The Festival Theatre at Hever Castle, NOW – Tues 30 Aug

For your guaranteed summer of fun, you’ll want to know about The Festival Theatre, this is an open air venue set in the gardens of Hever Castle. They plan music acts, operas, films, plays and family shows every year all summer long and this year will be no different! They have a whole calendar of exciting events featuring The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, Horrible Histories, Three Inch Fools, performing Twelfth Night (pictured above), internationally acclaimed Stacey Kent and even sing-along cinema favourites – see the full line-up here. Book your tickets asap!

Park Feast, Canterbury, Thurs 2 – Sat 5 June

Don’t miss this delicious 4-day Street Food Festival, a wonderful new event, coming to Canterbury for the first time this June. The foodie festival will be taking place across the 4-day extended Queen’s Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend in the Dane John Gardens. Expect international street food vendors arranged in ‘zones’; craft beers, ciders and ales; hand-made cocktails; music and entertainment. These mouth-watering Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations are delivered by the team behind Park/City Feast. Running daily from 12:00pm – 7:30pm.

Platinum Jubilee Event, Whitefriars, Canterbury, Thurs 2 – Sun 6 June

Diaries out! Whitefriars in Canterbury are hosting a weekend of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this June. We hear there’ll be music, dancing, afternoon tea, croquet on the lawn and much more! More details to be announced soon…

Wimbledon fun, Whitefriars, Canterbury, Mon 27 June – Sun 10 July

PLUS… Wimbledon is coming to Whitefriars Square from Mon 27 June through to Sun 10 July. Shoppers will discover a giant screen with all the matches screened for free plus a Pimm’s and champagne bar, Strawberries and Cream and deckchairs.

Black Deer Festival, Fri 17 – Sun 19 June

Get your cowboy boots groove on. The UK’s only Americana and country music festival is back! This family-friendly festival has a stellar lineup of established and new Amerciana, country, blues, folk and bluegrass artists. Latest additions include personal faves (Oh, sit down) James, Van Morrison, Jake Bugg, Imelda May, Wilco, The Waterboys and oh so much more! There’s heaps of acts to enjoy and discover, with more than 100 across 6 stages in fact. Yee-haw!

Plus enjoy food and drink stalls – think classic American smokehouse BBQ. Showcases of all the best mean machines from classic American trucks to custom vintage motorcycles. Plus there’s tons of fun for the young folk!

Wealden Literary Festival, Sat 25 – Sun 26 June

Experience a magical weekend at the Wealden Literary Festival, a family-friendly weekend of nature, creativity and outdoor adventures in Woodchurch. The line-up features award-winning nature writers, authors and conservationists including Michael Morpurgo, Lara Maiklem, Isabel Thomas, Philip Hoare and there’s a packed children’s programme to inspire younger readers. Alongside literary events, festival-goers can try their hand at tree climbing, wild cooking, wine tasting, weaving workshops, yoga plus writing workshops – just select what activities you wish to take part in!

Medieval Pageant & Trail, Canterbury, Sat 2 July

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Canterbury’s seventh annual Medieval Pageant and Trail will be taking place on Sat 2 July, celebrating the role pilgrimage has had on the historic city. Expect a colour parade featuring historical characters and re-enactment groups, music and giants along with a family trail through various locations in the city.

The Westgate Towers, The Beaney, St Augustine’s Abbey and many more will be welcoming families with a range of activities including crafts, a chance to meet medieval characters and you can even visit a medieval encampment! Don’t forget when you visit the places in the Family Trail, get your leaflet ‘stamped’ and collect 5 stamps to receive a FREE giant chocolate coin at the Cathedral Shop in the Buttermarket. Allow a whole afternoon to complete the trail, suitable for children of all ages.

Pub in the Park, Tunbridge Wells, Fri 8 – Sun 10 July

Pub in the Park returns to Tunbridge Wells this summer! If you didn’t go last year – why not? It’s the biggest celebration of food and music with award-winning restaurants, live music and good times! The line up this year follows: Friday evening will see a DJ set from Faithless and Sophie Ellis-Bextor then Professor Green and Supergrass on Saturday night finishing with Melanie C and garage legends Luck & Neat on Sunday. Plus nationally-famous chefs such as James Martin and brilliant local pubs and foodie heroes. Tickets are now on sale!

