Our line up for 2019. Some old favourites and plenty of new faces!
Friday
Cherry and the Sirens
Penny Pepper
Delta 7
The Midnight Playground (Illuminated Hula Hoops)
Saturday
Mighty Sounds
Fuzzbomb Flashband
Earl Grey Band
The Daniel Wakeford Experience
The Colleens
Hastings CCE
Open Door Drummers
Eggtooth: Incubate Musicians
Iceni Belly Dance
Community Groups
Matt Cordell
Boathouse Theatre
UK Africa Acrobats
Bexhill Youth Street Theatre
Inside Out Theatre Company
Sunday
The Happy Maureens
The Marie White Band
Little Gate Farm Young Musicians
Rock Solid
Bambolina
Aretha Dance
Please note that the line up for the festival may change at short notice, so we can’t guarantee that the final programme will exactly match this information.
Our festival always promises fun for all ages and abilities – and this year is no exception.
As well as our line up of fabulous stage acts there will be child-friendly activities running throughout the weekend and, of course, our farm animals will be on hand to ensure there is never a dull moment!
Here’s a sample of how we’ll be entertaining you in 2019:
Storytelling
For stories to entrance children of all ages, join Richard Storybeard in his storytelling yurt. His words will transport you to far off lands where adventure and fun are never far away.
Or take a seat out in our fields and woods where Abbie Simmonds will evoke tales of mythical creatures and legendary heroes while Sue Bodkin will bring her wonderful storytelling to life using her puppetry skills.
Kids’ activities
We’ll be holding our ever-popular water pistol battles again this year, so prepare for a soaking! There will also be den building sessions, tugs of war, fun races and, should your kids still have some energy left, our woodland to explore.
Magical creations
You never know who you’ll meet at the Little Gate Big Festival!
This year you could chat with Arbor, the 17 foot moving tree, and watch Bambolina and Dodo, humans who think they’re puppets! Or you could be enchanted by an interactive experience like no other, as the Show Globe team bring their beautiful flower garden show globe to the festival.
Meanwhile, Dolly Delicious and Lily Fortune from Les Ooh La Las will bring the fun of the Moulin Rouge to the farm. And, as the sun goes down, the Midnight Playground will emerge with their ethereal hula-hoop display.
Farm animals
We have a wide range of animals on the farm including goats, sheep, horses and a pair of very friendly alpacas called Carlos and Pedro. You’ll even have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of our cutest residents in the chick-handling tent!
Saturday only
| Adults (over 16s) | £12 |
| Children aged 10 to 16 | £6 |
| Children aged 9 and younger | Free |
Sunday only
| Adults (over 16s) | £6 |
| Children aged 10 to 16 | £3 |
| Children aged 9 and younger | Free |
Full weekend ticket (Friday to Sunday) with camping
| Family* | £85 |
| Adults (over 16s) | £35 |
| Children aged 10 to 16 | £15 |
| Children aged 9 and younger | Free |
* Our family ticket includes two adults, two 10 to 16 year olds and two under 10s.
What’s included in the price
Access to both stages and all the entertainment and activities are included in the price.
We’ll have stalls available where you can purchase food and drink, as well as crafts and artwork from local artists. We recommend bringing cash with you as card payments won’t be taken. However, limited cashback will be available.
Personal assistants/carers
You may be eligible for a free ticket – please contact our festival management team, 18 Hours, at office@18hours.org.uk for further information.
DATES AND TIMES
The festival runs from Friday 7th June until Sunday 9th June.
Campers can arrive any time from 4pm on Friday to set up. The evening entertainment will start at 7pm.
If you’re visiting us with a day ticket on Saturday then please arrive any time after 12 midday. You can arrive from 11am on the Sunday.
On Friday and Saturday night the evening entertainment will finish around 10pm and the bar will close at 11pm.
The festival finishes around 3pm on Sunday. We ask that all campers leave by 4pm.
STAGES
We have two stages at this year’s festival – an acoustic stage near the goats (meh!) and the main stage next to the bar area.
ACCOMMODATION
Camping
Camping tickets are available for the full weekend and you can bring tents, campervans or motorhomes. There will be toilets, including disabled toilets, close to hand and a supply of drinking water. Sorry, but we don’t have showers or electrical hook ups.
Please note that campfires are not allowed, but you will be able to buy delicious bacon, sausage and egg rolls on site in the morning!
There is no car access allowed to the camping field. We will provide wheelbarrows to help you carry your luggage.
Bricks and mortar
If sleeping under the stars isn’t your style then there are plenty of local B&Bs and hotels you can stay in. Check out the 1066 Country website for recommendations.
FOOD AND DRINK
We’ll have cooked food and snacks available throughout the festival weekend, including breakfast rolls for our campers.
We have a fully licensed bar for the festival and water will be available for free (please bring your own bottle).
Please bring cash to pay for your food and drink. A limited amount of cashback will be available, but when it’s gone it’s gone!
Please feel free to bring your own picnics and snacks too.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Little Gate Big Festival is a family friendly event with fun for everyone! We have ensured wheelchair access is provided for the main stage and key areas, whatever the weather. If the ground is dry then we anticipate wheelchair users will be able to access the majority of the festival site.
Disabled parking and toilet facilities are available.
AGE RESTRICTIONS
There are no age restrictions – we truly are suitable for all ages!
PETS
The festival is held on a working farm and therefore, unfortunately, we are unable to allow dogs or any other pets into the event, except for trained Support Dogs.
SMOKING AND VAPING
If you wish to smoke or vape please do so in the designated smoking areas. Smoking is not allowed on any other parts of the site.
WANT TO HAVE A STALL AT THE FESTIVAL?
We still have a few spaces for local businesses who would like to offer fabulous food, drink or crafts to our festival-goers. If you’d like to find out more then please complete our booking form or contact our festival management team, 18 Hours, at office@18hours.org.uk.
NEED TO KNOW MORE?
If you need any further information about the festival then please contact our festival management team, 18 Hours, at office@18hours.org.uk.
Our festival is held at Little Gate Farm in Beckley, East Sussex.
This is the address:
Little Gate Farm
Horseshoe Lane
Beckley
East Sussex
TN31 6RZ
Ample parking is available for the festival. The car park is just down the road from the farm (to the South).
Without our wonderful sponsors the Little Gate Big Festival simply couldn’t happen, so a big thank you to you all!
We’d also like to thank Lester Magoogan for designing our festival logo.
A little gate to a big future
The Little Gate Big Festival is run by Little Gate, a local charity which helps people with learning disabilities and autism find paid employment.
We offer training programmes, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities – all aimed at finding permanent, paid employment for our candidates.
It’s not just adults with learning disabilities and autism who benefit from our work, we also run the Little Gate Rangers, fun weekend and school holiday activities for youngsters.