Spotlight: The Sussex Events Guide August 2025
- James Forryan
- Aug 1
- 6 min read
Your guide to all the best local events happening near you in August
Summer of Play at Bodiam Castle
Saturday 19th July to Wednesday 3rd September, 10am to 4pm
Back with a bang and bigger than ever, Summer of Play returns to Bodiam Castle for a season filled with fun and adventure. Enjoy medieval-inspired games like castle building, hobby horse racing, and quoits, master circus skills, or join our Knight and Viking School led by professional performers. Best of all, it’s all included with normal admission.
Start planning your visit at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiam-castle
Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank.
Bluebell Railway
August Dates
This August, the Bluebell Railway is bursting with fun activities for the whole family, making it the perfect destination for your summer holidays! With the ‘Kids for a Quid’ travel offer and all-day rover tickets, you can enjoy unlimited travel across four scenic stations. Dive into a world of enchantment on August 2nd/3rd with the magical Unicorns event alongside a vibrant local market selling unique treasures. Celebrate the Bluebell Railway 65th Anniversary Weekend from August 8th to 10th – a perfect blend of nostalgia and excitement.
The rhythm continues with a lively Music Festival on August 16th/17th, where tunes fill the summer air. From August 19th to 21st see dinosaurs at Sheffield Park, East Grinstead on our Timetable C service Set A trains! – which promises roars of delight. Don’t miss the Paddington Picnic from August 23rd to 25th and the Baby Dino event on August 30th/31st. Come and create unforgettable memories this August!
T&Cs including new special summer holiday season ticket visit:
STEM Live Musical Comedy Show – Forces at Play at Brooklands Museum
Daily until Saturday 30th August
This summer at Brooklands Museum, see the brand-new STEM live musical comedy show, Forces at Play which is running daily until the 30th August.
Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Stratosphere Chamber, this funny and entertaining 30-minute family show by Ensonglopedia, will bring together some of the incredible characters from Brooklands’ history. From trailblazing racers to ingenious engineers, find out how they used forces to achieve ground- breaking new feats.
The show will run four times a day and is included in the admission ticket. Fun and engaging STEM trail and activities will also available.
Four Sussex Artists at Highdown Gardens
Saturday 9th to Sunday 17th August, 10am to 5pm
Four Sussex artists will be exhibiting their original paintings in oils, pastels, acrylics and watercolour. All paintings, prints and greeting cards will be for sale with a percentage of sales donated to Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice.
The Visitor Centre is set in beautiful gardens on top of the South Downs. Entry is free with a free car park, disabled access and café very close by.
Highdown Visitor Centre, Highdown Gardens, Highdown Rise, Worthing BN12 6FB
Summer Jousting Tournament at Hever Castle & Gardens
9/10, 16/17, 22-25, 30/31 August
Watch in awe as The Knights of Royal England battle for bravery and honour at the Summer Jousting Tournament! Be enthralled by exhilarating displays of action, stunts, falls and fights in an authentic arena, complete with a Royal Box for the finest in jousting and medieval entertainment.
Join Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and the Royal Foot Soldiers in a procession to the Jousting arena as you prepare to see the mighty clash of lances and cheer for your champion.
Fairy and Dragon Trail at High Beeches Garden, Handcross
Saturday 19th July to Saturday 30th August, 12 to 5pm, closed Wednesday
Do you believe in Fairies? Come and meet the woodland Fairies and their secretive friends. Keep a look out for the mischievous sprites, a friendly dragon and you may find a unicorn and her foal.
Why not dress up as your favourite fairy and join in the fun. There are light refreshments on site and picnics are welcome.
Tickets: Adults £12, Children (2-16 years) £7 under 2 free. Advance book- ing recommended.
Tickets from: www.fairy-trails.co.uk or at the gatewww.highbeeches.com
Big Camp Out at Sheffield Park and Garden
Thursday 28th August
Camp out under the stars at Sheffield Park!
Sheffield Park and Garden are hosting their first Big Camp Out in the garden this summer on 28-29 August. Enjoy the beauty of the garden as night descends, along with activities from bat walks, den making and kwik cricket, to star gazing and wellbeing sessions, all included in the ticket price.
