A seafront festival featuring classic cars drew large crowds on Saturday.
Worthing's seafront came alive for the Worthing Lions Summer Festival 2026, drawing crowds to the promenade and Steyne Gardens for a weekend of markets, classic vehicles and fireworks.
The festival, which spans July 25-26 this year, has become a fixture of the town's summer calendar, complementing the seafront car show and fireworks display.
Steyne Gardens was filled with classic cars, scooters and vintage vehicles, giving visitors the chance to browse decades of motoring history while chatting to proud owners.
Lions Festival drew large crowds to Worthing seafront yesterday, with festivities continuing today (Image: Eddie Mitchell)
Down on the promenade, a seafront market ran throughout the day, mixing street food, local crafts, charity stalls and live entertainment in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Stevens Funfair, a regular festival fixture, added rides and attractions near the pier, running for ten days either side of the main festival weekend.
As dusk fell on Saturday evening, the Worthing Lions' traditional fireworks display lit up the seafront, drawing a big crowd along the promenade to watch the display from the end of the pier.
The festival's roots are charitable: proceeds from tombolas, bucket collections and stallholder fees go towards funding the Worthing Lions' support work across the local community, helping everything from local charities to youth groups.
This year's event was organised in partnership with Worthing Town Centre BID, which has taken on a bigger role running the seafront market alongside the Lions' fireworks and car show.
The festival has run for decades as one of Worthing's best-attended free community events, pulling in visitors from across Sussex for its blend of nostalgia, family fun and fundraising.
The classic cars are always popular with festival goers (Image: Eddie Mitchell)
Read more
Herd of ponies welcomed to popular nature reserve as part of conservation project
Parish councillor confronts Travellers after caravans descend on village green
Skatepark closed after concerns over 'falling concrete' with major event postponed
Volunteers from the Worthing Lions were on hand throughout the weekend, marshalling stalls and collecting donations, while local schools and youth groups used the market to showcase their own fundraising projects.
The Worthing Lions are a local branch of Lions Clubs International, formed in 1952, made up entirely of volunteer members with no paid staff.
Over the past 33 years they've donated more than £720,000 to good causes in Worthing, and the Summer Festival's markets, fireworks and car show are among their best-known fundraising events.
Share