Lewes Bonfire - 5th Nov - come see the unique historical celebrations unfold !
Details
Lewes Bonfire - come see the unique historical celebrations unfold ! (Includes transport)
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/c/7/e/event_161779582.jpeg This historical Bonfire celebration is
one of England's 'must see' events.
It is all the better for actually 'not' being a tourist attraction but rather an authentic local tradition!
Lewes Bonfire, is a series of celebrations in the town of Lewes, East Sussex which form the UK's largest and most famous Guy Fawkes Night (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night) festivities, with Lewes being called the Bonfire capital of the world.
Always held on 5 November, unless the 5th falls on a Sunday, when they are held on Saturday 4th, the event not only marks the date of the uncovering of the Gunpowder Plot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot) in 1605, but also commemorates the memory of the seventeen Protestant martyrs from the town burnt at the stake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_by_burning) for their faith during the Marian Persecutions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Persecutions).
There are six societies putting on five separate parades and firework displays on the 5th, and this can mean 3,000 people taking part in the celebrations, and up to 80,000 spectators attending in the small market town with a permanent population of just under 16,000
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Unlike other commercial celebrations nowdays, this event is held on November 5th ONLY, so this year it will be on a MONDAY!!
Obviously most won't be able to make this if it is not on a weekend but for those of you who can get an early finish on Monday 5th November... it's worth it!
This is always billed as and intended to be a 'local' traditional event so despite there being lots of people from outside just like us, it is not designed to be that way, so please be aware & take into account a certain amount of spontaneous changes of plan & work arounds we might have to do on the night to see what we want ;-)
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TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS:
Due to the massive overpopulation of the town for this one night, traffic starts to get chronic after 5pm ish, so we will leave London (Waterloo St) around 3pm to ensure we are down there in good time.
We will park the Minibus in a designated area on the outskirts and walk into town.
This evening doesn't really work to set timings so we'll hang in various places to catch the best of the parade & as much of the Bonfire/firework display as time allows with us getting back to Waterloo in time for tubes.
FOOD/DRINK:
Once we are parked up in the town, we'll look to grab a dinner in a nearby pub (just outside the village) if possible but you can't book that night so it 'might' be that we have to grab food from stalls etc...and of course a few drinks in the towns pubs as the celebrations gear up!
What to bring:
Bring warm clothes, energy to last and maybe a flask of tea/coffee/beer/wine of your own to drink on the streets, if you like as pubs in the town can become inaccessible ;-)
Actually... dress for cold, wet weather (i.e. fleece/coat, waterproofs and boots), that way we can all enjoy whatever the weather!
SAFETY/HEALTH:
Although a great deal of effort is directed into the safety aspects of Bonfire Night, fire and fireworks remain potentially dangerous. All persons should carefully note that attendance at Lewes on Bonfire Night will constitute volenti non fit injuria, that is to say you will be deemed to have accepted any risk of injury or damage whatsoever, and no claim in respect thereof will lie against the organisers.
If there is any possibility you may become unwell, make sure you bring your appropriate medication with you. In particular, if you are asthmatic, make sure that you bring a full inhaler. There is a lot of smoke around and the St John Ambulance regularly have problems with people suffering asthma attacks but who have not brought their inhalers. Please be warned that unexpected very loud bangs occur throughout and ear plugs/mufflers are strongly advised.Sparks may fly from the bonfires and from the torches in the street processions so wear old clothes and protection goggles.
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Lewes Bonfire - 5th Nov - come see the unique historical celebrations unfold !