Palestine on the Pier returns to Hastings on Sunday with free cultural festival

It is the first time this heritage collection of ‘thobes’ – some over 150 years old – has been displayed in this country and will form a spectacular catwalk centrepiece of the celebrations.

“These dresses have never been seen before in this country and we’re so excited to be sharing them for the first time on Hastings’ very own pier,” said Katy Colley, one of the festival organisers.

The first free Palestine on the Pier cultural event took place last year with music, food, dance, storytelling and craft, attracting a crowd of over 1,000 people.

Organisers are expecting this year’s event to be even bigger with a packed programme of events and activities.

Acclaimed Palestinian viola player and composer Samer Rashed is flying in from occupied East Jerusalem to showcase his latest album ‘Tales of the Gypsy Jazz’ with his band.

The all-female dance troupe Hawiyya will take to the stage to perform traditional ‘dabke’ folk dance combined with contemporary storytelling, and will showcase a one-off performance in collaboration with DJ Saliah, a British Lebanese electronic music producer.

DJ Saliah, fresh from playing Glastonbury, will also be DJ’ing a with mix of dabke rhythms and classic Arabic dance music from the nineties and noughties.

There will be classic Arabic folk music on the oud and percussion from Brighton-based musicians Jamal and Alaa, and Hastings’ own Frank Moon will perform on Oud with his band The Owlers.

The Children’s Corner on the top deck will feature performances from interactive Palestinian storyteller Elias Matar and kite-making workshops, run with community-based creatives Arts on Prescription.

Guests can sample Palestinian cuisine at the food and drink stalls along the lower deck and there will be a marketplace with beautiful handicraft, jewellery, authentic Palestinian keffiyehs, hand-painted ceramics and embroidered bags.