Christmas in Sussex: Your Ultimate Festive What’s On Guide 2024
Celebrate the holidays in Sussex with our what’s on guide to the best Christmas activities! Discover the magic of a Sussex Christmas with these brilliant events, supporting the growth of our Rural Sussex Girl, Brighton Girl and Worthing Girl communities and the brilliant women of Sussex.
Find the Best Sussex Christmas Events
Our Christmas guide highlights the amazing businesses and charities that support our communities. Here’s just a snapshot of the events we’re excited to attend this Festive Season.
Awakening The Moon Spirital and Wellbeing Fair at Crowne Plaza Felbridge: 17th November
Glow Wild at Wakehust: 28th November - 1st January
Christmas Wine Fair at Bolney Estate: 30th November
Sussex Christmas Market at Brighton Racecourse: 7th and 8th December
Brighton Christmas Makers Market at Wagner Hall: 14th and 15th December
16th November & 14th December: Alfresco Dining Partners at Bolney Wine Estate
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Location: Bolney Wine Estate
Price: £10
Bolney are delighted to be partnering with Wild Cow to bring guests delicious local food paired with Bolney wines.
17th November: Awakening The Moon Spiritual and Wellbeing Fair
Time: 11am - 5pm
Location: Crowne Plaza Felbridge – Gatwick, an IHG Hotel
Price: £5
A space to fully dive into all things spiritual and wellbeing, there is something for everyone 🙏 full and new moon ceremonys, tarot readers, crystal and jewellery sellers, angelic reiki with gong, reiki, reflexology, massage, natural skincare, nutritional advice, live soundbaths and much more!
There will be lots of lovely gifts you can purchase and just in time for Christmas 💕🌲🎁🌟 Tickets are just £5 and all talks and workshops are totally FREE 🙏💕 Tickets are now available to pre-book at Eventbrite.
Bolney Wine Estate is a festive hub this year for a whole range of Christmas events, including Rural Sussex Girl’s Yoga and Mulled Wine Event!
23rd - 24th November: Winter Makers, Art and Food Fair
Time: 11am - 5pm
Location: The British Engineerium, The Droveway, Hove, BN37QA
Price: Free
Join Paper Daisy as a piece of Brighton & Hove history comes alive again - the Engineerium has been closed since 2006, and Paper Daisy are holding a Grand Makers, Art & Food Fair where you'll be able to kick start your Christmas shopping. Featuring over 100 unique artists, makers & small batch food/drink producers across the weekend, all carefully curated for their exceptional quality. You'll also be able to take a look at the Engineerium Museum which will be open to visitors to the fair between 12pm - 4pm.
Accessibility: There is no step free access to the mezzanine/gallery floor or in the museum. Ground floor is fully accessible. Restricted access to museum.
24th November: Rural Sussex Girl Christmas Door Wreath Experience
Time: 10am - 23pm
Location: The Sussex Barn, Park Farm, New Road, Hellingly, BN27 4EW
Price: £43
Join Rural Sussex Girl by getting into the festive season by creating your own door wreath creation with the assistance of two qualified florists leading the way! Enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, mulled wine and snacks whilst you create your door wreath masterpiece surrounded by new friends.
28th November - 1st January: Glow Wild at Wakehurst
Time: 4.15pm to 10pm (closing times vary)
Location: Wakehurst, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6TN
Price: From £16.50
Explore Wakehurst’s award-winning Christmas light trail, offering unforgettable experiences for the whole family. Discover a new route with exclusive art installations and a magical Christmas Eve date. As night falls, enter an illuminated wonderland filled with handcrafted lantern displays and bespoke light installations by nine international artists.
Create memories under the iconic Christmas tree, toast marshmallows over an open fire, and enjoy festive street food as the gardens transform into a winter wonderland. Families, groups, and member discounts are available, with under 4s going free! Book now and swap dates up to a week before your visit.
28th November, 5th December & 12th December: Twilight Craft Workshops at Bolney Wine Estate
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Location: Bolney Wine Estate
Price: £60
Festive Candle Making and Wreath Making workshops enjoyed with Bolney wine and nibbles prepared by Bolney’s expert chef.
