Magical Seasonal Events in Eastbourne Not to be Missed this Christmas!

This year, like all others, Eastbourne has an abundance of Christmas events, shows and attractions from now until Christmas Day and beyond! There is sure to be something to suit all of the diverse tastes of visitors (and residents). So, whether your preference is for bustling Christmas markets, for slapstick comedy in the form of 'Panto', or sparkling light shows and Winter Wonderland magic, Eastbourne has a slice of Christmas for everyone to enjoy! 

Neon Noel

In 2015 Eastbourne celebrates it's 700th year as a market town, and to mark the rather remarkable anniversary, Eastbourne's Chamber of Commerce has organised a spectacular 'Neon Noel' luminale light and audio show! The first of it's kind on the South Coast, the light and audio show will project the story and history of Eastbourne onto the Town Hall clock tower, located in Little Chelsea! Kicking off on Friday 4 December at 4.30pm during Little Christmas in Little Chelsea, the dazzling five minute light and audio show will be played at 4.30, 5.30 and 6.30pm every day from 4-13 December; this will be a truly magical and unique experience!

Little Christmas in Little Chelsea

Talking of Little Chelsea, the annual street market celebration 'Little Christmas' in the quaint Little Chelsea area of Eastbourne, brings a host of entertainment, food and drink and market stalls for late night shopping! From 4pm on Friday 4 December, Grove Road and South Street, the heart of Little Chelsea, will bring the sounds and smells of Christmas to life! This year Little Chelsea has gone all out to create the most wonderful of events for people of all ages! Santa can be visited in his grotto, they'll be visits from Disney Princesses, Anna and Else, Cinderella and Belle, Morris dancers, funfair rides, carol singing and Oh ho ho, so much more!

Christmas Markets at Eastbourne Bandstand and Traditional Christmas Concerts

Another brand new Christmas event for this year, Eastbourne's Bandstand will transform into a bustling outdoor Christmas market, reminiscent of traditional markets found in many European cities such as Cologne, Vienna and Brussels! From 9-13 December, the market will be open from 10am until 7pm, where shoppers can make many festive finds, perfect for gifts for loved ones. With festive food, mulled wine and lots more magic to be found at the Bandstand, there is no need to escape to the continent for the magic of a Christmas market! Don't forget about the Bandstand's traditional concerts, which are all free to attend and really bring people together on Christmas Day morning, Boxing Day morning and New Year's Day, to celebrate the season to be jolly!

Drusillas Park Winter Wonderland

The UK's best small zoo, Drusillas, switched on the lights to their own sparkling illumination light show earlier this month! A visit to the Winter Wonderland Illuminations, which has been a very popular attraction for many years, will make for an unforgettably magic experience for the family! A visit to Drusillas this Christmas would be incomplete without meeting and greeting Father Christmas in his cosy Christmas Cottage; for an additional £10, children can meet Father Christmas and receive a great little early Christmas gift. Find him there during weekends from 21 November and then daily from 12 until 23 December, before he must fly back to the North Pole to prepare for his epic journey across the world on Christmas Eve! 

Santa Fun Run

Don a Santa suit and burn some calories before the Christmas indulgence begins! The annual Myaware Santa Fun Run and Walk takes place on Sunday 6 December at 1.30pm! The three mile course sees participants pacing along the prom and ending up at Holywell Tea Chalet, to be rewarded with a hot drink and mince pie. Do you fancy taking part? You'll receive your very own Santa suit to wear whilst you run and keep afterwards and you'll help in raising awareness of and money for Myaware - a charity fighting against the Myasthenia Gravis neuromuscular disease! Don't miss out on this great chance to get into the Christmas spirit and help raise funds for a very good cause!

Coca-Cola Truck stops in Eastbourne

Holidays are coming, Holidays are coming... and so is the big red Coca-Cola Truck! The iconic truck, which has featured in Coca-Cola's famous seasonal adverts for years (2015 is the twentieth anniversary year of the adverts which are recognised around the world), is touring the country in December and Eastbourne was chosen as one of it's pit-stop destinations! You can visit the truck and take your picture next to it on Friday 18 December from 12-8pm, where it will be parked in the pedestrianised precinct of Terminus Road, just outside Debenhams!