Leeds Castle Concert, Maidstone, Sat 9 July

The iconic event has already established itself as one of the highlights of the summer season, set in the most stunning location and natural amphitheatre in front of the beautiful Leeds Castle. People in their thousands have attended the stunning setting for over forty years to be entertained by this amazing open-air musical delight. The Leeds Castle Concert is back on with world-classic music, a spectacular fly-over with a Spitfire and a fireworks finale. Bring the champagne!

Blue Reef Fest, Maidstone, Fri 15 – Sun 17 July

Now in its second year, Blue Reef Fest promises to be bigger and better! Now spread over 2 days on Loddington Farm in Maidstone, enjoy live music, good food, stalls from talented artists and makers plus classic and custom VW camper vans, motorcycles, scooters and much more. Expect rocking bands to mellow acoustic sets split over 2 stages so no matter what your vibe is, they’ll be something for you! Plus Muddy faves Vintage Vinyl Brother’s will also be playing classic dance tracks until 1am so you can party all night long too!

Jousting Events, Hever Castle, 16 July – 29 Aug

Witness brave knights display spectacular jousting skills in an authentic arena at Hever Castle this summer. Watch exhilarating displays of action, stunts, falls and tights in an arena complete with medieval spectator stands and a Royal Box. Each tournament begins with a procession from the Castle forecourt when Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn lead visitors across the grounds to the Jousting Arena.

The War & Peace Show, The Hop Farm, 26 – 30 July

The War and Peace Show Home Front is the greatest celebration of military history and vintage lifestyle in the world! It’s jam packed full of historical and educational displays based on a small village in the south of England during the Second World War, from shop fronts, military vehicles, classic cars and the world famous trade stalls at The Hop Farm this July. Better yet, kids go free!

Smoked & Uncut Festival, The Pig at Bridge Place, Sat 13 Aug

THE foodie/festival event of the year is back for 2022! This year, Smoked & Uncut will take place at Lime Wood and THE PIG hotels in the New Forest, Somerset, and Kent. Expect yummy food from their pop-up feasting tents and throw it back to 90s rock’n’roll with Supergrass as they’ll be headlining at The Pig in Bridge Place this August! Including music from The Selecter, Connor Selby, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, Stefan Mahendra and Abi Orfila. Expect laid back classic tunes, a bundle of bars, field food and feasting with family and friends!

Camp Kindling, Sevenoaks, Fri 19 – Mon 22 Aug

Don’t miss out on this summer camp for families this August in Sevenoaks! Camp Kindling is back for its second year and promises to be a wild weekend set in a gorgeous forest retreat with over 100 amazing activities (included in your ticket) to do, learn and discover new skills and make tons of memories! There’s activities such as: Mountain Biking, Axe Throwing, Zorbing, Nerf Battles, Tree Climbing, Orienteering, Survival Skills, Astronomy, Campfire Bread Baking, Primitive Pottery, Loom Weaving, Sand Art, Wood Whittling, Improv Comedy, Woodland Choir and Yoga – phew!

Then dance the night away amongst the trees with 50 live bands and DJs across the weekend with Rylan (DJ), The Cuban Brothers, family rave unit Junior Jungle, BBC’s YolanDa’s Band Jam and CBeebies’ Nick Cope. Get to relax in wood-fired hot tubs or chill around the campfire. Sound good? Get your tickets now!

bOing! International Family Festival, The Gulbenkian, Sat 27 – Sun 28 Aug

bOing! is bouncing back at The Gulbenkian in Canterbury this August. Expect an amazing weekend of the very best in theatre, dance, films and fun for all the family, packed with magical performances and experiences. This year features the world premier of a show by Jasmin Vardimon Company based on the tale of Alice In Wonderland, ALICE (pictured). As well as Le Gateau Chocolat’s fantastic show Duckie, a theatrical reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling PLUS new immersive sensory sound experience Fire Songs created for audience members with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) by Frozen Light and SOO much more! Tickets are on sale now! The majority of the events are free with a select few are ticketed (from £6).

Fork to Fork Food & Drink Festival, Goodnestone Park, Sun 28 Aug

Don’t miss this fab food and drink festival – coming to Goodnestone Park this August! There’ll be a fantastic line-up of local food and drink producers, alongside fun and interactive workshops held in the Walled Garden and live music to enjoy in the evening. Tickets will be going on sale soon!

Summer fun to book NOW!

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