The Centenary Fair 2025

On the first Saturday of August since 1925, our normally peaceful village green is transformed into a vibrant display of colour, music, and joyful exuberance for the annual Rottingdean Village Fair.

Of course, there were undoubtedly many other fairs held in the village in preceding centuries, but this incarnation was the first to be organised as a charitable event to benefit the local community - which is why it deserves our special recognition in 2025.

So gather 'round, one and all, to the heart of Rottingdean, where history meets merriment at this beloved local event. Nestled beside the duck pond and at the foot of the South Downs, our picturesque seaside village looks forward to welcoming you on 2nd August 2025 for what will surely be the best Rottingdean Village Fair ever! 

Of course, part of the fun of the village fair is mooching from stall to stall, perusing the diverse range of goodies on sale - and perhaps going home with one or two things you never knew you wanted!

So come and meander through our three bustling marketplaces where local artisans and vendors will be offering all sorts of delightful wares; handicrafts, ceramics, jewellery, artwork, bric-brac, vintage clothing, and a variety of fresh and local produce too. You'll find all sorts of surprising things to tempt you at the Rottingdean Village Fair.

As part of our centenary celebrations this year, we are opening a whole new additional area of the Fair to the front of St. Margaret's Church - and we are extremely grateful to the Reverend Anthony Moore and his team for their hospitality and support. Our expansion into their grounds is particularly apt as it was the principals of this church who organised the very first charitable fair back in 1925.

This additional space means we'll be able to welcome more stallholders than ever before - and more visitors too, without becoming overcrowded!

Let Us Entertain You!

As a special 'one-off' feature this year, we'll be presenting an amazing and unprecedented line-up of non-stop entertainment on both of our stages throughout the entire day!

Aside from welcoming back some of our many talented local performers from previous years, we will also be introducing some fabulous new performers too - so there's sure to be something for everyone. Singers and dancers, soloists and bands - and a host of community groups will take to the stage to dazzle and delight.

We want this to be a celebration that people will talk about for many years to come - so there's something else that's rather special about the entertainment this year...

Every song, every act, every single entertainer will be performing works that are somehow relevant to the story of Rottingdean for the past one hundred years!

You'll be hearing music from all the different decades, from Big Band to Brass Band, Jazz and Blues to Rock and Roll, Motown to BritPop, and from Glam Rock to Punk! The lyrics, the context, the styles will all play a part in telling the story of The Rottingdean Village Fair since 1925.

Our Master of Ceremonies will also be on hand to help narrate that story and guide us through the entire day. Never before, have so many talented entertainers performed at a single event in Rottingdean - so be sure not to miss this unique opportunity!

For this special celebration event we will be teaming up with some highly talented local performers who will be recreating a series of costumed 'theatrical moments' throughout the day; some onstage and others as pop-up 'happenings' at surprise locations all across the Fair!

The idea is to bring to life some of the most famous historical characters and events over the past hundred years. Some of these moments will be amusing, others more serious. Visitors will get the chance to see and meet a diverse range of characters from all walks of life - and experience glimpses into their respective lives back in their day.

We want to include the writers and the artists, the movers and shakers, the farmers and landowners, the rich and the poor. Historical for sure, but some fictional ones too. From Kipling to Cluedo. From Hollywood to the High Street. The good, the bad, and who knows... maybe some of the ugly ones too!

You won't want to miss this unique and special opportunity to witness these glimpses of our rich and colourful past - so be sure to arrive early on the 2nd August 2025.

We'll also be extending the food offering still further this year by inviting two other guest cuisines, yet to be announced.

So come along and savour the many flavours of our food stalls, where a cornucopia of delicious goodies await. From traditional fair treats to gourmet bites, your taste buds are in for a real treat.

Refresh your Senses!

For the second year running, 'The Plough' has kindly agreed to help us run the bar on the day, so you’ll be able to enjoy ice-cold draught beer, wines and other drinks on The Green. If you fancy something a bit special, there'll also be a dedicated Pimms & Prosecco tent in Kipling Gardens too - with music and entertainment on our second and more intimate stage!

And of course, if you want something somewhat less alcoholic, there'll be plenty of tea and coffee on hand too, courtesy of The Whiteways Centre.

The 2025 Beneficiaries

Every year, the Committee of the Rottingdean Village Fair chooses a range of different local organisations to support by granting them a proportion of the profits generated by the Fair.

The beneficiaries for this centenary year are yet to be decided upon, but if you would like to nominate a deserving local organisation please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. Please note that we generally prefer to support specific projects and initiatives as opposed to general funding.

Registered charities also further benefit from the matched funding scheme we can also arrange on their behalf, which effectively doubles the amount of money they ultimately receive.

The VIP Experience

For the second year running, there will be an exclusive VIP area set aside with a fantastic view of the Kipling Gardens stage. You'll even get a glass of Pimms on arrival to help get you into the swing of things!

For more information about the benefits of becoming a 'Friend of the Fair', click on the button below!