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Our next Hastings Bonfire procession will be on:
18th October 2025
Our 30th anniversary
2025 event - Well, it's our annual torchlit procession, bonfire, effigy and firework display today! Please enjoy it. Please stay safe!
See the links above, below, and the menu options for more information.
Last minute information
Last minute information
You can try contacting us by email on info@hbbs.info or via the Hastings Borough Bonfire Society's Facebook Messenger. However in the last days leading up to our event, our society members will be well and truly distracted with setting up and running our event for this year, so we have little to no time for dealing with our social media. Please refer to our short list of FAQ's below, and hopefully you might find the answer to your enquiry.
What time does the procession start? - should be 7:15pm and watch for the torches coming down from the East Hill Beacon to light the procession after it turns into Robertson Street and then has the 'America Ground Ceremony'.
What time are the fireworks? We usually aim to start the fireworks about 9:15pm - your clue is that the bonfire will have been burning for about 10-15 minutes. However as this is a live weather-dependent event and the procession timings vary, so timings can change rapidly due to circumstances beyond our control and be considerably earlier or later than advertised. The timings of our fireworks themselves are at the sole discretion of the Captain of Fireworks at the time.
We have some scrap timber; do you want it? As long as it's dry, untreated, and unpainted, we can use it. P allets are ideal. N o MDF or chipboard though, thank you. Unfortunately, we cannot collect, you would need to drop it to us at Pelham Place Car Park before midday on Friday 17th Oct.
Further information can be found on
on our 2025 bonfire event info FAQ page, and
on our information for visiting societies page
Travel News
Travel News
Watch out for both Train line closures and Roadworks planned for our bonfire night
New website updates
New website updates
2025 event information for visiting societies
2025 merchandise - now updated for 2025
Renegade Pyrotechnics sponsored firework shells - closed for 2025
Membership - now closed for the season
What we do
What we do
We remember the overthrowing of The Gunpowder Plot in 1605. We have great fun promoting the Sussex bonfire tradition.
Our main event is the Torchlit Procession with Fireworks along the route, Drumming, Bonfire, Effigy and Grand Finale Firework Display on the beach.
This is a 'no ticket' event for the public put on by the hard work and determination of HBBS volunteers. Our members may join in our procession, and join us at processions of other societies throughout the bonfire season
Our own society procession is the longest single torchlit procession in Sussex. It allows us to raise thousands for local community groups and charities.
Sponsor a firework shell
Sponsor a firework shell
As part of our October bonfire event's firework display, we have a section of shells sponsored by people wanting to mark the moment by celebrating a birthday or remembering their loved-ones
Link: Sponsor a firework shell - SORRY THIS IS NOW CLOSED
Please support us by donating
Please support us by donating
It costs thousands to put on this free event, so please support us by donating.
We are extremely grateful to the financial and practical backing of many sponsors and many local businesses. Thank you!
Our purpose is the advancement of the Sussex Bonfire tradition, especially around the Hastings area.
We promote and organise the annual Hastings bonfire torch-lit procession, bonfire, firework and effigy displays and to promote and raise awareness of the bonfire tradition in Sussex, and incidental purposes. We will also assist other organisations undertaking similar events, and we support local community events in various ways including some collecting & disbursement of donations (thousands annually).
We also operate a commercial firework display subsidiary, Renegade Pyrotechnics limited, which trains personnel in pyrotechnics and fundraises for the Hastings traditional bonfire and firework celebration by putting on bonfire shows for local parties, weddings and primary schools. As the pyro team are volunteers, we are able to accrue enough profit for fireworks for our annual beach display, most years with no central society funding for the firework display.
These events and activities are for the benefit of members, the local community, to help encourage visitors to the area and to promote and educate about the Sussex bonfire tradition, including traditional crafts to achieve this.
Join us!
Join us!
If you enjoy our event and want to join us, then come along to one of our meetings at 8pm on the Second Tuesday of every month at The White Rock Hotel, then please feel free, or apply for membership for £15, details here.
Who are we?
We are a group of volunteers who make Hastings Bonfire the largest single Bonfire celebration in Sussex! This fantastic event is put on through the dedication and sheer hard work of the members and volunteers. It is financed by: Fundraising of HBBS Members, Renegade Pyrotechnics, Our Sponsors, additional services provided by Hastings Borough Council e.g. road sweeping, public toilets and the use of Pelham Place Carpark.
We always welcome new members (until August) and volunteers. See Support or Membership for more information.
HBBS website links
HBBS website links
Support us: -
Merchandise - recently updated for the 2025 bonfire season
Sponsors - thank you!
Members info and link to members website
Services offered to raise funds for our bonfire event:
Marshal team hire for your event
Fireworks for your private events
Related websites
Renegade Pyrotechnics website
HBBS Members Private website (see access instructions here)
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