A Flaming Good time to remember remember - The Lewes Bonfire Celebrations

The 5^th November arrives and yippee its fireworks night. It is a commemorative British event but it is in Lewes near Brighton on the south coast that it has really made its mark.

Lewes bonfire info

I’ve been meaning to go for years. I finally made it this year.

So here are a few things not commonly reported. So if you are thinking of going, get there early:

Fireworks night starts on the 5^th November – right?

No, the festivities started on the 4^th with the presentation of the key at Lewes Castle.

I believe it was the Cliffe Society who paraded to the Castle with flaming torches and plenty of loud firecrackers.

Fireworks night is a night time do - right?

No, not in Lewes where it all started off with a cannon fire boom at 6 am.

During the day, the shops were boarded up and the afternoon processions began in earnest.

Health and Safety is observed?

I can’t be too sure of that one. People are warned that it is not for the faint hearted (all the noise and fearsome goings on). Flaming bits falling from the torches and carts lit up the road. I was surprised that none of the parade member‘s clothing caught fire. Some rather stupid sightseers left their paper rubbish along the street.

And, what you are not going to experience unless you actually go there. is the smell. I love the smell of fireworks but there was an overwhelming odour of kerosene from the torches. (Kerosene of something like that)

From the vantage point of the hotel terrace, I was lucky enough to see two of the bonfire fireworks displays, the Cliffe and South Street. Absolutely spectacular.

More processions followed. The festivities continued until 1 am. The at 6am on the morning of the 6th, more firecrackers were let off somewhere. Hmm so much for sleep!

On the morning of the 6^th, the streets were completely back to normal.

Brilliant