Food outlets in the garden will be open to buy food and drinks, and you’ll have plenty of downtime to relax.
To book your pitch visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffieldpark
Hever in History
Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th – August Bank Holiday
Travel through time from the Middle Ages to the modern era for an immersive event of sights and sounds throughout August Bank Holiday.
Hever in History offers living history demonstrations from across the centuries, from a close-up view of medieval battle re-enactments and weaponry to discovering some of the crafts and cooking techniques of our ancestors.
There are plenty of other pursuits for all the family to enjoy, including Falconry Displays on the Events field with the Birds of Prey Willow Centre, the Summer Jousting Tournament, nautical adventures with The Seas of Time themed activities, and ever popular visits to the Yew Maze and Water Maze.
Wildlife Wonders at Middle Farm
Daily to Sunday 31st August
Come along to the summer event on the Open Farm – Wildlife Wonders.Explore the Farm Trail and learn about the wildlife that you have spotted, build a bug hotel, and find the farmer’s lost wellies.
As well as meeting the farm animals and leaping around the Hay Play Barn, join in with the summer games and chill out in the quiet zone.After that you may need a sit down! The Tearoom offers the perfect spot for lunch.
For this event grandparents, aged over 60, go half price from Monday to Friday when with a grandchild.
Firle, Lewes BN8 6LJ
Volk’s Electric Railway
Open 7 Days a Week until September 30th
Come aboard the World’s Oldest Operating Electric Railway this summer – Volk’s Electric Railway has been transporting passengers since 1883. Their friendly train drivers will see you and your family step aboard their perfectly preserved heritage trains and take you along a 1-mile-long track running besides Brighton’s beautiful beach front. Bathe in the sights and sounds of the scenic coastline whilst waving to friendly passers-by, as you travel in Victorian style.
What better way for you and your family to experience the enduring spirit of the British seaside holiday?
The Sussex Guild at Pashley Manor Gardens
Saturday 23rd to Bank Holiday Monday 25th August, 10am-5pm
The Sussex Guild is exhibiting over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Pashley Manor Gardens. Guild designers will be showing their work in a large marquee in front of the Grade I listed oak framed Tudor house. Chat to the makers of beautifully handmade ceramics, furniture, textiles, jewellery, woodwork, glass, metalwork and more. Work can be purchased or specially commissioned.
The award-winning gardens at Pashley are quintessentially English, nestled in picturesque countryside. Wander through colour-themed garden 'rooms' and discover vistas, fountains, and imaginative blends of planting – with the 'hot' borders at their peak in high summer.
Produce from the Kitchen Garden can be sampled with delicious locally sourced ingredients at the Garden Room Café and terrace. Special price of £13.50 includes entry to the gardens and show.
01273 479565
Chiddingstone Castle Food & Drink Festival
Saturday 6th September, 11:30am to 5:30pm
Delight in delicacies, sip the sparkles and enjoy the beautiful grounds. Meet a variety of local food specialists for treats onsite and to take home. Matthew Sankey will be hosting the Live Kitchen Demo stage throughout the day, featuring a mix of established and exciting new local chefs offering their top tips.
Bring the whole family along as the children will have plenty of fun activities to enjoy too. As well as the foodie goodies there will be live music and homeware stallholders, so you can eat, drink and shop whilst taking in the entertainment!
Chiddingstone Castle, Kent, TN8 7AD
Tickets from £3.50, discounts for annual members
Rye Arts Festival
Thursday 11th to Sunday 28th September
The Rye Arts Festival is an annual celebration of the arts held in the picturesque town of Rye, East Sussex. Now in its 54th year, the festival brings together an exciting mix of classical and contemporary music, literature, theatre, film, and visual arts, offering something for everyone. It transforms the historic town into a creative hub with performances,
talks, workshops, guided walks, and community events taking place in charming venues across the town.
Known for its diverse and high-quality programming, the festival attracts artists, writers, and performers from across the UK and beyond. Visitors can soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the vibrant cultural experience of Rye Arts Festival.
Tickets on sale and early booking is advised: www.ryeartsfestival.org.uk
01797 462168
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