About the Society
Eastbourne Bonfire Society are a not-for-profit, community group dedicated to keeping the town’s traditional Bonfire Night celebrations well and truly alive.
We believe that everyone should get the opportunity to enjoy the experience of Sussex Bonfire Celebrations and it is our pleasure to bring our celebrations to Eastbourne Seafront each October — complete with a UNIQUE TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION, HUGE ROARING BONFIRE and SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY.
What We Do:
Organise and attend Bonfire Events
As well as our own event, we attend Bonfire Events across Sussex.
Run events for residents
From quiz nights to bingo to an entire Steampunk Festival — there’s something for everyone.
Participate in charity fundraising
Our Bonfire Event provides a platform for local, independent charities to raise money.
Play an active part in Eastbourne’s community
We take part in Eastbourne Carnival, Remembrance Day, Christmas Light switch-ons and much more.
A Bonfire Society by the Community, for the Community
As a volunteer‑run group, we work year‑round to bring people together, support local charities, and keep Eastbourne’s unique place in this tradition burning bright.
We believe that EBS should:
- Bring the community together: All are welcome at our Bonfire Night — and even better, the event is entirely FREE to attend! Our event is family-friendly and aims to make happy memories for people of all ages.
- Support local charities: Each year our members choose a local good cause to collect for at our Bonfire Night. Since 2001, our event has created a platform to raise THOUSANDS for small, independent charities.
- Represent Eastbourne: Our members are all local residents and are proud to represent Eastbourne throughout Sussex.
- Bring flavour to the community: EBS are not just a once-a-year society — volunteering and creating events for residents throughout the year. We form an important part of the town’s VIBRANT COMMUNITY, RICH HERITAGE, and TOURIST ECONOMY.
All of this is delivered entirely through community fundraising, with our volunteer members working tirelessly throughout the year to make it happen — contrary to many beliefs, our event is NOT funded by the local council!
About Sussex Bonfire
Bonfire Night celebrations are a centuries‑old tradition in Sussex.
After Guy Fawkes was captured on 5 November 1605 for attempting to blow up Parliament, an Act of Parliament required the date to be marked every year. For some this meant a quiet day of thanksgiving; for others it became a night of bonfires, effigies and homemade fireworks.
In Sussex the celebrations were especially unruly. In Lewes — where 17 Protestants were burned at the stake during the reign of Queen Mary — Bonfire Night became an outlet for score‑settling, civil disobedience and religious protest.
To bring order to the chaos, Bonfire Societies were formed in Lewes in 1853, quickly spreading across the county. These groups introduced organised processions that resemble the celebrations seen today.
After the World Wars the tone shifted, with sectarian elements fading away and a stronger emphasis on community and remembrance.
Today Sussex has around 40 independent Bonfire Societies, each with its own identity, costumes and customs, all dedicated to keeping the tradition alive. Throughout the autumn, towns take turns hosting their own processions, bonfires and firework displays — now known as the “Bonfire Season”.
Our History
Eastbourne has a rich Bonfire history with the first Bonfire Society formed in Eastbourne in 1855, just two years after the first Lewes Bonfire Societies.
Bonfire saw a Victorian heyday in Eastbourne with the town boasting seven distinct, independent Bonfire Societies in the 1880s. Much like today, the Bonfire Societies were considered an important part of the town’s culture and heritage.
Following a string of poor weather, funds being spread too thin and changes in social attitudes, Bonfire Societies in Eastbourne fizzled out entirely in the early 1900s.
Although there were several short-lived attempts to revitalise celebrations in Eastbourne, it wasn’t until 2001, when a group of residents were inspired to rekindle the Eastbourne Bonfire Society, that a society was firmly re-established.
What started as a small gathering of local Bonfire Societies and Drumming Sides on a small patch of private land has now grown into over 20 local groups filling Eastbourne’s seafront with a bright burning glow. What was once a small hand-built Bonfire is now a spectacular blaze. The effigies, once simple in design, are now towering, finely crafted tableaus proudly pulled through the streets as part of the celebrations.
Rising costs mean it hasn’t always been easy, however, as 2026 marks the Society’s 25th anniversary, it stands as a celebration of the dedication, spirit, and community that have kept the tradition alive.
How to Get Involved
Want to join the fun? Whether you’d like to volunteer, become a member, or support us in other ways, there’s a place for you in our society.