Eastbourne festival set to return next year following inaugural success as fundraising total revealed
An Eastbourne festival that celebrated its inaugural edition in 2026 will take place again next year.
HatFest, which took place in Green Street in the Old Town, took place on Saturday, July 11 for the first time this year.
The event was organised in aid of Polegate charity Children with Cancer Fund, and the final total raised was £427.54.
Organiser Betsy Langford said: “We are delighted that so much money was raised in just two hours, and especially as everything was either free or cost a minimum donation of just £1 - the Old Town community rose to the occasion magnificently.”
Although the event was originally planned as a one-off occasion to celebrate community life, showcase Old Town’s own ‘high street’ and raise money for a local charity, the success of the inaugural event and numerous requests from residents and businesses means that the festival will return next year with a new organiser.