Hailsham Gears Up for Stand Proud 3 Celebrations

With just a few weeks to go until this year’s Stand Proud in Hailsham – Stand Proud 3 – excitement is building as organisers prepare to welcome the community for a full day of celebration, entertainment and inclusivity. Building on the success of previous years, the event is expected to attract an even larger and more diverse crowd.

Hailsham Town Council is supporting the event, which is set to take place at the White Hart in Horsebridge on Saturday 27th June, running from midday through to midnight.

Marking Pride Month, the event is designed to celebrate diversity, encourage inclusivity and show support for the LGBTQ+ community. To help deliver this, the Town Council has contributed £1,700 towards the event’s funding.

Attendees can expect a wide variety of live entertainment across the day and into the evening. The line-up includes rhythm and blues group Moss Casa, acoustic act The Management, covers band School’s Out, and genre-spanning group Nightflame. Returning as headline act is drag performer Fonda Cox, who proved a major hit at earlier Stand Proud events.

There will also be a range of additional attractions, including children’s entertainment from Awesome Alfie, along with Sweet Circus Experience, Name That Tune and Rainbow Bingo hosted by Sam. Food and drink will be provided by Sparkles by the Pond, and face painting will be available courtesy of I Paint Faces.

The full schedule of activities is as follows:

12pm-12.30pm | Neil Povey & Town Crier (event opening)
12.30pm-1pm | The Management (acoustic duo)
1.30pm-3.30pm | Awesome Alfie (children’s entertainer)
3.30pm-4pm | Name That Tune with DJ Neil Povey
4pm-5pm | School’s Out (cover band)
4pm-5pm | Sweet Circus Experience
5pm-5.30pm | Rainbow Bingo with Sam
5.30pm-7.30pm | Nightflame (rock, indie and pop)
7.30pm-8.15pm | Naughty Nineties with DJ Neil Povey
8.15pm-9pm | Moss Casa (soft rock, upbeat jazz and blues)
9pm-10pm | Fonda Cox (drag performer and comedian)
10pm-11pm | Moss Casa (soft rock, upbeat jazz and blues)
11pm-12am | Pink Povey Club with DJ Neil Povey

Following the strong turnout at last year’s celebration, organisers are advising visitors to bring along picnic chairs or blankets to ensure they have somewhere to sit. A 7pm watershed will also be in place to maintain a safe and inclusive environment for everyone attending.

Mary Laxton, co-organiser of Stand Proud in Hailsham, spoke about the event’s growing popularity: “The enthusiasm we’ve seen in previous years highlights just how valuable events like this are for the community. People from all walks of life have come together in a welcoming and uplifting setting, and we’re determined to build on that again this year.”

She continued: “Stand Proud is all about celebration, visibility and bringing people together. We’re excited to welcome both residents and visitors on 27th June for what promises to be an enjoyable and inclusive occasion.”

Co-organiser Colin Mitchell also emphasised the importance of the event: “It’s fantastic to see how the event has developed in just three years and the level of support it receives locally. Stand Proud is not only a celebration, but also a reflection of Hailsham’s dedication to diversity, equality and inclusion.”

He added: “By supporting initiatives like Stand Proud in Hailsham, the Town Council is reinforcing its commitment to diversity, fairness and community spirit. We’re proud to back an event that unites people in a positive and respectful way.”