.
Every day until Monday 2nd January 2024; 5pm – 8pm; free, but please donate if you can to Purple People Kitchen (sort: 30-98-74, Account: 51916968
Thornbush Crescent, Portslade, BN41 2GW (park on Bush Farm Drive and walk up)
More details here
What else?
If you love all things graphics and comics, check out Graphic Brighton, a two-day festival of talks, demonstrations and creative workshops around all things comics and architecture at the University of Brighton (Friday and Saturday; free). A new exhibition opens at the lovely Helm Gallery on Friday: pop artist (aka the so-called ‘godson of Andy Warhol’ whose alter ego is a cartoon lobster) Philip Colbert is unveiling his first showcase of prints (Friday’s opening party is open to all; 7pm – 10pm; exhibition on until 26th January). One of our favourite preloved and creative pop-ups is back at Gallery 40 up to and including Sunday; there’s Christmas carolling with a singalong plus all the mulled stuff at T at the Dials on Friday (6, 7 and 8pm); and still more carolling with Brighton Swing Choir at Sea Lanes on the Saturday (6pm). Plus, there are still a few tickets left for the Christmas Carol light drone show on Saturday; Sofar Sounds are back with an intimate gig in a cool secret location on Friday and, over in Lewes, Abyss Brewing are holding brilliant ‘create your own bad xmas photo‘ sessions with Intrepid Camera on Saturday. Enjoy a day of excellent gigs across three central venues for charity festival Mumsfest on Saturday (from 1pm; £20). On Sunday, check out an evening of Christmas music and comedy delights with the Hullabaloo Community Quire’s Chrimbo Crumble Choral Wonderland with singer-songwriter Lorraine Bowen and Paul Diello and his band (7pm; from £10; tickets on the door only now). Finally, head to The Old Market for a new theatre show from the brilliant 1927 troupe that pays homage to the magic of storytelling. Inspired by a true story, it combines animation, song and dance (daily until Thursday 19th December, except Monday; various times; from £15.50).
Coming up next week
Alfie Ordinary’s got their Christmas drag bingo special on Monday (8pm; from £11.53) and the marvellous Brighton Gay Men’s chorus are bringing their joyous singing to Shelter Hall Market for two free festive performances (Monday; 6.45pm and 8.45pm). On Tuesday, Brighton Arts Social Club are hosting a life-drawing Christmas special (7pm; £10); there’s an evening of Christmassy shorts at The Rose Hill; a night of festive late-night shopping in West Hove with discounts and festive drinks and nibbles at lots of the shops on Portland Road including preloved boutique Harlem Salon Store (until 8pm) plus the Santa Bus drive-by; or an evening of pub carols with the Brighton Pub Carol gang (8pm) at the Park Crescent pub. You could also learn how to make a mini embroidered banner with artist Elizabeth Betts at Brighton Winter Fayre (Thursday; 3.30pm; £20) or see White Wall Cinema’s last film of the year, Bringing Out The Dead, an unorthodox adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (Wednesday; 7.30pm). It’s the final December weekend of the i360’s cocktail bar in the sky, Seascape (Friday and Saturday; from £18.50) and your last chance to enjoy their limited-edition Little Moons mochi cocktails. On Friday, there’s a tinsel-tastic burlesque spectacular courtesy of Cabaret Boheme and a night of rare funk, groove and soul cuts at the brilliant Alphabet, while Sunday sees the Atomic Kirtan Christmas special with cacao and some festive tunes thrown in for good measure.
