About Barcombe Bonfire Society

Barcombe Bonfire Society (BBS) is a volunteer-led community organisation based in the village of Barcombe, East Sussex. The society forms part of the long-established Sussex bonfire tradition, bringing together local residents, supporters and visiting bonfire societies for an annual celebration of procession, fire, fireworks and community spirit.

At the heart of the society is a dedicated group of volunteers who work throughout the year to organise events, raise funds and represent Barcombe at bonfire celebrations across Sussex.

Although smaller in scale than some of the large town societies, Barcombe Bonfire Society has a strong community identity. Its celebrations provide an opportunity for the village to come together while maintaining one of Sussex’s most distinctive traditions.

The Annual Bonfire Celebrations

The Barcombe Bonfire Celebrations are the highlight of the society’s year, bringing the sights and sounds of the Sussex bonfire season to the village.

The evening traditionally features a torchlit procession, with members of Barcombe joined by representatives from visiting bonfire societies. Flaming torches, society banners, costumes and traditional bonfire dress create an impressive spectacle as the procession makes its way through the village.

The celebrations culminate in a fireworks display, providing a memorable finale to an evening that attracts spectators from Barcombe and the surrounding area.

Organising an event of this scale requires considerable preparation. The celebrations are made possible through the efforts of volunteers and the continued support of members, local residents, businesses and visitors.

Community and Fundraising

Community is at the heart of Barcombe Bonfire Society. While the annual bonfire celebration is its most visible event, much of the society’s work takes place throughout the rest of the year.

Fundraising is essential to meeting the costs associated with staging the celebrations, from fireworks and event infrastructure to the many practical requirements involved in safely organising a large public event.

Members organise and support fundraising activities throughout the year, helping to ensure that Barcombe’s bonfire traditions can continue for future generations.

The society also provides an important social focus within the village, bringing together people of different ages and backgrounds through a shared enthusiasm for the local community and Sussex bonfire.

Membership

Barcombe Bonfire Society welcomes people who would like to become involved in the society and support its activities.

Membership offers the opportunity to take part in Barcombe’s own celebrations as well as represent the society at bonfire events elsewhere in Sussex. Members can also become involved behind the scenes, helping with fundraising, event preparation and the many jobs required throughout the year.

For those who have watched from the roadside and wondered what it is like to be part of a torchlit procession, joining the society provides an opportunity to experience Sussex Bonfire from a completely different perspective.

Encouraging new members is also vital to the future of the society, helping Barcombe’s traditions to be passed from one generation to the next.

A Village Bonfire Tradition

One of the defining features of Barcombe Bonfire Society is its village character.

Sussex Bonfire encompasses everything from the enormous crowds and processions of Lewes to celebrations organised by smaller communities across the county. Barcombe represents the latter at its best, with local volunteers coming together to create an event that has a character all of its own.

The sight of flaming torches moving through a Sussex village on an autumn evening captures something particularly special about the county’s bonfire tradition. It is both a spectacle for visitors and an important occasion for the community that organises it.

Barcombe also takes its place within the wider bonfire community, welcoming visiting societies to its celebrations and supporting other societies at their events during the bonfire season.

Supporting Barcombe Bonfire Society

As a volunteer organisation, Barcombe Bonfire Society depends upon the generosity and enthusiasm of its members, supporters and the wider community.

Putting on a bonfire celebration requires significant funding and months of preparation. Donations, fundraising events and support from local businesses all play an important part in making the annual celebrations possible.

There are plenty of ways to support the society, whether by becoming a member, attending fundraising events, volunteering, making a donation or simply turning out to support the procession.

Through the dedication of its volunteers and supporters, Barcombe Bonfire Society continues to keep the village’s bonfire tradition burning brightly, bringing people together and ensuring that this distinctive part of Sussex community life can be enjoyed for generations to come.