About Eastbourne Carnival

Eastbourne Carnival CIC is a Community Interest Company with directors, and a Committee of Volunteers.

Most of the committee have been involved with Carnival since it came back in 2011.

You can make enquiries, suggestions and contact us via email, or via our social media channels.

Originally from London, but living in Eastbourne since 2004, Mina is a true Carnivalista, having been a participant in Notting Hill Carnival quite literally birth – and has gone on to participate in costume in Notting Hill, Trinidad, and Toronto Carnivals.

Mina has been involved with Eastbourne Carnival since 2016, supporting Carnival with their social media.

Stephen Lloyd stepped down after 10 years in 2021, and Mina is delighted to be the new Chair, building on the work done by Stephen and the Committee.

Mina is an active member of the Eastbourne business community, with her own business, Ditzy Media which provides social media marketing and training to local businesses and non-profits. She is also a Director of Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce, and Eastbourne & District Enterprise Agency Ltd.

Mina O'Brien

Chair/Director

Originally from London, but living in Eastbourne since 2004, Mina is a true Carnivalista, having been a participant in Notting Hill Carnival quite literally birth – and has gone on to participate in costume in Notting Hill, Trinidad, and Toronto Carnivals.

Mina has been involved with Eastbourne Carnival since 2016, supporting Carnival with their social media.

Stephen Lloyd stepped down after 10 years in 2021, and Mina is delighted to be the new Chair, building on the work done by Stephen and the Committee.

Mina is an active member of the Eastbourne business community, with her own business, Ditzy Media which provides social media marketing and training to local businesses and non-profits. She is also a Director of Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce, and Eastbourne & District Enterprise Agency Ltd.

Mina O'Brien

Chair/Director

Christina joined the Committee in 2018 and is well known in Eastbourne as Chief Executive of Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce, and Director of Eastbourne & District Enterprise Agency Ltd.

Christina brings her knowledge of the local community in Eastbourne, having been involved in organising other key events in the town, together with her passion and enthusiasm for Carnival.

Christina Ewbank

Committee

Christina joined the Committee in 2018 and is well known in Eastbourne as Chief Executive of Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce, and Director of Eastbourne & District Enterprise Agency Ltd.

Christina brings her knowledge of the local community in Eastbourne, having been involved in organising other key events in the town, together with her passion and enthusiasm for Carnival.

Christina Ewbank

Committee

Marcus joined the Committee in 2019, and brings his technical knowledge and experience of working as a Sound Engineer at Notting Hill Carnival – winning best Sound in 2013 at Notting Hill Carnival for Sunshine International Arts

Marcus is Trinidadian and has been an active participant in Notting Hill Carnival for many years, and his family have long roots in Carnivals in Trinidad and Toronto.

Marcus O'Brien

Committee

Marcus joined the Committee in 2019, and brings his technical knowledge and experience of working as a Sound Engineer at Notting Hill Carnival – winning best Sound in 2013 at Notting Hill Carnival for Sunshine International Arts

Marcus is Trinidadian and has been an active participant in Notting Hill Carnival for many years, and his family have long roots in Carnivals in Trinidad and Toronto.

Marcus O'Brien

Committee

Born and raised in Eastbourne, Mark has two children and is married to Tracey. Mark retired from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in 2014. Mark brings a wealth of experience in Health and Safety.

Mark is responsible for the Health and Safety of our event - crucial during a Carnival to make sure everyone is safe. Mark is also currently helping with Eastbourne's major other tourism events, including Airbourne, Eastbourne’s International Tennis Tournament and The Beachy Head Marathon.

In his spare time, Mark enjoys kayaking off Eastbourne's seafront and is an open water scuba diving instructor with Eastbourne Sub Aqua Club!

Mark Marsden

Committee

Born and raised in Eastbourne, Mark has two children and is married to Tracey. Mark retired from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in 2014. Mark brings a wealth of experience in Health and Safety.

Mark is responsible for the Health and Safety of our event - crucial during a Carnival to make sure everyone is safe. Mark is also currently helping with Eastbourne's major other tourism events, including Airbourne, Eastbourne’s International Tennis Tournament and The Beachy Head Marathon.

