Sussex


<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-go-full-gallop"><strong>Go full gallop</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Goodwood_familyday.png" alt="Family Day at Goodwood" class="wp-image-84887" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Goodwood_familyday.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Goodwood_familyday-800x800.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Goodwood_familyday-400x400.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Goodwood_familyday-768x768.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Goodwood_familyday-500x500.png 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Goodwood</figcaption></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s <a href="https://www.goodwood.com/horseracing/fixtures-and-events/family-race-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Family Race Day</a> at Goodwood (<strong>7 Jun</strong>). Expect a magician, free fairground rides and live music along with an exhilarating seven-race card, including two of the most valuable races of the season outside of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.  A minibus will be running trips to the race start, so you can see the horses burst from the stalls, and while the dress code is relaxed, you&#8217;ll be in good company if you decide to whip out your finery. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-read-between-the-wines"><strong>Read between the wines</strong></h3>



<p>Alfriston’s ever enticing Much Ado Books has teamed up with their village neighbour The Star to host a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.muchadobooks.com/eventsandhappenings/book-swap-and-cocktails-at-the-star" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">book swap cocktail party</a>&nbsp;with bookmark crafting (<strong>5 Jun</strong>). Bring along a book to trade, loved or perhaps loathed, and leave with another. There’ll be bookish chat to savour in between and something delicious to sip. You can also pick a ‘Blind Date’ book, hidden by wrapping that reveals the merest hint before you commit. Go on, we dare you!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-the-last-laugh"><strong>Get the last laugh</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/Aidan_jones.png" alt="Comedian Aidan Jones" class="wp-image-84886" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/Aidan_jones.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/Aidan_jones-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/Aidan_jones-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/Aidan_jones-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Aidan Jones</figcaption></figure>



<p>Two local comedy festivals close on Sunday but there a still chortles aplenty to be had.  The 11th&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hastingscomedyfestival.com/_files/ugd/9fff18_8495047cdc5f4abe865ab2b0cb3f0799.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hastings Comedy Festival</a> has been showcasing emerging as well as established acts, and its finale weekend brings the likes of Aidan Jones (<strong>5 Jun</strong>), whose act centres around Chopin&#8217;s Nocturne (yes really), while Giant Steps (<strong>6 Jun</strong>) unites improv comedians with jazz musicians. Other tickets up for grabs include an adult panto unscripted (<strong>6 Jun</strong>) and Edinburgh Fringe sellout Barry Ferns&#8217; My 7 Years as Lionel Ritchie (<strong>7 Jun</strong>). There are kids&#8217; shows, too, and if you&#8217;ve always fancied giving standup a go, don&#8217;t miss the Afternoon Open Mic on <strong>6 Jun</strong>. Meanwhile, Brighton Open Air Theatre&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk/event/summer-comedy-festival-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Summer Comedy Festival</a>&nbsp;has five shows still to come, including Kerry Godliman and Phil Ellis MCed by Stephen Grant (<strong>6 Jun</strong>) and a Family-Friendly Show on&nbsp;<strong>7 Jun</strong>. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-glorious-food"><strong>Food, glorious food </strong></h3>



<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southdownsfoodfestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Downs Food Festival</a>&nbsp;comes to Stansted Park Estate (<strong>6-7 Jun</strong>) with a tempting marketplace full of farmers, fermenters and foragers, artisan makers and handy crafters. You’ll be able to indulge in everything from charcuterie and cheeses, to kombucha and kefir, burgers and beer. South Downs ingredients, some global influences and lashings of local ale, cider and wine pair perfectly with live demos, craft cocktails and high tea on the terrace.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-petals-and-pews"><strong>Petals and pews</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/04/chichesterflowerfest_2025_gates-1000x667.jpg" alt="Chichester Festival of Flowers, Sussex" class="wp-image-84280" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/04/chichesterflowerfest_2025_gates-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/04/chichesterflowerfest_2025_gates-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/04/chichesterflowerfest_2025_gates-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/04/chichesterflowerfest_2025_gates.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Chichester Cathedral</figcaption></figure>



