Community Events
Annual celebrations and gatherings that bring the town together
Littlehampton's calendar of community events provides the rhythm of the town's social life, marking the seasons and bringing residents and visitors together for celebrations, entertainment and shared experiences. The events range from large-scale public spectacles that attract thousands to smaller, more intimate gatherings that serve particular interests and communities.
The Littlehampton Bonfire Night is one of the largest events in the annual calendar, held on or around 5 November with a procession through the town centre, a bonfire on the seafront and a firework display over the sea. The event draws large crowds from the town and surrounding area, and the organisation involves months of preparation by the bonfire society and volunteer groups. The procession features torch-bearing walkers, floats, drumming bands and the spectacular effigies that are the hallmark of the Sussex bonfire tradition. The firework display, launched from the beach with the dark sea as a backdrop, is one of the finest in the area.
The Littlehampton Carnival is a summer event that typically takes place in July or August, featuring a parade through the town, entertainment in the parks, stalls, live music and family activities. The carnival queen and her attendants lead the parade, which includes decorated floats from local businesses, schools and community groups. The carnival is a traditional seaside celebration, blending nostalgia for the seaside holidays of the past with the contemporary community spirit of the town.
Litten Tree Lifeboat Week is an annual event organised in support of the RNLI, celebrating Littlehampton's maritime heritage and the work of the lifeboat station. Events during the week include open days at the lifeboat station, demonstrations of rescue equipment, a raft race on the river, and fundraising stalls and activities along the harbour. The event highlights the vital role of the volunteer lifeboat crew who provide the search and rescue capability at the harbour entrance.
The Christmas market and lights switch-on mark the beginning of the festive season, transforming the town centre with stalls selling gifts, food, decorations and seasonal produce. The lights ceremony brings families to the high street for the countdown, often accompanied by carol singing, a visiting Santa and hot drinks. The Christmas events provide a boost to the town centre businesses during the quieter winter months and create a festive atmosphere that lifts the spirits during the short, dark days.
Smaller events throughout the year serve particular communities and interests. Craft fairs, charity runs, music evenings, art exhibitions and horticultural shows all contribute to the fabric of community life. The Littlehampton organisation of events is supported by a combination of the Town Council, local charities, voluntary groups and individual enthusiasts, and the willingness of people to give their time to organise and run events is one of the strengths of the community.
The events calendar also includes quieter, more reflective occasions. Remembrance Sunday, held at the war memorial each November, brings the community together to honour those who served and died in the conflicts of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The ceremony, with its wreaths, its silence, its bugles and its poppy-wearing crowds, is one of the most solemn moments in the civic year, connecting the modern town to the sacrifices of past generations.