What's On in Lewes
Things to do in and around Lewes: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.
Top story
Lewes Christmas Markets: Town Hall Fair 28 Nov, £2 Entry
The Artists & Makers Fair fills Lewes Town Hall on Saturday 28 November, £2 on the door. The castle market has no 2026 date; Seaford and Peacehaven are 12 Dec.
Dates for the diary
- On now to 1 Nov Gristle Grotlin's Halloween Trail at Paradise Park
- Fri 9 Oct Lewes Bonfire Council Costume Competition
- Sat 10 Oct Seaford Town Market
- Sat 10 Oct Food Bank Free Britain? Talk by Dr Carl Walker
- Sat 10 Oct Talk: The Lewes Floods, 25th Anniversary Report
- Sat 10 Oct How to Go Crazy for Good, by Polly Wiseman
- Sat 10 Oct Open Plate Supper Club
- 10 to 17 Oct Saving Grace, Lewes Little Theatre
- Sun 11 Oct Car Boot Sale, Martello Fields
- Sun 11 Oct One-Eyed Jacks
- Sun 11 Oct Lewes FC Women v Bedford
- Mon 12 Oct Become a Seaford Town Councillor: information session
More stories
Halloween
Halloween in Lewes 2026: castle trail, ghost train, horror films
Halloween around Lewes 2026: Lewes Castle's trail 26 to 30 Oct, the Bluebell Ghost Train from £21 a child, Depot's horror week and Newick's bonfire on the 31st.
Lewes
Remembrance Sunday Lewes: 8 Nov, Seaford Confirmed 10.30am
Seaford's Remembrance Sunday service is at 10.30am on 8 November. Lewes, Newhaven and Peacehaven have not published 2026 times; here is how each ran last year.
Events
What's On in Lewes: Glyndebourne's Autumn Operas, Then Bonfire
Glyndebourne's autumn operas open on 14 October, Seaford Bonfire is on the 17th, Ben Wheatley is at the Depot on the 29th and Lewes Bonfire is 5 November.
Lewes
Lewes Castle in winter: shut 24 to 26 Dec, weekends from Jan
Lewes Castle opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, until 3 January 2027, shuts 24 to 26 December, then goes weekends only. Tickets from £6.50 for children.
Seaford
Seaford Christmas lights switch-on: Saturday 12 December
Seaford Christmas Magic, with the lantern parade and lights switch-on, is on Saturday 12 December 2026, two weeks later than last year. What happened in 2025.
Peacehaven
Panto near Lewes: Beauty and the Beast, Peacehaven, 3-5 Dec
The district's panto this Christmas is Peacehaven Players' Beauty and the Beast, 3 to 5 December 2026. Lewes Little Theatre has A Christmas Carol, 5 to 12 Dec.
Lewes
Santa near Lewes: free Seaford grotto, steam trains from £10
Where to see Father Christmas near Lewes in 2026: Seaford's grotto on 12 December, Paradise Park in Newhaven, and Bluebell Santa Specials from £10 a child.
Lewes
Lewes Bonfire: Thu 5 Nov, No Trains, Roads Shut 4.45pm
Trains stop calling at Lewes from 5pm and five main routes close at 4.45pm. Fire site tickets are £10 and on sale now. The council asks visitors to stay away.
Seaford
Seaford Bonfire 2026: Sat 17 October, Fireworks at 9pm
Seaford Bonfire 2026 is on Saturday 17 October: procession from the White Lion at 7.15pm, fireworks at 9pm on Martello Fields, A259 shut from 7pm.
Lewes
Bonfire Nights Near Lewes: 8 Dates, Firle £12.50 on 24 Oct
Eight bonfire nights near Lewes, 17 Oct to 21 Nov. Firle is £12.50 in advance or £17 on the day, Isfield is free, South Heighton £5 cash on the gate.
Lewes
Lewes Christmas Lights: No 2026 Date Yet, Likely 3 Dec
Lewes Chamber has not announced 2026 Late Night Shopping. The last two both ran on the first Thursday of December, which points at Thursday 3 December.
Lewes
Artwave 2026: 176 Free Shows, 5 to 20 September
Artwave's 33rd festival opens on 5 September with 176 free exhibitions across the district, 94 of them in Lewes, plus 80 archive lightboxes on the High Street.
What's On
Things to do in Lewes: £10.50 castle, 1861 lido, free priory
The castle is £10.50 to 1 September, the priory is free, and the Pells lido dates from 1861. Lewes attractions with 2026 prices, checked at source.