Eastbourne Panto - Peter Pan

Of course Christmas would be incomplete without laughter, song and dance in the form of a slapstick comedy pantomime! With a sprinkling of fairy dust, Peter Pan comes to the Devonshire Park Theatre in a panto debut! Eastbourne Theatres will tell the family favourite story of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, his little fairy friend Tinker Bell and the Darling children as they take to the skies and adventure in enchanting Neverland! From 11 December 2015 until 17 January 2016 a star-studded cast featuring Ewan Goddard as Peter Pan, Brian Capron as his nemesis Captain Hook, Martyn Knight as Mrs Smee and 'Britain's Got Talent' runners-up, Twist and Pulse, will present the most enchanting of pantomimes, which both adults and children will fall in love with! 


There are many, many more Christmas events for you to discover this month, including after hours shopping at Towner Art Gallery, a plethora of yuletide theatre productions and more visits from Father Christmas! Head to the VisitEastbourne Christmas page to discover more!

Seasons Greetings and Happy Christmas!

Visit Eastbourne's Museums Before the 2015 Season Comes to an End!

The Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum's 2015 season will come to an end on Sunday 15 November, so here at VisitEastbourne we're encouraging you to head down to the fortress on Eastbourne's Seafront and check out all that it has to offer, before the end of the season! 

Discover Treasure....

... and not the cliched, shiny and buried variety! The exciting and colourful Treasure exhibition which has been in the museum since March, explores the definition of treasure and displays thousands of treasured items from Lewis Carroll’s bed desk used during his many stays in Eastbourne, to the diary of a young woman holidaying in Victorian Eastbourne. Unfold the many stories of the town's history through learning understanding the uniquely treasured items on display. You can even Journey back through time and discover what a Flint Hand Axe has in common with a modern day computer, as well as listening to voices which have been sent deep into space and count coins in an incredible Roman Coin Hoard, in this interactive exhibition which both children and adults will love!

Devour Some Culture and Cake...

Culture and Cake is a fantastic series of informal talks, covering some extremely interesting and mind boggling topics. The first two talks have discussed how the invention of something as tiny as the sewing needle impacted upon the world, as welll as how humans have developed from the Stone Age to the Space Age! During the final Culture and Cake event on 14 November, Dr Matt Pope will discuss how to survive an ice age in Eastbourne, after carrying out a careful study of how our ancestors once lived in the depths of the prehistoric ice-age! Did we mention that there's cake? The event includes tea or coffee and cake in the Outpost Cafe, where afterwards audiences can discuss Dr Pope's fascinating talk in an informal environment! You can get your ticket for this great event at the Redoubt or at Eastbourne's Tourist Information Centre!

Learn about Summerdown Camp at the Pavilion....

Some exciting news is that the fascinating Summerdown Camp exhibition which can be found at the Pavilion, next door to the Redoubt, has been kept open for a month longer because it's been so popular this year! The exhibition will now end on 13 December, so now's your chance to visit and learn about the UK's first and largest convalescent camp which opened in Eastbourne during World War One. The camp opened in 1915 and treated over 150,000 wounded soldiers over the five years it was open. Not only was it temporarily home to casualties of the war, it was also where some extremely incredible women worked hard to nurse and care for the men! The exhibition uncovers some of the pioneering medical treatments and occupational therapies used to treat the injured at the camp and tells many heart warming stories of the camp's residents, both men and women! 

Summerdown Camp exhibition is free to attend and is open daily from 11am-4om at the Pavilion on Marine Parade until 13 December! 

Visit Eastbourne Museums for more information about the remaining events at the Redoubt this season! 

Turn Up the Scare Factor in Eastbourne this Halloween!

There is plenty of spine-tingling fun to be had in and around Eastbourne this Halloween. There's big scares and little scares for both big and little people, so read on to discover just some of the eerie events to head to the South East Coast for this October!

