The final timings for this year’s Rye Bonfire Night have been confirmed, with over ten thousand people expected on the streets on Saturday November 9. The A259 through Rye will be closed for times between 7pm and 10pm and Southern Railway is expected to announce the station will be shut for the evening.
Bonfire Societies from across Sussex will join the parade, which ends with a spectacular fireworks display.
The Rye Bonfire Night is now in its 29th year since restarting in 1995 and attracts a big crowd. James Foster, Chairman of Rye Bonfire Society, says the evening aims to be a family friendly event which brings the town together. “We’re so glad to be able to bring you Rye Fawkes again this year. It has been a pleasure to work with a fantastic group of people to bring you the best event we possibly can! I wish you all a spectacular evening.”
The route is unchanged, with the parade of local bonfire societies and drummers starting from Mason Road on the Tilling Green estate at 7pm before heading through town twice and finishing on the Salts for the bonfire and fireworks. The Ryebellion Drummers and Scorcher the dragon will lead the procession. You can read the full timetable below.
Bonfire Night is a huge undertaking for the organizers. James Foster says making sure the event goes safely and that everyone enjoys themselves is the priority. “The station will be closed to prevent overcrowding. The A259 shuts at times for safety reasons too. We’re asking people not to bring their own fireworks and to listen to the marshalls along the route for any safety advice. Please do not pickup discarded torches. that’s the job of our own green dragon fire carts.”
The Rye Bonfire Society receives no financial support from public funds to stage the event which costs over £20,000. All the funding is raised by voluntary contributions, programme sales and advertising, fund-raising events and street collections on the night.
This Saturday Rye Bonfire Society will be supporting the Ewhurst and Staplecross Bonfire. Next weekend they’ll be in Battle on Saturday November 2.
Next week in Rye News we will be taking a look at the history of Rye Bonfire.
Rye Bonfire Timetable
16:00 – Parking restrictions apply to processional route.
18:00 – Vehicular access restrictions apply.
18:00 – Processional Route to be clear of all vehicles
19:00 – Loud maroon signals the start of the procession from Mason Road, Tilling Green Estate
The route is as follows – 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, right into Bedford Place and on to the Bonfire site.
19:40 – The Chairing down of Rye Fawkes 2024
20:00 – The Bonfire Lit by Rye Fawkes 2024
20:15 – Grand Fireworks Display
Image Credits: James Ratchford , Rye Bonfire Society .
What a shame people who wish to watch the lighting of the bonfire are now severely restricted at one of the best viewing galleries, Hilders Cliffe, Just like the old town Salts which has become an overgrown eyesore for most of the year, now it’s seems Rother Parks are now neglecting their duty in crowning the trees, and spoiling the views for locals and visitors alike.
I recently left Hastings Section 5 Drummers after 13 years and Rye Bonfire was always my favourite Bonfire event. It never changes from the beautiful old town that I loved during school years in the mid-late 60’s.