About Littlehampton Bonfire Society
Littlehampton Bonfire Society is a volunteer-led organisation responsible for one of West Sussex's largest traditional torchlit celebrations.
The present society was established in 1952, when its inaugural meeting was held at the United Services Club on 11 December. Founding members included Frank Hickmore, Bill Hockham, Lester Kinsly and Arthur Leggett.
Today, Littlehampton Bonfire Society combines a War Memorial service, huge torchlit procession, carnival entries, marching bands, visiting societies, a seafront bonfire, fireworks, return procession and Bonfire prayers.
In 2026, the society celebrates its 74th annual event.
Formed in 1952
The inaugural meeting of the present Littlehampton Bonfire Society took place on Thursday 11 December 1952 at the United Services Club.
The following summer, the new society organised two torchlight processions as part of Littlehampton's 1953 Coronation Year Carnival.
Those early processions already demonstrated the cooperative nature of the society's celebrations, with visitors from Lewes, Shoreham-by-Sea and East Hoathly joining Littlehampton alongside local and military bands.
From those beginnings, the celebration developed into one of the major annual events in the town.
Littlehampton's Costumes
Littlehampton Bonfire Society has several established costume groups.
Current membership information lists North American Indigenous-inspired historical fancy dress, Tudor costume and Cowboy or Cowgirl dress among the costumes worn by members.
The North American-inspired costume has a particularly long history within the society. Littlehampton Museum has recorded an example worn by a society member during the 1950s and 1960s, belonging to the daughter of one of the society's founding members.
That provides unusually good evidence that the costume dates back to the earliest years of the modern society.
What I have not found in the society's published history is a reliable explanation of why that costume was originally chosen, so it is better to record the tradition without inventing a reason for it.
Remembrance at the War Memorial
Littlehampton's celebration begins with a particularly important act of remembrance.
At 6pm, members line up in Maltravers Road before processing with a marching band to the town's War Memorial.
A service is held there, including the laying of the Bonfire wreath by the society's Chairman and Commander in Chief.
Only after this quieter ceremony does attention turn towards the huge torchlit procession.
It gives remembrance a prominent place within the structure of Littlehampton Bonfire rather than treating it as a separate event.
The Grand Torchlight Procession
Littlehampton's main procession brings together the society's own members with marching bands, carnival entries, walking groups and visiting societies from across Sussex.
For 2026, the society expects 50 procession entries, demonstrating the scale to which the celebration has grown.
The combination of Bonfire and carnival traditions gives Littlehampton a slightly different character from celebrations centred almost entirely around society ranks.
Bonfire on the Seafront
Once the procession has reached the seafront, attention turns to the enormous bonfire.
The Chairman and Commander in Chief leads the lighting once the procession and visiting societies have arrived at the firesite.
The bonfire is followed by the society's seafront fireworks display, staged from the promenade near Banjo Road.
Littlehampton then does something that makes its evening particularly distinctive.
Rather than simply finishing after the fireworks, the society forms a Return Procession.
Members and visiting societies process along Fitzalan Road towards Littlehampton Baptist Church, where the evening concludes with the traditional Bonfire Prayers.
That gives the celebration a ceremonial conclusion long after the main fireworks have finished.
A £35,000 Celebration
Putting on an event of this scale is expensive.
Littlehampton Bonfire Society says staging its 2026 celebration costs more than £35,000.
That money has to cover the numerous practical and safety requirements associated with bringing a huge procession, bonfire and fireworks display into the town.
The society relies heavily upon fundraising, donations, sponsorship and volunteers.
For 2026 it has also appealed for around 100 volunteer marshals to help the event operate safely.
It is an indication of just how much work sits behind an evening that spectators can attend without an admission charge.
Littlehampton Bonfire 2026
The 2026 Littlehampton Bonfire celebration takes place on Saturday 24 October.
The date is a week earlier than usual because the local authority wanted to avoid the event taking place on Halloween and to keep East Green Car Park available during the half-term week.
Activities begin in the High Street from around 10am, with collectors, programme sellers and traditional organs.
The War Memorial service takes place at 6pm, followed by the Grand Torchlight Procession at approximately 7:30pm.
The bonfire is scheduled for around 9pm, followed by fireworks, the Return Procession and finally Bonfire Prayers outside Littlehampton Baptist Church.
Membership
Littlehampton Bonfire Society depends heavily upon members and volunteers.
Members can process at Littlehampton, attend outmeetings elsewhere, help build the bonfire, take part in fundraising and social events and have a say in how the organisation is run.
The society offers both adult and junior membership, helping introduce younger generations to the organisation.
Membership subscriptions themselves also contribute directly towards staging the annual celebration.
More Than Seven Decades of Littlehampton Bonfire
From an inaugural meeting in December 1952, Littlehampton Bonfire Society has developed into an organisation capable of bringing a major procession and thousands of spectators to the town.
Its character comes from the combination of several traditions: the War Memorial service, historical costumes, marching bands, carnival entries, flaming torches, seafront bonfire and fireworks, Return Procession and final Bonfire Prayers.
The society's early costumes survive in the historical record, while its modern celebration requires tens of thousands of pounds and a substantial volunteer workforce to stage.
In 2026, Littlehampton Bonfire Society marks its 74th celebration, continuing a tradition begun by a small group of local residents more than seven decades ago.