Drusillas Park Shriek Week

The interactive children's Halloween Trail at the Redoubt Fortress starting on 23 October through to 1 November, will have your little horrors exploring the spooky 200 year old building, opening creaky trap doors, watching out for ghosts and ghouls along the way and receiving a fang-tastic sweet treat at the end of the trail! Your little ones can also get their hands mucky, getting creative and making spiders, witches hats, friendly ghosts and lots more in the arts and crafts corner!

Twilight Tours at Redoubt Fortress

The chill factor is turned up at the Redoubt Fortress when torch lit guided Twilight Tours of the grounds and museum take place every Friday and Saturday throughout October. Friday nights are far more frightening so are for adults and teenagers only. However, slightly tamer tours on Saturday evenings make it a suitable event for families with young children. 

Be prepared to be scared when your tour guide talks of the ghostly sightings, appearances of mysterious objects and gruesome tales from the Napoleonic years when the Redoubt was used as an encampment for up to 350 men fighting in bloody battles! With many creepy corridors and terrifying tunnels the Twilight Tours are sure to have you covering your eyes!

A Nightmare of Elm Street Redoubt Fortress Film Screening

There are no Twilight Tours on Halloween itself, as the Redoubt turns into a cinema on 31 October, showing the classic 1984 horror A Nightmare on Elm Street! With the film screening taking place in Casemate 20 of the fortress, the cinema experience will be made complete with cinema confectionery in the Outpost Café; what a perfectly spooky way to spend Halloween night! 

Drusillas Park Shriek Week

Drusillas Park Shreik Week has Halloween fun sorted from 24 October until 1 November. Spooky surprises and eerie goings on are around every corner at the park's Haunted Heights! Towner Art Gallery has plenty of Halloween activity all through the half term, from arts and crafts at Spooky Windows and Drawing in the Dark to Haunting Hallowe’en Shadow Show and a late night opening for Tricks’n’treats family fun.

Bateman's, a 17th Century house, are running a Spooky Halloween Trail from 23 October to 2 November which children will love to follow, and on 30 October adults can enjoy a two course dinner, explore the mansion by night and listen to goose bump raising tales at the Halloween Spooky Supper! 

Little Shop of Horrors, Halloween Film Party Fest at Royal Hippodrome

The Royal Hippodrome Theatre has Halloween movie amusement at the ready on 31 October with it's Halloween Film Party Fest, showing family friendly films, Little Shop of Horrors at 8.30pm and Mars Attacks at 11.30pm!

Wyntercon festival at the Winter Garden offers a bewildering array of attractions and events for those with interests in science-fiction, comics, classic horror and anything a little out of this world, from 31 October-1 November.

Observatory Science Centre Halloween Workshops

Discover more Halloween creativity at the Observatory Science Centre in a weekend of spook-tacular activities between 31 October and 1 November.

Don't miss out on all of this hauntingly good Halloween fun in and around Eastbourne, with so many events and attractions offering frighteningly good value for money it would be a crime to miss out! 

If you can brave these Halloween events then head to www.visiteastbourne/halloween for more information about all the events listed, plus many more!  

10 Reasons to Sign Up to the Beachy Head Marathon!

The Beachy Head Marathon is less than six weeks away now and whilst it's important to have undergone some marathon training before signing up, there is still time and a small remainder of places to enter the race! Here are 10 reasons why you should enter the Beachy Head Marathon today and and take part in a fantastic sporting event on the stunning South Coast!

1. Where else can you run a marathon whilst being surrounded by the UK's highest chalk sea cliffs?

2. The Beachy Head Marathon has previously been featured in Runner's World Top 10 UK races, therefore it's one for the marathon runner's bucket list!

3. It may be one of the toughest marathon's in the UK to run, however past runners have described the marathon course as exhilarating and it makes the achievement of running it all the more incredible!

4. There aren't many sporting challenges in the UK (or the world) where you are able to see such incredibly beautiful sights whilst running 26 miles! The marathon route takes in the breathtaking beauty of the Seven Sisters, Friston Forest, some quaint Sussex villages, the Cuckmere Valley and lots more gorgeous coastal scenery!

5. Not only is it one of the most notable marathon's in the UK, it's also a world famous marathon which attracts runners from over 14 different countries, including America, Austrailia, Germany and New Zealand.

