Hastings Old Town Carnival Week is a fabulous week of events, celebrating British Summer Time and the uniqueness of the Old Town. Run entirely by volunteers, 2018, saw the 50th anniversary of the Old Town Carnival and it has grown from humble beginnings to the week long fantastic celebration it is today.

Each year we only manage to sample just a few of the many events. The week kicks off with a Tug of War competition, with teams of men and women, from local pubs, competing to give their pub the honour of being “the hardest pub” of the year.

Once they’ve battled it out and slugged back several pints along the way,the official opening ceremony can take place, and the Union Flag raised outside the Fisherman’s Museum  watching over proceedings for the week.

There are walking tours, telling the history and ghost stories of the Old Town and its smugglers, craft fairs, Winkle tossing, lots of competitions and live music.

We started the week at the Nearly on the Beach concert. A wonderful two day free concert, celebrating just a few of the many brilliant local bands. The sun was shining, the cider was flowing and we enjoyed the music in the company of great friends.

Monday saw the annual Seaboot Race. Fastest runner wearing Seaboots and a top hat along the length of Courthouse Street, round a lobster pot and back. Certificates confirming their individual times are presented to all entrants.

Tuesday holds the bizarre bike race. Contestants have to put an old shilling note under their bottom, and ride the old butchers bike up the steepest hill in the old town! Pedal power alone! Quickest one to the top with the shilling note still under their bottom is pronounced the winner.

As we reach mid week, Wednesdays highlight is the Pram Race. Lots of money being raised for local charities by the teams who enter in this pub crawl. Each team has their own theme and they decorate their pram and teams accordingly. They race makes its way from pub to pub, where one member of the team enters to answer a question. Should they get the answer wrong a drinking forfeit is paid. The costumes, as always, were brilliant and the race, although competitive,  was completed in good humour. A fabulous evening in the summer sunshine, this year raising £6042.29 for local charities.

It is always difficult to beat the crowds and fun of the Pram Race, but Thursday evenings street party, comes a close second. More local bands playing live music outside the FILO pub in the High Street and revellers drinking and dancing the night away.

Fridays events are a bit more sedate, to allow everyone time to recover from the previous two evenings partying and prepare for the week’s finale, the Carnival Procession. Normally a magnificent firework display closes proceedings, but sadly this year they had to be cancelled, due to high winds.

Although the week ended a little damp and blustery, spirits were not dampened and the Old Town Community put on another wonderful show, raising thousands of pounds for local charities.

Looking forward to 2020