28 February 2011
The UK’s sunniest place is getting ready to build on its major events season this year with several new additions joining old favourites, including a Cycling Festival, cultural Fiesta, Coastal Trail Running, Royal Wedding celebration, Martello Help For Heroes Sponsored Walk, Triathlon and many more.
Already running a successful events programme in Eastbourne, the destination is working with old partners and new in 2011 to stage its biggest ever programme of events bringing millions of pounds into the local economy.
This year visitors and residents can enjoy a programme of events starting in March and continuing through to the autumn with the town boosted by the recent news that the AEGON International Tennis Championships are secure in Eastbourne for the next three years.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “What a year we have coming up in Eastbourne with more events than ever before! We have some really exciting new additions to the events calendar, including the Eastbourne Cycling Festival and Eastbourne Fiesta, both in May, as well as the return of our already popular events such as Airbourne, Extreme and the Beer Festival. With Eastbourne Bandstand, Towner, the Redoubt Fortress and Eastbourne Theatres also staging a packed programme of their own events and exhibitions, there really is something to look forward to throughout 2011 on the south coast!”
Next month gives a taste of Eastbourne’s sports-travaganza of 2011 events with the return of the Eastbourne Hospitality Association Half Marathon on 6 March with over 1,000 entrants already signed up to take part. And just three weeks later on 26 March, Eastbourne will welcome a brand new event Coastal Trail Running staged by Endurance Life, offering keen athletes 10k, half and full marathons across the spectacular Beachy Head and Birling Gap countryside.
The Eastbourne Festival is back from 23 April – 15 May with an extended programme of events this year, including Eastbourne Festival Fringe, with some excellent ‘On the Edge’ events in store bringing together all strands of the arts from all over Eastbourne.
The end of April sees the start of events almost every weekend with Magnificent Motors taking place from 30 April – 1 May and this year moving to a new location at Princes Park meaning more exhibitors than ever! Visitors can enjoy the free event packed with vintage and classic vehicles, steam engines, motorbikes and scooters, and military and commercial vehicles, with live music and fairground rides for the kids.
And with the Royal Wedding taking place on the Friday of the Bank Holiday weekend, Eastbourne is joining in the celebrations on 29 April with a giant screen broadcasting the wedding in Princes Park with live music in the afternoon through to early evening.
Eastbourne Cycling Festival is new from 21-22 May with a variety of opportunities for cycling enthusiasts, families and spectators to enjoy; from time trials to road racing, a cyclosportive and Rollapaluza at the Afton Hotel.
The following weekend, Eastbourne will be celebrating cultures from around the world in Fiesta, a brand new event taking place on the Western Lawns with Eastbourne Borough Council working with the Eastbourne Cultural Communities Network to bring together a fusion of live cookery demonstrations, cocktail making, dancing and music from across the globe, together with a range of real ales from regional breweries.
For something a little different, Beachy Head Rotary Club is bringing Giant Table Football to Eastbourne seafront on 25 June, while a month later Eastbourne Triathlon will extend the Eastbourne Extreme weekend from 16-17 July, with a swimming, cycling and running challenge boosting the adrenaline-fuelled activities taking place on the eastern seafront.
August sees the return of the town’s biggest event, Eastbourne International Airshow, from 11-14 August, while Eastbourne’s circus gets a new twist this year with The Netherlands National Circus set to entertain audiences from 3–9 August.
The action in Eastbourne continues through to the autumn too, with the return of the sell-out Beer Festival and Runners World top 10 UK event, the Beachy Head Marathon, both back in October.
With other events coming up in 2011 too; from charity walks to 999 Emergency Services Display, as well as the prestigious AEGON International Tennis Championships staged in partnership with the LTA, and the Lammas Festival; Eastbourne offers a variety of events for audiences of all ages and tastes with the destination hoping to attract even more visitors over the next 12 months.
For more information on what’s on in Eastbourne go to the VisitEastbourne website or call 0871 663 0031.