6. The event is renowned for it's great atmosphere and support from the crowds which really makes a difference when you're struggling with those hills! There's also incredible support from the marathon marshals who volunteer their time to help keep the runners motivated.

7. Live music along the route also adds extra encouragement when the going gets tough!

8. Cooler October temperatures, together with the coastal breeze means that you won't be beaten or worn out by hot temperatures whilst running!

9. There are multiple checkpoints along the 26 mile course where you can refuel on some delicious and nutritious snacks and drinks, from hot cross buns, sausage rolls, cakes, biscuits, soup, jelly babies, tea, fruit squash and of course water, you won't know what to eat and drink!

10. Lastly, why not make a trip of it this half term and stay in Eastbourne for a family break to relax and recuperate after the marathon? There's plenty of family fun to be had for both adults and children in Eastbourne this half term!

So, if you already have some training under your belt then sign up to the Beachy Head Marathon today, get your running gear on and head to the beautiful South Downs to continue your training ahead of 24 October!

Get your Boots on and Head for the Hills for the Coast and Country Walking Festival!

After a very successful first year of the Coast and Country Walking Festival in 2014, Eastbourne Borough Council and Wealden District Council are bringing it back for a whole nine days this September and October!

Coast and Country Walking Festival in Eastbourne and Wealden runs from 26 September through to 4 October and is aimed at walkers of varying ages, abilities and even interests, so you're sure to find a walk which is right for you.

Although one of the main aims of the walks is to get people active, energized, fit and healthy, the festival is also the perfect way to take in the outstanding natural beauty of the South Downs surrounding Eastbourne and other areas of Sussex. Some walks are free and some have a cost, but most walks have a maximum number of walkers, so be sure to book a place to avoid disappointment! 

With over 50 walks to experience the festival offers a range of walks including historical, literary, healthy and Nordic walks. There's short walks, long walks, easy, moderate or brisk walks, so take a look at some of our favourite picks and get yourself booked onto a walk!

Two Breweries Tour - Saturday 26th September

This is a 15 mile all day walk, starting from Bedes School on Dukes Drive, Eastbourne and ending at the Plough and Harrow in Litlington. Enjoy this scenic downland walk led by an experienced guide to East Dean where you'll stop and visit the first of two breweries, Beachy Head Brewery. Discover the brewing methods adopted by Head Brewer, Roger Green and enjoy the tutored tasting whilst learning the history of the brewery. Continue the walk over to Litlington where you'll stop for lunch at the Plough and Harrow before commencing on the second tour and tasting at the Long Man Brewery! A great value walk at just £15 per person; there are 30 spaces so book your place if you have a passion for real ale and brisk country walks!

Arlington Abbots Wood Nordic Walking Taster - Tuesday 29th September

A short but brisk walk, this session will teach keen learners a fitness walking discipline which can burn over 35% more calories than easy walking and also aids muscle tone. Oakleafe Sussex Nordic Walking offers a 5-mile circular Nordic Taster from the Forestry Commission car park for Abbots Wood by Wilbees Road/Caneheath through Arlington. The taster session, led by International Nordic Walking Association accredited Nordic Walk instructor, Nigel Bentley, is a circular route which explores the forest rides, lake and higher ground to the north, ascending 225 feet along the way. Nordic Walk poles are available for loan and completion of a fitness assessment form is required prior to participation. This is a 5 mile walk, with a maximum of 15 participants, free of charge but donations are welcome.

A Photographic Walk along the Cuckoo Trail - Friday 2nd October

If capturing some natural beauty on your camera is what makes you happy, book a place on this gentle walk along the Cuckoo Trail, starting in Hailsham. You don't need to be an expert, just someone with a desire to walk and photograph. A professional photographer will be on hand to accompany the group and you'll even have the chance to download your snaps at the end of the walk, onto PC's provided, and have a short lesson on editing your images using photo editing software. This walk is free of charge, but hurry to book your place as there's a maximum of 16 walkers.

