Lewes Festival of Democracy

Saturday 4 July, throughout Lewes

On Saturday 4th July join the colourful parade through our historic streets to Lewes Castle for an afternoon celebrating liberty, justice and equality!

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. We’re celebrating Lewes’s connection to Thomas Paine, whose ideas helped shape democratic movements around the world. Everyone is warmly invited to take part!

An 8ft walking skeleton puppet of Paine will lead a parade along the High Street featuring banners, musicians and costumes. Dressing up is encouraged, with themes including ancient Greeks, the Battle of Lewes, French and American revolutionaries, Suffragettes and Civil Rights campaigners.

Then from 3pm, enjoy music, poetry and ideas on democracy in the Gun Garden of Lewes Castle – full programme below.

Bring your own banner. Rain or shine – be prepared for a great celebration of our town and what democracy can be!

Delivered in partnership by Lewes Climate Hub and Thomas Paine: Legacy

What’s happening

1pm-3pm: Democracy Day Procession

Meet at 1pm at Bull House, 92 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XH

Parade route: From Bull House down the High Street, along Cliffe High St with Angels with Attitude Choir, then back to Lewes Gun Garden, accompanied by the Don’t Lose Hope band! See map of route below.

3pm-6pm: Festival in the Gun Garden
Lewes Castle Gun Garden, 169 High Street, Lewes BN7 1YE (next to the Barbican Gate and opposite Lewes Museum)
An open-air afternoon of music, poetry, storytelling and ideas against the backdrop of Lewes Castle:

3pm: James MacCleary, Member of Parliament for Lewes, on making the election process fairer and more representative
3.15pm: Live music with Don’t Lose Hope
3.30pm: Storytelling with Jon Mason
3.55pm: Vanessa Rowlands, Chair of the South Downs National Park Authority, on community engagement
4.05pm: Live music with Forest and the Gardener
4.30pm: Starfish Youth Music
4.55pm: Cross-party think-tank Compass on collaborative politics
5.10pm: Poetry with Amy Burnett
5.30pm: Starfish Youth Music
5.50pm: Song of Freedom competition winner
6pm: Close
(Exact times subject to change)

Any questions email

For more on Thomas Paine: Legacy events at Bull House, visit thomaspainelegacy.org

Angels With Attitude is an inclusive community choir based in Lewes, directed by Ali Bishop. Known for their vocal harmony performances, the Angels regularly participate in town events, charity fundraisers, and local festivals.

Compass is an ideas and campaigning platform aiming to create collaborative space for progressive people and politics focused on making equality, sustainability and democracy a living reality. It has local groups in communities across England to help shape its national programme, including in Lewes. www.compassonline.org.uk

James MacCleary became MP for Lewes in 2024. A Liberal Democrat, he has previously been a local town, district and county councillor. He has been the LibDem spokesperson for Europe and now has the portfolio for Defence.

Jon Mason is a Brighton-based storyteller who performs regularly at storytelling clubs, festivals and schools and anywhere that will have him! He loves legends, real history – and the blurry bits in between. Jon believes every story should be huge, sweeping, rip-roaring FUN! Danger and excitement and sorrow and laughter, for children and grown-ups.

Vanessa Rowlands is Chair of the South Downs National Park Authority. She was appointed to the Authority in June 2019. She is also Chair of National Parks England, the collective voice for England’s ten National Parks.

Starfish Youth Music is a music club for young people 10-18 years old, based in Lewes, East Sussex. Since 1998 it has provided a fun and safe space for young people, helping them meet other like-minded musicians, form bands, jam, write songs, play gigs and record their music. We are delighted to have some of its young performers playing.

A partnership project with

Supported by

With special thanks to:

Lewes Castle for hosting this event at the Gun Garden.

Carolyn Trant for permission to base the Festival of Democracy logo on her wonderful print of the Liberty Tree.