What's on this February...

Now January is over - and both Valentine’s Day and the February half-term holidays are just around the corner - it’s time to look forward to all that Eastbourne has to offer to residents and visitors.

There’s a packed line-up of entertainment with tribute shows as the Bandstand on Tour continues in the Welcome Building – located between the Congress Theatre and Winter Garden in the heart of the Devonshire Quarter.

Take your pick from Neil Diamond, George Michael, Elton John, and Tina Turner tribute shows or book tickets to see some great shows at the Congress and the Devonshire Park Theatre including comedian Josh Widdicombe, dancers Anton and Erin, the London Philharmonic Orchestra or the West End hit musical Chicago.

For family fun, Eastbourne will be lighting up this half-term with a colourful winter lantern festival in a brand-new free event this February.

The Eastbourne Jubilee Lantern Festival will run from 14-20 February at the Pavilion Gardens to launch the start of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, via the Welcome Back Fund, the seafront gardens will welcome a magical array of handcrafted lanterns and flags, all lit up and displayed in a trail throughout the seafront gardens. Local schoolchildren will also be producing community art to appear within the display.

The Pavilion will also be hosting music nights during February with musicians providing entertainment on Saturday 12 February, Saturday 19 February, and Saturday 26 February between 7-9pm. Grab a drink and come and enjoy this great line-up of live music from acts such as Smokestack Dupo, Stuart Bligh, Mel Hayes, and Johnny Swings. The café and bar are open from 10.30am-10pm and entry is free.

The Stage Door in Compton Street is also the place to be for live music and entertainment with an Open Mic Night on the second Thursday of February and a Jazz and Blues Night on the third Thursday of the month. The dog-friendly venue is also open seven days a week serving home cooked specials, wholesome dishes for vegans and special diets and there’s a children’s menu too.

The Stage Door is also running a Valentine’s Day special giving couples the chance to celebrate with a free glass of bubbles with every main meal purchased. Call 01323 415509 to book a table.

There’s more to celebrate with the arrival of spring and a new festival. The Spring Rise Festival will celebrate the natural landscape of the South Downs National Park and the emerging spring season with a range of activities, wildlife walks, craft workshops, photography, folk inspired puppetry, and graffiti.

Also funded by the European Regional Development Fund, via the Welcome Back Fund, the festival will have pre-booked facilities based out of the Beachy Head Story visitor centre and is guaranteed to keep the children entertained this half term.

The Beachy Head Story is also currently hosting a free photography exhibition called Through the Aperture: The View from Here – an impressive collection of photographs taken in the area.

Young adventurers can enjoy making wild memories this half term at Drusillas Zoo Park at Alfriston. A new baby sloth has arrived at the zoo and adventure park and throughout half term all the walkthrough enclosures will be open alongside themed rides and the play areas. Pre-booked tickets can save 20 per cent on the gate price between 12-20 February.

Knockhatch Adventure Park on the A22 at Hailsham is also open throughout half term with plenty of family fun in store. All indoor play areas are open, and the popular Owl Display Show will take place every day at 1.30pm.

It’s all eyes to the skies on 16 February at Herstmonceux Science Centre when there’s a chance to discover the Moon. The workshop will give visitors the opportunity to make a model of the Moon, create some craters, learn some fascinating facts, and design and build a Moon lander. There will also be time to visit one of the centre’s huge telescopes.

There’s more astronomical action at Beachy Head on 26 February with the regular stargazing event from 6-8pm. Eastbourne Astronomical Society will be using their telescopes for visitors to catch a glimpse of the Orion Nebulae, where stars are being born and observe the Seven Sisters, a group of stars in the Taurus Constellation. Depending on the weather, it is also hoped constellations of the winter sky will be observable too including the brightest star in the sky called The Dog Star and a much larger star known as Betelgeuse and its light that has taken more than 400 years to reach our skies.