30th November: Christmas Wine Fair at Bolney Wine Estate
Time: 11am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm
Location: Bolney Wine Estate
Price: £15
A day filled with festive fun, food and wine, where guests can taste Bolney’s full wine range and prepare for Christmas celebrations and gifting.
30th November: Association of Carers Winter Gift Market, Bexhill-on-Sea
Time: 11am – 3.30pm
Location: The Relais Cooden Beach Hotel, Cooden Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39 4TT
Price: £1 Entry, Kids go free
Support the Association of Carers at their Winter Gift Market! They’re bringing together over 30 different stalls ranging from Christmas gifts to edible treats at The Relais Cooden Breach Hotel. Perfect for the whole family!
30th November: Festive Hove Square Market at PLATF9RM Hove Town Hall
Time: 11am - 3pm
Location: Hove Square, PLATF9RM Hove Town Hall
Price: Free
Join the PLATF9RM Hove community as they get the festive feels going at Hove Square Market. Expect all the seasonal charm you could possibly want – local makers, tasty treats and that festive cheer we all love.
Paper Daisy Events are running four markets across Sussex this Christmas! This includes Winter Makers Art and Food Fair (23rd and 24th November), Saltdean Christmas Makers Fair (1st December), Shoreham Christmas Makers Fair (7th December) and Brighton Christmas Makers Fair (14th and 15th December).
1st December: Christmas Makers Fair at Saltdean Lido
Time: 11am - 4.30pm
Location: Saltdean Lido Ballroom and Lounge, Saltdean Park Road, Brighton, BN3 8SP
Price: Free
Held in the Ballroom and Lounge at the newly restored Lido, Paper Daisy's Christmas Makers Fair will be the perfect Sunday shopping experience where you can support local Makers & Artists from across Sussex, partake in traditional and Kitsch wreath workshops, and book a delicious Sunday Lunch from the Deco Restaurant. Additionally, little ones can meet Olaf and get their face painted to get in the festive mood.
Accessibility: Fully accessible
1st December: Worthing Festive Craft Fair (So This Is Christmas)
Time: 10.30am - 3.30pm
Location: The Charmandean Centre, Forest Road, Worthing, BN149HS
Price: Free
‘So This is Christmas’ is a festive handmade, craft and vintage fair returning to Worthing, West Sussex this Christmas on Sunday 1st December 2024. The fair will be held in aid of St Barnabas House, a local hospice doing wonderful work.
3rd December: Rural Sussex Girl Menopause Wellbeing Workshop
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: The Pamper Lounge, Uckfield, 30 New Town, East Sussex, TN22 5AE
Price: £19
Join Rural Sussex Girl to learn more about navigating the changes that come with menopause. Join this supportive and enlightening 2-hour workshop dedicated to emotional wellbeing through this life stage.
5th December: Lewes Late Night Shopping
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Location: Lewes High Street
Price: Free
Enjoy an evening of late night shopping, food and drink in Lewes’ High Street and Precinct, Santa’s Grotto at Lewes House, a Christmas Market in Lewes Town Hall, live music, entertainment and a whole lot more in Lewes! All in support of the Friends of Lewes Victoria Hospital.
6th December, 13th & 20th December: Festive Fridays at Bolney Wine Estate
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Location: Bolney Wine Estate
Price: £10
“Get into the festive spirit with festive food and live music Friday nights. Sit back, relax and enjoy live music, food and drink in a stunning setting with friends and family.”
7th and 8th December: Sussex Christmas Market at Brighton Racecourse
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Location: Brighton Racecourse
Price: From £3.50
Treat your loved ones and support local at the Sussex Christmas Market in Brighton Racecourse!
With over 80 local suppliers, there’ll be plenty of fantastic gift ideas to choose from. Find handmade and thoughtful gifts in this vast and popular Christmas Market!
7th December: Black Brighton Market at The Actors
Time: 12pm - 6pm
Location: The Actors Pub, Brighton, BN2 1RD
Price: Donation (we recommend £5 if you can, to help support this great community)
Founded by Brighton Girl of the Year 2024, Jade Hylton, the Black Brighton Market is a place where Black People and People of Colour have the opportunity to sell their art, goods, services and perform to the general public. Creating equal opportunities and better profits within the BIPOC community.