For all the details of the Coast and Country Walking Festival go to sussexwalkingfestival.org.uk or visit the Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre to pick up your complete 36 page guide to the walking festival with a full list of all walks across the nine days. You can also book a place on a walk by calling 01892 602757. Dogs on leads are allowed on most walks, children are welcome too provided under 16's are accompanied by an adult!

A Taste of Upcoming Theatre and Music Concerts in Eastbourne!

Eastbourne always has a great line-up of theatre productions and live music concerts for people of all ages and varying tastes, so on the blog this week we thought we'd give you a heads-up of some great shows to book tickets for in the upcoming fortnight!

Flare Path sees a television-star studded cast of talented actors portray the epic wartime romance by play-write, Terence Rattigan, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of VE day, at the Devonshire Park Theatre from 18-29 August. This brand new production is directed by rising star Justin Audibert (RSC, Young Vic, West Yorkshire Playhouse) and stars Philip Franks (Heatbeat), Olivia Hallinan (Lark Rise to Candleford), Leon Ockenden (Mr Selfridge) and Alastair Whately, (Birdsong) and is based on Rattigan's experiences as a tail gunner during World War Two. Flare Path paints an evocative portrait of life in Wartime Britain for the RAF bomber crews and their wives and sweethearts who were left awaiting their return, set in 1942 against against a backdrop of heartache and quiet bravery.

The magical panto-style production of Treasure Island runs from 27–30 August at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre and sees CITV’s Chris Edgerley take to the stage as the hero of the hour along with CBBC 'Tracy Beaker' star, Danni Harmer. Be taken on a magical trip into the world of pirates and princesses, when one of the nation’s favourite children’s novels is given a new twist, in the stunning surroundings of Eastbourne’s most historic theatre. On top of this, Little Treasures Week takes place between 24-30 August and for the terrific price of £99, a family of four (two adults and two children) will have entrance to Treasure Island Adventure Park, the Redoubt Fortress Military Museum and the Redoubt's new summer Pirate School, as well as tickets to two great shows, Treasure Island and Hooray for Hollywood at the Royal Hippdrome Theatre. All of this is available for a massive saving of £60 per family!

The Bandstand has a fabulous selection of concerts coming up, which both children and adults will love! One Direction tribute act will be bringing the energy, charisma and numerous world-wide hits of all five original 'One Directioners' to the stage, including Zayn Malik who recently left the real-life 'One Direction' group. Expected to be very popular with a younger audience, catch this unmissable tribute concert at the Bandstand on Friday 21 August! One for the older generation to 'Come Together' for, an amazing tribute to the Beatles will brought to the Bandstand by the 'Fab4', one of the world's top Beatles tribute bands, on Saturday 22 August; no Beatles fan will want to miss this night of swingin' sixties nostalgia! Lastly, one for all ages, 'The Vogue' tribute show will showcase the voice, the image, the moves and all the best hits of Madonna, the 'Queen of Pop' on Friday 28 August!

For the full details and to book tickets for all these shows and many more great theatre and entertainment events in Eastbourne, visit www.visiteastbourne.com/events or www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk.

Top 10 Preparation Tips for Enjoying Airbourne in Comfort!

With Airbourne only 8 days away, now's the time to start thinking about the practicalities of ensuring a happy and comfortable Airbourne experience. We want you to enjoy every moment of the displays from the Vulcan, the Red Arrows, the Blades and more, in comfort, so we've put together a handy check list of all you need to prepare for a fun and safe experience! 

1. Don't forget your sun cream! We are hoping for a fabulous four days of sun, but even when the sun isn't shining in full beam, it can still be damaging, especially on the coast where the wind can cause skin to burn more easily. Make sure you apply your sun cream regularly and especially keep children topped up with sun cream!

2. ..Or your sunhut! When the sun has got his hat on, it's best to make sure that you've got your hat on too! Sitting on the beach and looking up at the sky can make you a little vulnerable to headaches, migraines and even sun stroke - so come prepared with a hat and have an enjoyable headache free Airbourne experience.

3. Essential Sunglasses! Equally important when you're looking up at the sky for a long period of time, are sunglasses. Prescription sunglasses are obviously the most ideal, but if you haven't got those then don't forget your best pair of sunnies - you don't want to be squinting whilst watching the last ever display of the Vulcan!

