If you haven't sorted your Halloween yet, Voodoo Fest is on in Hastings tonight, Saturday 31 October. The event has been running for 18 years and comes from the same team behind the Hastings Fat Tuesday festival in February. It's free to join, and it's open to families, dogs and everyone else, with the organisers listing it as accessible, dog friendly, family friendly and queer friendly.
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The night starts at The Lord Nelson on George Street in Old Town (number 33, TN34 3AG), where people are asked to turn up in costume between 6pm and 7pm. Around 7pm the Hastings Fat Tuesday Second Line Band plays a first set, then strikes up for a procession through the streets. At the front is a ceremonial coffin, and behind it the crowd follows in their Halloween finest, with torches lighting the way. The idea borrows from the New Orleans jazz funeral and the Mardi Gras parade, so the mood is more lively send-off than gloomy one.
The procession finishes at The Albion, the pub on the seafront. There, a second set begins at 9pm with live music and DJ sets, and DJ Atmospheric Derek is on the bill. According to the organisers' website, the programme is built around occult themes, which means you'll see plenty of the dark, theatrical styling that fits the night.
If you're deciding between staying in and heading out, the appeal is fairly simple: it's a free evening that starts in the Old Town, moves through the streets behind a band and ends by the sea. The costumes are a big part of it, so it's worth putting some effort in before you leave the house. Just check the start times on the Fat Tuesday website if you're planning to join the parade from the beginning.
Published Date
31 October 2026
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