Record turnout for Haywards Heath Town Day 2026

The annual celebration in the West Sussex village of Haywards Heath brought the community together for a full day of free entertainment and activities, with more than 100 stalls filling the park.

Local businesses, charities, community organisations and groups came together alongside food and drink vendors, giving visitors plenty to see, do, eat and discover throughout the day.

One of the biggest wow moments of the day was the arrival of a life-size T-Rex. The prehistoric visitor proved a huge hit with children, who could get up close to the dinosaur and take in the impressive sight of a T-Rex roaming around Victoria Park. It quickly became one of the most talked-about attractions of the day.

There was plenty more for families to enjoy across the park, including funfair rides, face painting, balloon modelling, circus skills and crazy golf. The miniature railway proved popular with younger visitors, while the Classic Vehicle Show brought an impressive collection of vehicles to the park.

The Mewes Vets Dog Show was a big hit, with dogs and their owners taking part in a range of fun classes.

A key part of Town Day was the opportunity to showcase the wealth of local talent within Haywards Heath, with a packed programme of performances from community groups taking place throughout the afternoon, including the launch of a new community project, Our Town Our Story

The day's entertainment began with Haywards Heath Concert Band, who got the performances underway with live music in the park, followed by a variety of local choirs and dance groups, giving community performers the chance to take to the Town Day stage and entertain the crowds.

As the afternoon turned into evening, the focus shifted towards Town Day's live music programme. This included West end performer Lizzie Bea, compère Paul Stanworth, local indie-pop duo Sweet Loretta and a performance from ABBA ReBjörn.

The Haywards Heath Town Day also provided an opportunity to support the Town Mayor’s chosen charity, Kangaroos Mid Sussex. The charity supports children and adults with learning disabilities by providing activities, opportunities and support.

Town Mayor, Cllr Duncan Pascoe, said: “Town Day is one of the highlights of the year for Haywards Heath, and it was fantastic to see thousands of people enjoying themselves in Victoria Park. The sheer variety of activities, stalls and performances really showed what a wonderful community we have here in Haywards Heath.

“I would like to thank everyone who came along and supported the event, as well as the performers, stallholders, event team and everyone else who helped make the day possible.

"I’m particularly grateful to everyone who supported Kangaroos Mid Sussex, my chosen charity, and helped us raise awareness of the fantastic work they do.”