4. Know what's going on! Be sure to purchase your Official Souvenir Programme for Airbourne 2015 which includes the all important flying times, plus loads of interesting information on all the aircraft and display teams. Find out what there is to enjoy on the ground and also find a whole load of great discount vouchers inside too! Available from Official Programme sellers, from the Tourist Information Tent on the Wish Tower Slopes, the Seafront Office and the Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre - for just £4!

5. Protect your ears! The dazzling aircraft displays are amazing to watch, but they can be a little loud for some people - especially on little ears! If you're coming with children or you have sensitive ears, then be sure to bring some foam ear protectors to prevent any ear damage.

6. Drink plenty. It might sound obvious, but keep hydrated! Sitting in the sun for long periods of time can cause dehydration, which might lead to headaches or worse. Bring plenty to drink and enjoy Airbourne feeling hydrated, refreshed and headache free! 

7. Bring a portable Radio! There'll be some super commentary of all the displays across the four days of Airbourne, but if you aren't on a beach close to the Wish Tower Slopes you are unlikely to hear it. This is where Radio Airbourne 87.7FM comes in handy; the 5 day radio station will broadcast all the live commentary, plus exclusive pilot interviews, competitions and lots more. Bring a portable radio and tune into 87.7FM and you won't miss a thing when you're sat on a quieter beach.

8. Keep your children safe! Ensure the safety of your children at an event packed with tens of thousands of people and get them a colourful Kidzsafe wristband from the Seafront Office or the Lifeguard Station and First Aid Hut! Write down your contact details on the colour coded wristbands and in the instance a child is lost, the bands will help to reunite children and parents! 

9. Sit Comfortably! Sitting on the beach is a lot more comfortable with picnic blankets and deckchairs, so be sure to pack your blanket or hire a beach deckchair to enjoy Airbourne without getting a numb bum!

10. Be Road-Wise! Be aware that parking will be extremely difficult in Eastbourne during Airbourne, and traffic will be slow! If you live in Eastbourne, avoid driving altogether and if you are driving from further afield then make sure you leave in plenty of time to avoid missing the displays you want to see! 

That's it from us, we're totally buzzing for Airbourne now and we can't wait to welcome all our visitors to Eastbourne next week! One last thing, don't forget your camera! 

Summer Holiday Activities for the Rainy Day

It's a beautiful day in Eastbourne today and we hope to see the sun everyday. However, we do know that sometimes the sun can be a little shy and so he sends his friend, Rain Cloud out to greet people instead.

Rain Cloud isn't quite as friendly as Sun, so we've put together some great ways to escape him during his visits to Eastbourne this school holiday!

Summerdown Camp is a very fascinating exhibition currently on display at the Pavilion Tea Rooms on Royal Parade. Summerdown Camp was the largest WW1 convalescent camp of its kind, when it opened in Eastbourne one hundred years ago. The exhibition uncovers what life was like for the thousands of soldiers who recovered at the camp, and also for the women who took care of them and nursed them back to health. The exhibition is free, and children with a thirst for history will love it! Why not try a delicious cream tea whilst there?!

The Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux has some really fun and interesting workshops this Summer, to keep children's brains ticking whilst away from school. 'Colour Kaleidoscope' on 4 August, 'Captivating Chemistry' on 13 August and 'Be an Astronaut' on 18 August, are just a few of the many great workshops to chose from. Be quick though, they do book up fast!

The David Lloyd Leisure Centre in Eastbourne, is home to Lloyds Lanes; the prefect place for a game or two of tenpin bowling on a rainy day! It's very child friendly too, with bumpers to put up on the lanes for those that need a little help, as well as Laser Quest, pool tables and lots more entertainment and games!

Newly refurbished and re-opened Fort Fun on Eastbourne's seafront has a fabulous Indoor Soft Play, with ropes, swings, tunnels, slides, a designated toddler area and lots, lots more. So, when Rain Cloud comes to visit, head to Fort Fun for an afternoon of super fun soft play!

