The vibrant Eastbourne Carnival delighted residents and visitors today as the much-anticipated parade filled the streets with music, costumes, and cheerful festivities. The procession commenced at 2 p.m., starting from Fishermen’s Green and culminating at the Wish Tower Slopes.
Organized by a dedicated volunteer committee, Eastbourne Carnival is a beloved community event that has seen active participation from committee members since its revival in 2011. While Eastbourne had a long history of town carnivals in the 20th century, it experienced a hiatus of two decades until it was brought back in 2011 by Stephen Lloyd, the former Member of Parliament for Eastbourne.
The town’s connection with carnival celebrations can be traced back even further, with the earliest recorded reference to a carnival in Eastbourne occurring in 1895. The town marked “The Battle of the Flowers” during the month of May that year.
In recent times, the Eastbourne Carnival faced challenges due to the pandemic, leading to the cancellation of the event in 2020. However, a scaled-down parade managed to take place in September 2021, offering some respite to carnival enthusiasts.
Last year, Eastbourne Carnival made a successful comeback with a grand parade in 2022, commemorating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. This year, the event returned to its traditional late May Bank Holiday spot, inviting locals and visitors to revel in the theme of ‘Sussex By The Sea.’
Following the colorful parade, the festivities continued with a lively street party held at Victoria Place, located at the top end of Terminus Road. e
