The Frockers are coming!

It’s Frock Up Friday weekend – an opportunity to put aside the world’s woes for a brief period and have some fun dressing up, as Joan Taylor-Rowan explains.

Hastings has a reputation as a party town. People like to dress up on a Friday night – and we’re not shy in Hastings. We embrace the quirky, the eccentric, the flamboyant, the weird and the frankly marvellous. So when Bevali Francis and Susan Simms came up with the idea of an online “Frock-up Friday” during lockdown to give those extroverts a chance to strut their stuff, it should have been no surprise that it took off like a firework.

What started as a local group became a worldwide phenomenon spawning a book and a frock-up festival. This weekend from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 September the second festival is about to land like a flamingo in sparkles at the Azur Marina Pavilion on St Leonards’ seafront. Hundreds of local and international “frockers” are expected to attend…but there are still a few tickets, so grab one quick!

Expect a fun-packed weekend. On Friday, you can browse the vintage market in Azur, and in the evening be entertained by a host of local cabaret glitterati.

On Saturday live bands Swamp Stomp String Band, Sister Suzie, The Mighty Sounds and Large 90s, as well as top DJs, will provide the entertainment. Save some energy for the Grand Beach Ball on Saturday night where the outfits will knock your socks off. It’s a seaside theme but don’t panic if you haven’t got an outfit ready…well-dressed not well-stressed is the Frockers’ motto.

Sunday offers a number of other events including a sparkle swim and a sunglasses breakfast. Three days of frocking good fun is guaranteed.

Check out the full festival programme and ticket availability on the Frock Up Friday website.

Also in: One Long Party