Petworth Festival and the West Sussex Piano Trail

In its fourth year, the West Sussex Piano Trail continues to bring music, creativity, and community spirit to towns across the county. What began as a simple creative idea to make music more accessible has grown into a much-loved initiative that encourages people of all ages and abilities to stop, play the piano, listen, and connect through the shared joy of music.

This year, we brought two pianos to the farmers’ markets in Midhurst and Arundel, where the response from the public has been absolutely brilliant. Throughout the day, the pianos became vibrant gathering points for the community, with people playing everything from classical pieces and jazz improvisations to popular songs. The atmosphere was fabulous!

One of the most rewarding aspects of the Piano Trail is seeing how music naturally brings people together. Experienced musicians, enthusiastic beginners, children discovering the keyboard for the first time, and passers-by simply enjoying the atmosphere have all played a part in creating something very special. The trail continues to demonstrate how public music-making can transform everyday spaces into places of connection, creativity, and shared experience.

As the project continues to grow, we are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported and participated in the West Sussex Piano Trail so far - including our Board members!

The enthusiasm, encouragement, and talent shown by local communities have made this year’s events a true celebration of music in public spaces. Our next stop is Petworth town centre on Saturday 18 July 2026 - we hope to see you there!