Lewes Bonfire Celebrations
Discussion
Lived in Brighton for 12 years and finaly decided the brave the crowds and anarachy.
Anyone got any advice or tips on the best places to see the whole thing kick off?
Looked at the website and it says you need tickets for all of the 5 bonfires, any suggestions of which one to go for?
Cheers!
Anyone got any advice or tips on the best places to see the whole thing kick off?
Looked at the website and it says you need tickets for all of the 5 bonfires, any suggestions of which one to go for?
Cheers!
I went a few years ago. Got the train in and had to get there early. Stood on the high Street. Was good fun and mad! We then followed one of the societies to a pub then on to their bonfire. A man was clambering over the mountain like bonfire whilst everyone chucked crow scarers at him. It was an amazing experience.
I can't remember getting tickets though sorry perhaps we paid on the night but definitely no ticket before.
I can't remember getting tickets though sorry perhaps we paid on the night but definitely no ticket before.
Sounds like it's going be proper anarchy up there 
Having spoken with a couple of people it appears the tickets / charges for the fires is a new thing with there were a couple free ones up until a few years ago.
Cliffe soscity looks interesting, they burn effigies of a different "Enemy of the bonfire" every year.
It all sounds rather "Wicker Man".
Having spoken with a couple of people it appears the tickets / charges for the fires is a new thing with there were a couple free ones up until a few years ago.
Cliffe soscity looks interesting, they burn effigies of a different "Enemy of the bonfire" every year.
It all sounds rather "Wicker Man".
The Cliffe effigies exploded are of Guy Fawkes and Pope Paul V. The Tableau is of a topical subject. It is not an effigy. There are also occasionally 'Enemies of Bonfire' depicted as heads which are carried in the procession to the firesite. (sorry, awfully pedantic, but annoys).
Seriously though, if you do come, stay on the pavement, keep out of the processions and dress for the conditions, not in your Sunday best. There are sparks, there are very big crowds, there is noise, it can be very claustrophobic. It is a rather unique event in that it is put on by the participants for the participants, not the crowd, so please don't be surprised if you are asked to move over a little bit. Most people are polite when asking, but some can get a bit more vocal, especially if having to ask multiple times.
Be safe, be sensible, enjoy the spectacle. Don't bring fireworks.
Seriously though, if you do come, stay on the pavement, keep out of the processions and dress for the conditions, not in your Sunday best. There are sparks, there are very big crowds, there is noise, it can be very claustrophobic. It is a rather unique event in that it is put on by the participants for the participants, not the crowd, so please don't be surprised if you are asked to move over a little bit. Most people are polite when asking, but some can get a bit more vocal, especially if having to ask multiple times.
Be safe, be sensible, enjoy the spectacle. Don't bring fireworks.
Edited by Red Firecracker on Tuesday 27th October 08:35
All the bonfires used to be free and so there was no control of how many people turned up, in recent years they introduced tickets to fund the fireworks and restrict attendance - some fires it was dangerous because of the number of people. Now it's only dangerous because of huge fireworks, rook scarers and fire everywhere
There's now discouragement of non Lewes people attending - local burning the pope for local people!
It is an amazing event, but as said above very crowded. Even when it's cold you don't need to be overly dressed up, when the processions are passing it's very hot.
If you're in a group it can be very difficult to keep together, you sometimes have to go with the flow of people so agree a rendezvous point, you won't be able to hear a phone call and with that many people texts might be slow to get through.
There's now discouragement of non Lewes people attending - local burning the pope for local people!
It is an amazing event, but as said above very crowded. Even when it's cold you don't need to be overly dressed up, when the processions are passing it's very hot.
If you're in a group it can be very difficult to keep together, you sometimes have to go with the flow of people so agree a rendezvous point, you won't be able to hear a phone call and with that many people texts might be slow to get through.
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