Completing a five-week-long programme of around a hundred events

For much of June and July, the Festival of Chichester has once again brought dozens of events to the city, from concerts to theatre to a whole range of talks, poetry and guided walks.

During the past month, as the weather struggled to give Sussex much sense of summer, there was plenty of cultural sunshine with a typically eclectic series of events.  This year’s festival events were impressive from the very start, kicking off with a weekend that included the Chichester Singers raising the cathedral roof and Lynden Cranham and company evoking a Victorian music room at St Peter & St Mary’s church, Fishbourne.

Pianist Julian Chan played his heart out to a transfixed audience at Christ Church, returning two days later with the Mera Horn Trio for another majestic performance. Eric Clapton’s nephew, Will Johns, gave a dazzling night of guitar-rich blues at the Havana Bar & Venue which also hosted several other remarkable events, notably the brilliant, quite uncategorizable soundscapes of poet William Fontaine’s “Devil’s Cup”. 

Evenings with authors included our Festival President, Kate Mosse and Isabel Ashdown both at Waterstones, and Anthony Horowitz at the Cathedral supporting the very worthy cause of the Childrens Bookfest. Tickets sold out quickly for legendary actor and playwright Steven Berkhoff at the Novium where he presented Byron in a way that few audiences will have experienced before. And several art events included outdoor sessions in both Bishop’s Palace Gardens and Oaklands Park.

And of course there was so much more. And it’s not (quite!) finished yet  – the final weekend includes a Pastoral Idyll of words and music at St John’s Chapel on Friday afternoon, a talk on surviving Belsen at New Park on Friday evening after which you could nip back to St John’s for Zoe Barnett’s guitar recital. Saturday evening choose to party with Big House at the Guildhall or head over to Great Ballard (Eartham) and listen to Andrew Bernardi’sStradivarius Piano Trio with a sparkling glass of Nyetimber. On Sunday at 2pm, the area’s choirs will come together for a joyous free singing event in Bishop’s Palace Gardens. Don’t miss the festival finale which comes on Sunday evening with the Phoenix Big Band playing at the Rugby Club at Oaklands Park. 

Then we’ll be back again next year for another enjoyable 5 weeks from Saturday 14 June to Sunday 20 July 2025. If you’d like to help us organise or if you’re keen to perform, please get in touch via our contact page.

Many thanks once again to all our 2024 sponsors, including Kenton Budd Estate Agents, Tim Roe Fine Jewellery, Edward Cooke Family Law, Pallant House Gallery, Brighton Festival, Bellway Homes, Nyton House and West Dean College. 

Mark Elliott