What’s On – Hailsham Festival 2022

All the events at the Hailsham Festival 2022 are listed on this page. You can also view them by Category by clicking on the Category buttons just below:
Children’s Art Gallery
Children’s Art Gallery
View children's artwork uploaded over the past 12 months
Festival Anthology – An invitation to submit your poem or story
Festival Anthology – An invitation to submit your poem or story
Would you like to see your poem or story in print? We would love to hear from you! We will be publishing our 4th Anthology of Poetry and Prose during September and entries should be with us by August 15th, 2022.
Children’s Art – get involved!
Children’s Art – get involved!
If you are 18 or under and enjoy painting, drawing, sculpting or photography, we would love to be able to see and share your work on our website.
Creative Writing Anthology and Competitions
Creative Writing Anthology and Competitions
Why not enter one of our creative writing competitions? Free entry. Categories for Adults and Children.
Virtual Art Gallery – Invitation to Upload your Art
Virtual Art Gallery – Invitation to Upload your Art
As in 2020 we would like to offer artists and makers the opportunity to submit images of their work to be hosted on the Hailsham Festival Website where they will be supported by a social media campaign. ...
Hailsham Foodbank – marking the first 10 years
Hailsham Foodbank – marking the first 10 years
Hailsham foodbank have been serving the people of Hailsham and the surrounding area for 10 years. Over 23,000 3 day emergency food parcels have been distributed in that time.
Art and Discovery Trail
Art and Discovery Trail
The Art Trail has always been a major part of the Hailsham Festival. This year the Hailsham Artists Network and friends invite you to come out and visit artists and makers once again at various different venues in Hailsham and surrounding areas.
Wealden Writers
Wealden Writers
Local writers will be displaying their work. A well-loved author (TBC) will speak to us and book-sign. This will be followed by the announcement of the creative writing competitions winners.
Opening Celebrations – Saturday Morning, September 3rd
Opening Celebrations – Saturday Morning, September 3rd
Come along to Vicarage Fields in the centre of town and visit the weekly Saturday market. There will be music with Country & Western Singer Birdie Tucker, Line Dancing and children’s crafts with Crafty Annie.
Party in the Garden
Party in the Garden
Come along for a relaxing afternoon in the King's Head Garden and listen to 4 bands with strong local connections.
Richard Durrant – Guitar Recital
Richard Durrant – Guitar Recital
Critically acclaimed guitarist/composer playing Bach’s 3rd Cello Suite on a humble ukulele plus music from his latest album, guitar favourites and tales from the road…
Afternoon Tea Quiz
Afternoon Tea Quiz
95.9 Hailsham FM and Sunflowers Mental Health & Wellbeing are delighted to be hosting a Family Tea Quiz with pots of tea and delicious biscuits served straight to your table, with a unique prize raffle and medals for the winning team!
Open Debate – Shall we heat, or shall we eat, tonight?
Open Debate – Shall we heat, or shall we eat, tonight?
A live debate about the increasing use of Food Banks. Hosted by the members of the U3A to give everyone a chance to have their say on this very relevant subject. Diplocks Hall /Mon 5th Sept/2.30pm Free. Light refreshments.
Murder Mystery Night
Murder Mystery Night
Murder Mystery (“Firm Foundations”) - all is not as it seems in the knicker factory! As the mystery unfolds before you as you dine, you are challenged to try and solve the crime.
Mama Mia Dance Workshop
Mama Mia Dance Workshop
If you're looking forward to the Mama Mia singalong on Sunday, 11th September, you will love the dance version at Sjaan Dance Academy from 7.00 to 8.30
Tango and Tapas
Tango and Tapas
If the unique sound of the bandoneon inspires you to put on your dance shoes, and d’Arienzo’s beats are missing from your life, then you’ll be pleased to hear that this year’s Hailsham Festival includes a Milonga, where Mark & Sue Young will be delighted to welc...
Flamenco Dance Class
Flamenco Dance Class
Used to dance or always wanted to dance? Come along to Sjaan Dance Academy for a taster class Flamenco.
