Hurst Festival

Welcome to Hurst Life’s Hurst Festival event page. Here you will find our most recent information for the two week September festival.

A registered charity, Hurst Festival was conceived in 2004 by a merry band of friends over dinner, impressed by the wealth of talent in our village. It has one aim; to provide people with two weeks of enjoyment in September during which we can meet each other, experience something new and feel connected to our community.

See also, Hurst Festival

2025 information coming mid 2025!

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Hurst Festival 2024 round-up

By Katherine Jackman

What a fabulous success Hurst Festival 2024 was – the 20th year! To celebrate this milestone, we brought back all your favourite performers in a ‘Best of Hurst Festival’ including Richard Durrant, Stephen Grant and Anckorn & Dolavich.

The ever-popular Hurst Open Studios, live band nights, jazz, opera, poetry, soirees, children and family shows, cinema, Hurst Players, talks, wellbeing, walks and tours were mostly sold out with the Elton John Experience providing a fabulous last Saturday night party in the church.

‘Super Sunday’ filled South Avenue recreation ground with stalls, theatre, a fully stocked bar, live music and family entertainment. With free workshops from Create Space and Poponin and free inflatables for the children there was something for everyone. The live entertainment included the amazing Silly Science with free workshops after the show plus live music from local band Breeze In. Burgess Hill Youth Marching Band started off the proceedings plus a gymnastics display from the Hurstpierpoint Gymnastics Club.

Added to these locals was a smorgasbord of independent traders of all kinds including food, charity stalls and craft, clothes and book stalls and thanks to everyone who supported our Hurst Festival bar on the Recreation Ground, which helps pay for all the free entertainment on the day.

As a registered Charity, Hurst Festival relies on our brilliant team of volunteers, and we thank them heartily as it wouldn’t happen without you! If you wish to help out during Hurst Festival 2025 or before, please contact us at admin@hurstfestival.org.

Watoto Children’s Choir comes to Hurstpierpoint

Watoto Children’s Choir

The Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda is currently on a 3-month UK tour, where they are set to perform to nearly 100,000 people in churches, schools and community spaces across the nation. In years gone by they have performed for Her Majesty The Queen, US Presidents and countless governments in parliaments across the globe, sharing their stories of hope through song and dance. The Watoto Children’s Choir has recently released a new album ‘Better Days - There Is Hope’.

The Watoto Children’s Choir will be performing in a free concert this month, taking place at Holy Trinity Church, Hurstpierpoint on 24th May at 6.30pm.

Executive Director of Watoto UK Andrew White says: “We are delighted to continue the UK tour in Hurstpierpoint, as we seek to raise awareness of the incredible work of Watoto in caring for vulnerable women and placing the orphans in families across Uganda and South Sudan.
”Other than going to Africa yourself, what better way to learn about all the good work Watoto is doing, than through this heartwarming, musical performance. The proceeds made from the album will help Watoto continue to provide vulnerable children with an education, medical care, a safe place to call home, and most of all, the love of a family.”

Hurst Open Gardens seek new participants

By Prue Heron

Open Garden will take place on Sunday 16th June, 1pm to 5.30pm, providing you with all the treats you have come to expect from Hurst Open Gardens – including that hidden-away oasis of peace, the majesty of a manicured lawn, views to die for, flowers of every variety – with plenty of locally grown plants to buy for yourself. There’ll be tea and home-made cake, entertainment to soothe you, stalls with local goodies and much, much more.

We have had a wonderful response for our call for gardens but need a few more to complete the event. If you’re thinking you’d like to but are unsure, then one of our last year’s gardener’s comments should reassure you: “I am an enthusiastic and seasoned punter of Open Gardens events across Sussex and Hampshire. They are always an inspiring and motiving celebration of people’s outside personal spaces shared for the joy they bring and for charitable ends. I fought my imposter syndrome which questioned whether my 10m by 7.75m north facing back garden with challenging clay soil was worthy or sufficiently interesting and, setting aside my doubts, agreed to take part. The bubble of chatter from the constant flow of visitors snaking to and from the garage all afternoon dispelled any misgivings I may have had. It was lovely to take part and maybe my garden has inspired you.”

Bakers – we welcome your home-made cakes with open arms – ditto gardeners with plants to spare – they really help swell the final coffers – all of which go to our local St Peter and St James Hospice.

We’d love to hear from you. Please phone Prue on 07769 904724/01273 835064 or email on prueheron@ gmail.com. Contact details are also on our website and FB page. Keep an eye on both for regular updates about the event, including tickets information. www.hurstpierpointopengardens.co.uk