When it's not quite the weather to take a dip in the sea, one of Eastbourne's large leisure centres, the Sovereign Centre will help in keeping the children active and having a whale of a time for hours! With a fun pool complete with water flumes, a baby pool for the really little ones, a bubble pool and lots more, the Sovereign Centre makes for a great value family day out!

When Annie comes to the Congress Theatre from 10-15 August, it's the perfect time to introduce the kids to the most famous and lovable orphan from 1930's New York! With two matinee shows, on 13 and 15 August, the theatre is a great place to entertain children if Rain Cloud decides to come out to play. Children will love the classic songs from the show, 'It's a Hard-Knock Life', 'Tomorrow' and 'You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile', plus many more!

To find out lots more ways to keep your children occupied this Summer, whatever the weather, head to VisitEastbourne.com!

Eastbourne Extreme Speeds Into Town!

This weekend (18-19 July) Eastbourne Extreme, which is one of the biggest free extreme sporting events on the South Coast will return to Eastbourne's Eastern seafront. The two day event features many dazzling displays and demonstrations from some top land, sea and air extreme sports display teams!

The variety of extreme sports on offer at the event is incredibly diverse this year, with awsome displays from the World Slalom Series inline skating team, Zero Gravity freestyle mountain bike team and the MBE BMX team, along with a brand new bike tour of over 100 riders on retro 1980's BMX bikes!

The bike tour, which is run by Brighton Riders BMX, starts on Sunday morning (18 July) and ends at Eastbourne's Eastern seafront where the rest of the days action will begin. The festival is not only a site of amazing displays, but also a chance for visitors to safely try out some new sporting activities in safe hands and with tutored guidance!

A brand new feature of Eastbourne Extreme this year, sees amazing and inspiring athletes demonstrating human strength as part of the Calisthenics Federation World Cup. The incredible body-building athletes stop off in Eastbourne ahead of the World Cup final in Moscow at the end of the year!

There will be windsurfing and paddleboard action with tutored sessions and competitions run by Buzz Active RYA Centre (formerly Spray Watersports), taking place on Eastbourne beach.

Eastbourne's Bourne Bombshells will be challenging teams from all over the country in the only outdoor roller derby tournament in Europe, and the World Slalom Series will see freestyle skaters battle for the top spot in the hope of representing Great Britain in future championships.

Get your skates on and head to the extreme sport festival where they'll be a freestyle skate park takeover for practicing stunts and a packed-out programme of freestyle demos, roller hockey, street skating, roller disco and tuition for new skaters!

Visitors can expect all of this and more, plus live entertainment all weekend on the music stage at the beach! Find out the full details of Eastbourne Extreme, here! 

So Much to See and Do in Eastbourne this Summer Holidays!

Eastbourne is not only the UK's sunniest place, but it also has a whole host of activities to keep children entertained during the school summer holidays! With free activities like rock pooling or a picnic in one of Eastbourne's many parks, as well as Pirate School at the Redoubt Fortress and magic in the sky at Eastbourne's free air show, Airbourne, no child could possibly get bored in Eastbourne this summer!

Every Tuesday evening between 28 July and 1 September, Eastbourne's well-loved Bandstand is home to the rockin' Kids Party Nights, where children's entertainers such as 'AKA' and 'Frankie Says', blast out chart and musical favorites for children to sing and dance to. 

Whilst some of the popular tribute concerts this season are more familiar to older generations, there's one which will definitely have flocks of young girls (and boys too) heading in 'one direction' to Eastbourne Bandstand! One Direction tribute act will belt out 'What Makes You Beautiful', 'Live While We're Young' and other hit songs from the world-famous boy band, on Friday 21 August!

Regular school might be out, but Pirate School is in at the Redoubt Fortress! A drop-in style activity programme open every day from 23 July until 1 September, Pirate School allows your little scallywags to release their inner pirate! Dressing-up, dancing and singing the songs of the sea, walking the plank, digging for treasure and learning the lingo, are all ways in which children can 'graduate' from Pirate School this summer!

Little Treasures week from 24-30 August makes for unbeatable value for family fun at some of Eastbourne's best attractions! For just £99 for a family of four, a Little Treasures family pass includes two shows at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre, 'Treasure Island' and 'Hooray for Hollywood', entry to Pirate School at the Redoubt and entry to Treasure Island theme park!