In his spare time, Mark enjoys kayaking off Eastbourne's seafront and is an open water scuba diving instructor with Eastbourne Sub Aqua Club!

Mark Marsden

Committee

Nigel helped is a founding member of the Committee and is our Senior Marshall. As well as the eyes on the street for the day, he looks after Logistics and Traffic Management along with the Victoria Baptist Church Event Team which he heads.

Nigel has vast experience of marshalling from his days working with Sussex Police. He and the Victoria Baptist Church Event Team currently volunteer at 10 events in the town each year, as well as running his own business, Nigel's Paint Pot (Painting and Decorating).

Nigel Hill

Committee/Director

Nigel helped is a founding member of the Committee and is our Senior Marshall. As well as the eyes on the street for the day, he looks after Logistics and Traffic Management along with the Victoria Baptist Church Event Team which he heads.

Nigel has vast experience of marshalling from his days working with Sussex Police. He and the Victoria Baptist Church Event Team currently volunteer at 10 events in the town each year, as well as running his own business, Nigel's Paint Pot (Painting and Decorating).

Nigel Hill

Committee/Director

An award-winning & altruistic entrepreneur with years of experience in the events industry and the founder of Eastbourne’s premier Comic Con, WynterCon!

A confident team leader, Andy ensures that the ongoing projects and experiences the charity delivers enrich and enhance people’s lives. He is also a published author, an avid gamer and husband/father.

Andy Kybet

Committee

An award-winning & altruistic entrepreneur with years of experience in the events industry and the founder of Eastbourne’s premier Comic Con, WynterCon!

A confident team leader, Andy ensures that the ongoing projects and experiences the charity delivers enrich and enhance people’s lives. He is also a published author, an avid gamer and husband/father.

Andy Kybet

Committee

Luke has lived in Eastbourne all his life and has played a leading role in steering our Town Centre forward over the past 9 years, whilst working as part of Edeal’s town centre management team, and more recently with Your Eastbourne BID.

Luke currently heads the operations management of the BID and oversees most of the day to day goings on in the Town Centre, encompassing events, markets, street trading, promotions, street dressing and security.

Luke has managed some major projects over the years for our town – most recently the Ice Rink and Jubilee street party, and also Neon Noel, Bike Nites and the Victoria Place Pop-up Parks.

Luke Johnson

Committee

Luke has lived in Eastbourne all his life and has played a leading role in steering our Town Centre forward over the past 9 years, whilst working as part of Edeal’s town centre management team, and more recently with Your Eastbourne BID.

Luke currently heads the operations management of the BID and oversees most of the day to day goings on in the Town Centre, encompassing events, markets, street trading, promotions, street dressing and security.

Luke has managed some major projects over the years for our town – most recently the Ice Rink and Jubilee street party, and also Neon Noel, Bike Nites and the Victoria Place Pop-up Parks.

Luke Johnson

Committee

History of Eastbourne Carnival

The earliest reference to Carnival in Eastbourne was in 1895 when the town celebrated ‘The Battle of the Flowers’ in May of that year.

Eastbourne has historically had a town carnival for decades in the 20th century but did have an absence of 20 years until Stephen Lloyd, then MP for Eastbourne brought it back in 2011.

Carnival has been affected by the pandemic and did not take place in 2020, and a smaller parade took place in September 2021.

Eastbourne Carnival has held successful big parades in 2022 and 2023, celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (2022), and Sussex By The Sea (2023).

We are now back to our usual late May Bank Holiday spot on the Saturday – and the theme this year is ‘Into The Wild’.

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CONTACT

Suite 4
Chamber House
49 Gildredge Road
Eastbourne
BN21 4RY

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Photo credit: Media Attention, Modify Media and Graham Huntley

Video credit: Modify Media, The Beacon

Eastbourne Carnival CIC. Registered in England & Wales. Company No: 15519513.

Registered Address: 49 Gildredge Road, Eastbourne BN21 4RY