Rye promises bonfire bonanza
THOUSANDS are expected to flood into Rye for Saturday's (November 13) bonfire celebrations.
The streets will be transformed into a sea of fire by hundreds of blazing torches as the dramatic procession moves through the town.
Its destination will be The Salts for a huge bonfire and spectacular fireworks display.
The event looks set to provide a late-season boost for traders with many accommodation providers fully booked for the evening.
A spokesperson for Rye Heritage Centre said: "It is good for the town. People come from miles around and many stay in Rye for the event. We have had lots of inquiries."
Bonfire Societies from Hastings, Robertsbridge, Battle, Staplecross and Lewes are set to take part in the procession, which also features drummers, marching bands and floats.
It will also include Rye's famous burning boat and a dramatic fire-breathing green dragon.
Rye Bonfire Society chairman John Izod said: "The torchlit procession has become one of the great family events in the local calendar.
"Many months of hard work and preparation are put in by society members from fund raising to torch making and building the ultimate bonfire. It has been a great team effort."
A maroon signals the start of the procession from Ferry Road at about 7.30pm.
The procession will move along Ferry Road to the Crown Inn, turn left into Cinque Ports Street, Tower Street, through Landgate Arch, Hilders Cliff in to High Street, The Mint, turn right into Wish Ward, Cinque Ports Street, Tower Street, left down Landgate, right into Bedford Place before entering the fire site on The Salts.
The bonfire will be lit by mystery celebrity Rye Fawkes. Last year's guest was the God of Hellfire Arthur Brown and in past years the honour has gone to Spike Milligan and Vic Reeves.
The mystery celebrity will be chaired down to the Salts from Hilders Cliff at around 8.30pm to light the bonfire and fireworks will light up the sky from 8.45pm.
There will be extensive parking restrictions throughout Rye from 4pm onwards and there will be road-closures in place along the processional route before and during the event.
At this time there will be no vehicle access to or from Cinque Ports Street, Ferry Road or the Citadel of Rye.
There will also be long delays on the roads approaching Rye, especially the A259 coastal Trunk Route and the A268 London Road.
The police may be expected to apply road closures on these routes between 8pm and 9.30pm, and traffic between Hastings and the Channel Ports is advised to use the A28/M20 route via Ashford.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -7 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
