Brighton Major Events 

May to December 2011

MAY – Brighton & Hove’s BIG Festival Month

7 to 29 May - Brighton Festival

Brighton Festival continues its sensational programme of theatre, dance, music, books & debate, and family shows as well as outdoor spectacles kick-started by the now famous Children’s Parade which winds its way around the city on its opening Saturday. www.brightonfestival.org

7 to 30 May - Brighton Fringe

The third largest Fringe Festival in the world offering cabaret, comedy, classical concerts, club nights, theatre and exhibitions, as well as street performance. www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk

Throughout May (mainly weekends) - Artists’ Open Houses / HOUSE Festival

2011 is the 30^th anniversary of Artists’ Open Houses, the biggest free arts event in Britain with over 1,000 artists exhibiting in 200 houses and studios across the city. www.aoh.org.uk

12 to 14 May - The Great Escape music festival

Music festival showcasing 300 new, local, national and international bands in 34 different venues over three days. www.escapegreat.com  

14 May (Date TBC) - Heroes Run

Dressing up as their favourite super heroes, over 1,000 participants run jog or walk 10k or 5k along Hove seafront.  www.passingiton.org.uk 

27 May - The Royal Escape Race, Brighton Pier to Fécamp, Normandy, France

Around 100 boats compete in this cross channel event celebrating the Escape of Charles II from Cromwell.  www.royalescaperace.co.uk

JUNE

5 June (Date TBC) - Springwatch Festival - Stanmer Park

Celebrating and promoting local wildlife and wildlife-friendly living. In 2010 the Festival welcomed 15,000 people to Stanmer Park.  www.brighton-hove.gov.uk

Second week (Date TBC) - Brighton Fashion Week

With the legendry Brighton Fashion Week catwalk show, great parties and a fashion emporium showcasing up and coming designers, shopping discounts and much more.  www.brightonfashionweek.co.uk

19 June (Date TBC) - London to Brighton Bike Ride

The annual 54 mile bike ride from the capital to the coast in aid of the British Heart Foundation.  The UK’s largest charity bike ride with 27,000 riders.  www.bhf.org.uk/london-brighton

JULY

2 & 3 July (Date TBC) - Paddle Round the Pier

The best free beach festival in the UK has live music, ‘have a go’ activities and of course all manner of craft taking to the sea including dinghies, blow-up whales and even a turtle on a surf board. www.paddleroundthepier.com

9 &10 July (Date TBC) - Kite Festival – Stanmer Park

Brighton Kite Festival is one of the longest, running kite festivals in the UK. A perfect family event, the festival has been running (or rather flying!) for 33 years.  www.brightonkiteflyers.co.uk

15 to 17 July 2011- Soundwaves Festival

New music produced by some of the UK’s established stars and hot new talents from the world of contemporary music, sound art, electronica, dance and visual art. www.soundwaves-festival.org.uk

AUGUST

6 Aug (Date TBC) - American Express Community Football Stadium

This will mark a new chapter in the history of Brighton & Hove Albion FC (the Seagulls) as they play their first competitive fixture at the new 22,500 capacity stadium. www.seagulls.co.uk

6 & 7 Aug (Date TBC) - August Festival - Brighton Racecourse

Experience a taste of the good life.  Sip Champagne and admire all the hats on Ladies Day - and watch some races of course! www.brighton-racecourse.co.uk

8 to 13 Aug (Date TBC) - Brighton Pride

The biggest and best free Pride festival in the UK celebrating everything LGBT in a week long extravaganza of events and parties culminating in a spectacular parade through the city. www.brightonpride.org

20 & 21 Aug (Date TBC) - Brunswick Festival

Celebrating the diverse nature of the Brunswick area of Hove, Brunswick Festival offers a fun and friendly mix of foodie treats, street theatre and live music as well as bric-a-brac and craft stalls.

SEPTEMBER

1 – 30 Sept (Dates TBC) - Brighton & Hove Food & Drink Festival

A must for foodies everywhere, The Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival is a celebration of the best food and drink available across Sussex.  www.brightonfoodfestival.co.uk

10 Sept (Date TBC) - National Speed Trials, Madeira Drive

Britain’s oldest motor racing event- first staged in 1905- showcasing a wide range of cars and motorbikes racing over a quarter of a mile along Brighton’s historic beachfront. www.brightonandhovemotorclub.co.uk

11 Sept (Date TBC) - Ace Café Reunion

40,000 motorbikes descend on Brighton’s seafront in celebration of biking and the original Ace Café on London’s North Circular Road.  www.ace-cafe-london.com

16 to 18 Sept (Date TBC) - Brighton Art Fair – Corn Exchange

The largest art exhibition on the South Coast brings together the most talented national painters, printmakers, photographers and sculptors along with artist groups and Sussex based galleries.  www.brightonartfair.co.uk 

OCTOBER

6 to 27 October (Date TBC) – Brighton Comedy Festival – Brighton Dome

2011 marks the 10^th anniversary of the Brighton Comedy Festival. Previous acts have included Jimmy Carr, Julian Clary, Stewart Lee and Sean Lock www.brightoncomedyfestival.com.

29 October (Date TBC) - White Night

After three successful years, the 2011 White Night will provide an array of night-time cultural events and ‘happenings’ across the city to mark the end of British Summer Time.  Major attractions stay open into the wee small hours.  www.whitenightnuitblanche.com

NOVEMBER

6 Nov (Date TBC) - London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

This annual event commemorates the Emancipation Run of 14 November.  Today, this run attracts hundreds of vehicles from the UK and abroad as well as thousands of spectators. www.lbvcr.com

17 to 20 Nov (Date TBC) - MADE Brighton – Corn Exchange

MADE has become firmly established as a friendly, accessible and high quality major design and craft event attracting over 5,000 visitors each year. www.brightoncraftfair.co.uk

Mid Nov to early Dec (Dates TBC) CINECITY Film Festival

CineCity Film Festival is the south coast’s major celebration of film, featuring premieres and previews, artists’ cinema and installations, treasures from the archive and retrospectives, talks and special events. www.cine-city.co.uk

DECEMBER

Weekends up to Christmas - Christmas Artists Open Houses

This event provides a chance for visitors to explore around 100 houses across the city and see and buy the work of local artists, or to simply enjoy a mince pie and mulled wine! www.aoh.org.uk

21 Dec - Burning the Clocks “Winter Solstice Parade”

The people of Brighton & Hove carry paper and willow lanterns through their city and burn on the beach as a token for the end of the year.  This spectacular annual event attracts thousands of participants and spectators. www.burningtheclocks.co.uk