Hurst Festival 2023: dozens of events celebrate arts, culture and community in West Sussex

The two-week extravaganza features around 60 events, concerts and talks over two weeks from Sunday, September 17, to Sunday, October 1.

Everything will based within the village and its surrounding areas. Visit www.hurstfestival.org to find out more or follow @hurstfestival on Facebook or Instagram.

A spokesperson for Hurst Festival said: “Launching with our ‘Super Sunday’ event, in which the whole town centre stops to celebrate community, this volunteer led festival aims to provide two weeks of joyous entertainment, during which we bring together all members of our county’s community to experience something new and feel connected to the community surrounding them.”

The festival was conceived in 2004 when members of Hurstpierpoint village were inspired by the number of talented people in the area. The volunteer-led charity aims to bring people together, offer new experiences and increase feelings of belonging in the community.

The events this year are for the whole family and include concerts from Absolute Bowie, Mid-Sussex Sinfonia and All That Soul, a female vocal trio who perform hits from the golden eras of Motown and soul. There are two ‘Funny That!’ Friday Night Comedy Shows, starring Stephen Grant, Paul McCaffrey, Kate Barron, Carey Marx, Morgan Rees, Dan Evans and Nathan Caton.

In addition people can enjoy the Virtuosic Music Evenings, which include: a performance of the opera ‘Tales of Hoffman’, Soiree evenings in Danny House with pianist Ivan Hovorun and harpist Fiona Hosford, a blues night with John Crampton the ‘one man blues band’, and much more.

There will also be open air film viewings, drama performances, community discussion groups, nature walks, foraging workshops, Dinki Discos, a musical café, wellbeing and mindfulness workshops and art classes.

The free community day Super Sunday launches the festival and the high street will be closed for the free entertainment, the bouncy castle, face painting and more. There will be plenty of free events from the annual Treasure Transport Parade, live music performances, a barn dance, food from around the world, and a dog show called ‘Hufts’.