What a year it’s been. Putin broke the energy system, our government broke the economy and we broke free from Covid. Not quite a total annus horribilis, but hardly an annus mirabilis. So what better way to celebrate making it to Christmas 2022 than with a great big lantern parade, hordes of musicians, a ton of fireworks and the burning of a giant effigy on the beach?

After the now ubiquitous two-year hiatus, Burning The Clocks makes a very welcome return on the 21st and the theme this time is “wild”. Conceived by local community-led arts charity Same Sky, the event is a highlight of the season and takes place on the winter solstice. Expect a cavalcade of glowing lanterns great and small that will start at the Pavilion, wind its way through the streets of our fair city and alight at Kemptown beach for the great big burn-up.

Even better, we can join in too! Bag yourself a lantern-making kit from places that include The Booklover Store, HISBE, the Paxton+Glew Gallery and The Book Nook. You’ll get everything you need to make something pretty wild and the pack includes wristbands which allow you to take part in the parade. All the details can be found here.

Same Sky are running a crowdfunder to support the event and many Brighton businesses including The Chilli Pickle, The Theatre Royal and Hanningtons Lane have all donated prizes. So get your pagan freak on, get creative with your lantern design, hit the crowdfunder and we’ll see you there!

Burning The Clocks, Wednesday 21st December 2022 @ 6:30pm
Words by Jason Warner
Photo by Simon Dack