Rye Bonfire and Firework extravaganza

Saturday 11th November welcomes the return of the Rye Bonfire, so get your thermals on, grab a toasty hot chocolate a la Knoops, a roast pork bap on the trot from The Ship and light a sparkler as you ooh and ahh at explosions decorating the night sky above the ancient cobbled streets of Rye in a firework celebration unmatched across the country.

The festivities start at approximately 7.30pm on Saturday 11th November when the precession proceeding the fireworks begins. Starting from Tilling Green this raucous parade where drums and flaming torches light the way, is a celebration of Guy Fawkes, embraced by various societies who dress up for this fireworks celebration to end all fireworks celebrations.

The precession takes route around the cobbled streets of Rye where onlookers can enjoy the party.

Highlights of the precession include a Dragon scorcher and a Burning Boat so watch out for these amazing spectacles winding their way through the town, the procession will follow this route (so get your spot nice and early): Ferry Road to the Crown Inn, turn left into Cinque Ports Street, Tower Street, through Landgate Arch, Hilders Cliff (East Cliff) in to High Street, The Mint, turn right into Wish Ward, Cinque Ports Street, Tower Street, left down Landgate and then turning right into Bedford Place and to the Bonfire site on The Salts where the enormous Rye Bonfire is waiting to be lit, followed by the Rye Bonfire firework display.

The Rye Bonfire celebrations could be older than Guy Fawkes himself. Some say that celebrations with bonfires in Rye were first held to commemorate the men of the town’s retaliatory raid against the French in 1378 when they returned to wreak revenge, burning and pillaging then snatching back the church bells which had been stolen the year before.