Open Morning – Saturday, September 10th
Open Morning – Saturday, September 10th
Come along to Vicarage Fields in the centre of town and visit the weekly Saturday market as well as music, children’s crafts with Crafty Annie and a Sustainable Lego Build.
Sustainable Lego Building
Sustainable Lego Building
A sustainable Lego Building session provided by Hailsham Community Land Trust. Ages 5 - 11. Free, but booking essential.
Mish Mash Morris
Mish Mash Morris
Morris Dancing in Sussex! We perform Border, Cotswold, Molly and a touch of North West - A veritable Mish Mash of Morris!
Storytelling and Scavenger Hunt
Storytelling and Scavenger Hunt
Join storyteller John Kirk at Hailsham Library for stories and a scavenger hunt to celebrate Hailsham Festival. Suitable for families with children aged 3+.
Mayor’s Concert
Mayor’s Concert
Join us for this free concert at Hailsham Parish Church where we will welcome the town's Mayor, Hailsham Choral Society, Hailsham Voices and the talented young tenor, Ben Hancox-Lachman
Roger McGough – Safety in Numbers, with guest, Stephen Plaice
Roger McGough – Safety in Numbers, with guest, Stephen Plaice
Roger McGough is the author of over a hundred books of poetry for adults and children. Safety in Numbers is his latest collection. Traversing rocky terrain with the assurance of a poetry Rover on Mars, McGough brings down to earth the strangeness of a time on hold. Stay...
Singalong – Mamma Mia!
Singalong – Mamma Mia!
Join Hailsham FM for a special sing-along showing of Mamma Mia! and prepare to sing your heart out to some much-loved Abba tracks!
Silver Swans Dance Class
Silver Swans Dance Class
Used to dance or always wanted to dance? Come along to Sjaan Dance Academy for a taster class in ballet (Silver Swans).
Downland Poets
Downland Poets
The long established Downland Poets are delighted to once again share a selection of original poetry and some old favourites with anyone who loves the written word.
Festival Film – Under the Volcano
Festival Film – Under the Volcano
Under the Volcano charts the rise and fall of AIR Studios Montserrat, the recording studio at the center of the pop universe in the 1980s.
A Celebration of Creative Writing…
A Celebration of Creative Writing…
Meet up in the lovely surroundings of B12 for a relaxing afternoon when some of the winners and participants in the creative writing competitions can read their masterpieces for your enjoyment.
Adult Tap Dance Class
Adult Tap Dance Class
This is one of 4 dance classes to be held at at Sjaan's Dance Academy during the course of the festival. Please check back here as more details are announced.
Hailsham Theatres
Hailsham Theatres
Hailsham Theatres will once again be presenting a play every evening from Thursday, September 15th to Saturday, September 17th with a matinee performance on the Saturday. Check back here for further details as they are announced.
Three Choirs in Concert
Three Choirs in Concert
Recent years have witnessed a welcome revolution in the popularity of choirs and singing and it has been estimated that 2.8 million Britons are now members of a choir. Hailsham Festival isproud to support the resurgence of accessible singing groups and to welcome three ...
Nostalgia Fair
Nostalgia Fair
Returning by public demand the Nostalgia Fair will take you back to the 50s and 60s when we used to have street fairs – remember? Roundabouts, Candy Floss, Games, Music, and lots more.....
Hellingly Enchanted Forest Adventure
Hellingly Enchanted Forest Adventure
Can you help a young adventurer to lift a wicked witch's curse in this interactive 1-hour theatrical experience. Presented by Animazing C.I.C. and Hailsham Community College. Advance booking online essential.
Blues Brothers Party Night
Blues Brothers Party Night
Join Andy B & Ritchie Lee for all the best hits from The Blues Brothers including Soul Man, Gimme Some Lovin, Mustang Sally, Shake A Tailfeather and Everybody!
String! – a New Musical for Hailsham
String! – a New Musical for Hailsham
String! - the Musical will return for 2 nights on October 7th and 8th as part of Hailsham Festival Extra. This new, specially-commissioned musical set in Hailsham and the surrounding area is probably the most ambitious project the festival has undertaken in its 15 year ...