Crowds gather for annual Lewes Bonfire parade in East Sussex

Bonfire societies in Lewes, a town in East Sussex, England, held their annual parade on 5 November.

Participants paraded through the town centre with fireworks and effigies of public figures. This year, the societies included figures such as FIFA boss Gianni Infantino and Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The procession also featured effigies targeting water companies like Southern Water. Mick Symes, the chair of the Lewes Borough Bonfire Society, noted that their specific effigy was intended to resonate with local residents.

Authorities managed the large gathering by closing parts of the A27 and A26 roads and cancelling train services at Lewes and nearby stations. Sussex Police Chief Superintendent Graham Barnett stated that the event is one of the largest single occasions the force manages each year. Last year, the festivities attracted an estimated crowd of 40,000 people.