For children wanting to learn many all-important life-saving skills, Tyro Lifeguard courses taught by Eastbourne's Lifeguards run throughout the school holidays! The courses for able-swimmers aged between 8 and 14 teach skills such as basic first aid, paddle board training and more!

'50 Things to Do Before You're 11 3/4 Explorer Week' from 25 July to 2 August provides adventurous children with the opportunity to try raft building, learn navigation skills and explore rock pools, in various courses run by the National Trust at Birling Gap!

Eastbourne's annual international air show, Airbourne is the perfect reason to make a flying visit to Eastbourne from 13-16 August, with a packed-out flying programme complete with a superb live music line-up that all the family can enjoy!

For more information on all the ways to keep children having fun on the Sunshine Coast this summer go to VisitEastbourne.com!

Tennis Tuesdays - Anne Keothavong Coaches Women Getting Back Into Tennis!

As the action on the courts at Devonshire Park heats up at Aegon International this week, retired tennis star and former British number 1, Anne Keothavong took part in Tennis Tuesdays on Tuesday 23 June;  bringing her skill and expert knowledge to help coach a group of women on a beautiful sunny evening in Eastbourne.

Tennis Tuesdays is an initiative set up by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), in association with Nike, to encourage more women to get back into or to begin playing tennis! Launched this summer, Tennis Tuesday sessions are taking place in towns and cities across the country including Eastbourne at Gildredge Park tennis courts and Fisherman's Green tennis courts.

On Tuesday 23 June, when Anne Keothavong coached 12 women, some who regularly play tennis and others who haven't played in years - but all wanting to improve their game and have fun - VisitEastbourne was invited along to watch!

Anne may have been retired from professional tennis for two years now, but she definitely hasn't lost her trophy-winning skill on the court. It was great to watch the women enjoying tennis, whilst practicing their backhands, deep shots and drop shots and being guided by Anne and the other tennis coaches on the courts.

The women taking part all had a lot of fun and it didn't take long for the competitive streak to come out in some of them. Anne Keothavong was extremely friendly and relaxed, apart from her tremendous skill on the court, no one would have know she was a tennis star, she just seemed like one of the other 12 women having fun and playing tennis on a sunny Tuesday evening. After the session was over, Anne happily answered a few questions for us.

VE: What are your top tennis training tips for women starting out or getting back into tennis?

AK: Just to be open-minded and enjoy the challenge of training, nothing is ever easy but you just have to keep going with it and it will get easier. Be patient when improving your skills, enjoy the training and the more you play the better you'll get. It's also a really nice way to meet and interact with new people.

VE: Have you been enjoying the Aegon International Eastbourne this year?

AK: Yeah it's great, as a retired player I now work for BT Sport as a pundit and commentator so obviously I'm here in a different capacity than I have been in the past. I got to see Johanna Konta win today which was great, and it's amazing to watch some of the junior girls playing excellent tennis; watching the stars of the future is great!

VE: What is your favourite thing about Eastbourne?

AK: As a player I always enjoyed coming here as it's a relaxed atmosphere with superb courts and excellent support.

VE: What is life like for you now that you've retired from tennis?

AK: Well it's been two years since I retired and life has changed quite a bit in those two years. I got married and we're expecting our first child, so very different from the years of professional tennis. Tennis is still very much a big part of my life in my current work, which is really nice. I don't have to spend so much time in airports now which is also great!

With Aegon International Eastbourne being a women's tournament, it's the perfect time to inspire women all over the country to take up tennis. Whether it's to have some fun with friends or to enjoy a bit of competition, Tennis Tuesdays offer an opportunity for women to show their tennis talent, in a sociable environment, helping to remove some of the barriers to sport that women often face.

Anne was lovely to talk to and it was extra special to see her sharing her tennis talent and skill with so many enthusiastic women on Eastbourne's gorgeous grass courts! It definitely inspired us to get the racket out and start hitting them balls on a Tuesday evening this summer!

Learn more about Tennis Tuesdays and Tennis in the Park with the LTA!