At this December's market, there will be artists and creators trading all day, we will have open mic opportunites - sign up with the link through the days agenda above. Our headline act will be local singer, Charlotte Eastwood-Gray, performing her first headline act. There will also be a raffle with prizes donated by the traders from the day, and more!
7th December: Forest Row Christmas Trail
Time: 10am - 3.30pm
Location: A trail around Forest Row
Price: Free with a suggested donation for local families in need
Follow the trail around Forest Row, spot the Stars of Hope and get your sheet stamped. Each star will be placed in a shop window with a letter next to it, once you find all the letters, create the hidden words and head to the Pre-School on Hartfield Road to meet Father Christmas, who has a present for every child. This must be done before 3.30pm.
7th December: Shoreham Christmas Maker’s Fair
Time: 10am - 3.30pm
Location: The Shoreham Centre, Pond Road, Shoreham-By-Sea, BN43 5WU
Price: Free
If you're looking for a truly festive community makers fair, then this is for you! Featuring over 55 talented makers and artists, wreath workshops, live performances from Messengers Choir UK, pop up artisan cafe with delicious festive bakes, Children's Christmas craft zone, & face painting - there's something for everyone! Each exhibitor has been specially selected for their quality, craftsmanship and originality providing you with gift inspiration for everyone on your list!
Accessibility: The wreath workshops are held on the stage where access is via a few stairs. The fair itself is fully accessible.
7th December: Brighton Girl Christmas Coffee Meet Up
Time: 11am - 1pm
Location: South Lanes Studios, 15 - 17 Middle Street, Brighton, BN11AL
Price: £5.50
Join Brighton Girls for a hot or cold drink at South Lanes Studio, meet new friends, travel buddies, house mates and so much more. Whether you have lived in Brighton for as long as you can remember or you are new to the city, come and meet Brighton Girls for a coffee.
Need a Christmas Present idea? Treat the City Girl in your life to their very own Friends Pass to help them save money AND support local.
12th December: Rural Sussex Girl Festive Hoop Workshop
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: King's Arms Horsham, 64 Bishopric, Horsham, West Sussex, England RH12 1QN
Price: £28
Join Rural Sussex Girl by getting into the festive season by creating your own Christmas floral hoop to showcase in your home.
14th December: German Christmas Market, East Grinstead
Time: 11am - 2pm
Location: Glen Vue Community Hub, Railway Approach, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1BS
Price: £5 per entry for Santa’s Grotto
Pop along to Glen Vue Community Hub in East Grinstead on Saturday 14th December, for a German Christmas Market all in support of Age UK East Grinstead and District! Highlights include a Santas’s Grotto, Gifts, Crafts, Refreshments, Music and a Magician.
14th and 15th December: Brighton Christmas Makers Market
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Location: Wagner Hall, Brighton
Price: Free
Wagner Hall is a hidden gem of Brighton with its lovely hall & secluded Fig Tree Garden. Centrally located, Paper Daisy Events will be concluding their Christmas season of events in true festive style! With up to 80 amazing makers & artists across the weekend, selected for their quality, uniqueness and diversity - it presents as the 'must visit' Makers Fair in the city's festive season. It's not just about shopping though as you will be able to take some time out with freshly fired pizza & Italian specialties, Mulled wine & cider bar, wreath workshops and pop up artisan cafe too!
Accessibility: Disabled access via Russell Place, steps to stage area.
14th December: Rural Sussex Girl Yoga & Sound Bath
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Location: Profiles Studio, 16 Keymer Rd, Hassocks BN6 8AN
Price: £36
Take a break from the Christmas rush to join Rural Sussex Girl through guided breath work, a gorgeous sound bath & a guided meditation with slow gentle yoga-based movement. The event closes with a grounding snack and chance to share your experience with each other.
About this Sussex Christmas Guide
All of the events listed in this guide are supporters of the sustainability and growth of our local Sussex City Girl Network communities. They have either invested their marketing budget into us, which enables us to continue to support our communities. Or they are raising money for a cause that has a positive impact on our members.
If you would like to be included, please email team@citygirlnetwork.com.