There’s a storm coming this weekend, the devilish Darragh, and while Brighton looks set to escape the worst of it, we’ve seen a lot of events getting cancelled (Glow Wild, The Brighton Lights and Brighton Winter Fayre to name a few). But there’s still plenty of weather-proof fun to get stuck into this weekend, not least the humble Christmas fair. Saturday is clearly the day of the fair, with at least nine in our fair city alone, and that’s before you even get started on the glory that is the Artists’ Open Houses.
Get festive at a Christmas fair
It’s the weekend of the fair and some of our favourites will be bringing small business joy to shoppers across Brighton, Hove and beyond on Saturday. First up, two of our favourites: the brilliant Brighton Etsy Christmas market, and the Black Brighton Christmas market. But there’s more! The last Maker’s Fair of the year is at All Saints Church in Hove; Sussex Emmaus has a Christmas fair (featuring our old favourite, the tombola), Beau Natural is back at the Unitarian Church, Elm Grove Primary School and the Annunciation Church (both in Hanover) have festive fairs on, Silver Spur’s Makers’ Market has a pop-up at Circles Store on Church Street, and it’s the vegan market at Brighton Open Market. Further afield, Paper Daisy has its Christmas makers’ fair in Shoreham, Titch Hill Wines have their Middle Yard Market in Worthing, the Cider Tap in Bolney has a Christmas market (also on Sunday) and Seven Sisters Country Park also have a market on (that’s also on on Sunday). Check out our Christmas fairs article for the full details.
Saturday 7th (and Sunday 8th) December; various locations and times; free
Get ready to shiver with antici…pation
If you’ve had a bad week and need perking up or just fancy a night that marries festive, fun and fabulous, then this is it. Yes, the Brighton Gay Men’s chorus are back with another fabulous show – The Rocky Horror Tinsel Show. In this fun mash-up of the outrageous musical and, well, Christmas, you can expect a brilliantly eclectic programme from classic carols to cheeky surprises, all performed with the chorus’ trademark verve. Don’t dream it, just be it!
Saturday 7th December; from £12; 7.30pm
Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UE
brightondome.org
What else?
The new Dead Wax Social has launched and is well worth checking out (it’s 90s hip-hop bangers time on Saturday); the Drop Brighton (your go-to for an excellent selection of craft beer) has relocated to a bigger site (with more indoor seating!) at the Open Market AND they’ve got a vegan beer showcase on Saturday as part of the vegan market. On Saturday, Goo Records and Hidden Herd have teamed up for their first-ever all-dayer, featuring 12 up-and-coming artists at The Hope And Ruin (from 1.30pm; from £9). Don’t stray too far as Boogaloo Stu is holding their festive shindig of dancing, cabaret and fun filth there on the Saturday. On Friday, there’s a festive gathering at Flow State in Hove with an evening of community, cocktails, DJs and dancing (5.30pm – 9pm); get arty at Amy Isle Freeman’s cyanotypes workshop at the Shakespeare’s Head on Saturday (2pm –3.30pm; £16.96); sing your heart out at a Christmas carol concert at St Nicholas Church on Saturday afternoon (2.30pm – 4.30pm) with Brighton & Hove City Brass Band providing the accompaniment to the singalong; get stuck into a Christmassy whodunnit escape room at Preston Manor, the Mince Spy Mystery (various dates and times); check out the last weekend of neon artist Andy Doigneon’s exhibition at Helm Gallery (and have one of their excellent cocktails while you’re there); tuck into a(nother) fantastic cocktail and some seafood with the Mama’s Cocktails and Crabshack collab, with added late-night shopping, at Shoreline Store and Kitchen on Saturday (from 5pm); and check out Betty and the Brands’ new sustainable concept store in Hanningtons Lane.
Coming up next week
The preloved and creative pop-up is back at Gallery 40 for a week-long run from Monday; Uplifted Voices gospel choir (off Britain’s Got Talent) are giving two free performances at the super-Christmassy Shelter Hall on Monday; the festive edition of Bison Beer’s Hot Ones quiz is on Wednesday; Phohm floral studio are holding wreath workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday; Bitter Women Brewery have their Christmas party and felt ornament workshop on Thursday (£10; 7pm); and join in the carolling with the Brighton Pub Carols gang at the Chimney House on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday is the Circus Street’s Christmas market, featuring giveaways, a range of makers, a Christmassy choir performance and the Brighton Morris Men (4.30pm – 7pm; free); there’s more 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 next Saturday; Sofar Sounds are back with another 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. Finally (for now), the seafront charity Santa Dash has been postponed to next Saturday due to the bad weather, so there’s still time to enter!