<p>There&#8217;s still chance to catch Chichester Cathedral&#8217;s <a href="https://www.chichestercathedral.org.uk/events/festival-flowers-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Festival of Flowers</a> (<strong>until 6 Jun</strong>). The four-day biennial floral extravaganza is celebrating its 30<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;anniversary with a fresh theme: Nature’s Embrace. Over 50,000 blooms have been used to create 66 vibrant floral displays, transforming the 950-year-old Cathedral. Check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/flower-power-meet-the-woman-making-a-cathedral-bloom/">interview</a>&nbsp;with the event’s lead designer, Caroline Daines, a Swedish transplant who also has a hit (and delicious) side hustle.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cheesy-crafting-in-the-wild"><strong>Cheesy crafting in the wild </strong></h3>



<p>Head to Wilderness Wood for <a href="https://www.wildernesswood.org/whatson/sunday-slice-june2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sunday Slice</a> (<strong>7 Jun</strong>), a perfect pairing of pizza and crafts. The wood-fired pizza oven will be in action from 11:30am-2:30pm and courtyard activities include a drop-in draw-your-favourite-bird workshop, an introduction to cordage, shingle making, woodland games, and a chance to help make a bench seat. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trouble-s-in-town"><strong>Trouble&#8217;s in town</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/raylamontagne_tour.png" alt="Ray LaMontagne's Trouble tour" class="wp-image-84888" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/raylamontagne_tour.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/raylamontagne_tour-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/raylamontagne_tour-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/raylamontagne_tour-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Ray LaMontagne</figcaption></figure>



<p>Fancy some soulful sounds to start your weekend with? Ray LaMontagne&#8217;s <a href="https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LyD-ray-lamontagne/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trouble</a> tour touches down at Brighton Dome (<strong>5 Jun</strong>) and a few tickets remain. It&#8217;s a staggering 20 years since the Grammy-winner released his first full length album – on vinyl, before its comeback – and you&#8217;ll hear it in full, from start to finish. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-catch-a-show"><strong>Catch a show</strong></h3>



<p>Ready for something a little different?&nbsp;<em><a href="https://trafalgartickets.com/eastbourne-theatres-eastbourne/en-GB/event/play/eastbourne-soup-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eastbourne Soup</a></em>&nbsp;is a community play set in a short-staffed community kitchen with 200 meals to cook. Tempers are fraying and disaster loom but maybe the likes of H.G. Wells, Eleanor Marx and other figures from the town’s past help? A cast of 50 and music from local groups including Eastbourne Silver Band bring it all to life at the Winter Garden (<strong>4-6 Jun</strong>).</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-head-to-tokyo-no-passport-needed"><strong>Head to Tokyo, no passport needed</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/sora_cheers.png" alt="Sora at Malmaison, Brighton" class="wp-image-84863" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/sora_cheers.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/sora_cheers-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/sora_cheers-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/06/sora_cheers-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>You have until the end of Aug to enjoy Sora, the Japanese-inspired pop-up at Brighton Marina&#8217;s Malmaison, but why wait? It&#8217;s open until 1am at weekends so you can enjoy top-notch sushi and flame-grilled robatayaki favourites then stretch the evening out with sunset viewing and beautifully crafted cocktails. </p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<p><em><strong>In the mood for more? </strong></em></p>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/get-ready-to-celebrate-english-wine-week-with-sussex-sips-sunsets-and-seasonal-fun-at-bolney/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Celebrate English Wine Week with Sussex sips and seasonal fun</a></li>



<li><a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/review-honeybridge-estate-west-sussex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Review: Honeybridge Estate – luxury self-catering for hotel hedonists</a> </li>



<li><a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/property/property-flirt-new-homes-old-bones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Property flirt! New homes, old bones –&nbsp;consider us converted</a></li>
</ul>


No weekend plans? Help yourself to ours!

You may also like