Eastbourne Lammas Festival cancelled

The annual folk festival, which involves a colourful carnival parade along the seafront, has been cancelled as organisers say they were unable to secure the usual site on the Western Lawns for the end of July.

Caroline Tong wrote on the event’s Facebook group, “It’s with a heavy heart that I have to report that we have been unable to secure the Western Lawns for next year’s festival date and therefore there will be no Eastbourne Lammas Festival in 2019. We hope to return in full force in 2020.”

Annual Lammas is a pageant of dance, crafts and live music on seafront

She said the council had offered alternative dates, but these were unsuitable due to clashing with other big events like Eastbourne Pride, and key performers being at other events.

She added, “We don’t know why the Western Lawns is ‘unavailable’ for our regular weekend. Nothing on the Visit Eastbourne site as yet so we await with interest...”

An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesperson said, “We were unable to offer the Lammas Festival organisers their first choice of dates next year due to a prior booking on the Western Lawns, which is part of a nationwide touring programme of events.

“The organisers were offered a selection of alternative summer dates, but have opted to postpone until next year.”

The word Lammas comes from the old English for ‘Loaf Mass’, a celebration of the Earth’s bounty, traditionally held at the time of cutting the first corn crop.

As well as offering a showcase for local talent – music, Morris dancing, drumming and storytelling – the free event also raises money for the RNLI.

Find out more at www.lammasfest.org