An popular city-wide celebration is set to take place next week to mark the shortest day of the year.

Tens of thousands of revellers will descend on the streets of Brighton this Wednesday as part of Same Sky's annual Burning the Clocks event.

Paper and willow lanterns will be paraded through the city, from New Road, near the Pavilion, before being passed into a bonfire on the beach near Kemptown.

Starting at 6.30pm, Burning the Clocks is a celebration of the new and past year, and is described as a "time for reflection and thought".

The theme for this year's procession is nature, which will be the first in two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Robert Batson, executive producer at festival organisers Same Sky, said: “It has been heartbreaking to cancel the event for the past two years, so bringing it back and in such a big way is going to be so thrilling.

“There’s no better way to celebrate the Winter Solstice.”

Among the parading paper lanterns will be an effigy created by artist Jo Coles. This is said to have been inspired by the Wildermen of Europe.

When is it?

Burning the Clocks begins at around 6:30pm on New Road, near the Pavilion on Wednesday, December 21.

The fireworks and effigy burning will commence around 7:30pm on the beach new Kemptown.

How can I take part?

Members of the public can take part in the parade alongside children from local schools. Lantern kits can be purchased from the Booklovers store, Hisbe, and the Book Nook.

What is the route?

The video below shows the route the parade will take on Wednesday.

Will the processions impact travel?

The parade passes through the centre of Brighton, and onto Madeira Drive, so delays can be expected across the city, in the centre and near Madeira Drive.

Roads will begin to close from 4pm.

  • Jubilee Street and New Road will be closed between 4pm and 7pm
  • Church Street will be closed between 5pm and 7pm, between Marlborough Place and Gardner Street
  • North Street will close before the procession begins, between 6.15pm and 7.00
  • As the parade of fire makes its way through the lanes and onto the seafront, Middle Street, Duke Street, Ship Street, Prince Albert Street, Bartholomews, East Street and Brills Lane will be closed between 6.30pm and 7.15pm
  • Grand Junction Road will be shut for 15 minutes sometime between 6.45 and 7.15pm. Temporary traffic lights will be in place

Bus services will also be subject to alterations and diversions.

Brighton and Hove Buses has issued a "service update" on their website.

Services towards Churchill Square from the Old Steine will divert along the Coast Road and West Street. 

Coastal Buses travelling from the Sea Life Centre will also use the same diversion.
Buses heading east from Churchill Square that operate towards the Old Steine / St Peters Church will divert via Queens Road and North Road, using the stop towards the bottom of North Road.

Buses heading south from Brighton Station will operate directly down North Road.

The routes affected are: 1, 1A, 2, 5, 5A, 5B, 7, 12, 12A, 12X, 14, 14A, 14C, 18, 21, 21A, 22, 24, 26, 27, 27C, 28, 29, 46, 48, 49, 50, 55

What happens after the procession?

The parade ends at Madeira drive, culminating in a bonfire and fireworks display on the beach. The paper and willow lanterns are set alight on the bonfire.

How is the event supported?

The annual celebration costs over £45,000 to produce each year, and this is supported through a crowdfunding campaign, along with sponsors such as the Arts Council England and Hanningtons Brighton.

Same Sky say the event "receives no guaranteed funding" and "we rely heavily on donations from our community to make this massive event happen".

You can donate by visiting https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/burning-the-clocks-2022