Kent


<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sevenoaks-literary-festival-fri-26-sep-sun-5-oct"><a href="https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sevenoaks-literary-festival-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sevenoaks Literary Festival</a>, Fri 26 Sep &#8211; Sun 5 Oct</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/sevenoaks-literary-festival.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-117250" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/sevenoaks-literary-festival.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/sevenoaks-literary-festival-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/sevenoaks-literary-festival-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/sevenoaks-literary-festival-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/sevenoaks-literary-festival-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/sevenoaks-literary-festival-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/sevenoaks-literary-festival-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Founded in 2001, the festival returns this autumn with a stellar line-up of authors, speakers and workshops that put the town firmly on the literary map. From big names like Adam Kay, to fashion historian Julie Summers exploring a century of style in <em>British Vogue</em>, the programme is packed with variety. Highlights include Kasia St Clair and Polly Mason delving into <em>Liberty: Design, Pattern, Colour</em>, historian Tracy Borman with <em>The Stolen Crown</em>, and Jonathan Freedland discussing his gripping thriller <em>The Traitors Circle</em>. Fans of crime fiction can catch Rev’d Richard Coles with <em>A Death on Location</em>, while adventurer Tristan Gooley reveals secrets of <em>The Hidden Seasons</em> and Juliet Nicolson shares insights from <em>The Book of Revelations</em>. With a buzzing mix of bestselling authors, fresh talent and insider advice, Sevenoaks Literary Festival 2025 promises a lively celebration of books and ideas.</p>



<p>PLUS &#8211; Don&#8217;t miss comedy legend <a href="https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/what-have-i-done-an-evening-with-ben-elton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Elton</a> in a special evening of conversation with David Baddiel, celebrating the release of his first – and only – autobiography. Held at The Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks on <strong>Mon 6 Oct</strong>. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-faversham-fringe-faversham-fri-3-sun-26-oct"><a href="https://favershamfringe.co.uk/">Faversham Fringe</a>, Faversham, Fri 3 &#8211; Sun 26 Oct</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/arthur-smith-phil-nice-oof.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-117255" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/arthur-smith-phil-nice-oof.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/arthur-smith-phil-nice-oof-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/arthur-smith-phil-nice-oof-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/arthur-smith-phil-nice-oof-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/arthur-smith-phil-nice-oof-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Faversham Fringe Festival is back for its ninth year, taking over the town with a month-long celebration of live performance in all its forms. From drama, comedy and cabaret to improv, poetry, drag, music and family shows, the eclectic line-up brings a burst of creativity to central, wheelchair-accessible venues including The Arden Theatre, The Alexander Centre and the Guildhall. Highlights include comedy legends Arthur Smith and Phil Nice reuniting for <em>Oof!</em> and viral sensation turned stand-up Mrs Smith closing the festival with her new show <em>Eyes on Me!</em> With ticket prices starting from just £5 and performances every weekend, the 2025 programme promises fresh talent, returning favourites and plenty of surprises, cementing Faversham Fringe as one of Kent’s most exciting arts festivals.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-margate-bookie-margate-sat-4-sun-12-oct"><a href="https://www.margatebookie.com/">Margate Bookie</a>, Margate, Sat 4 &#8211; Sun 12 Oct</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/margate-bookie.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-117258" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/margate-bookie.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/margate-bookie-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/margate-bookie-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/margate-bookie-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/margate-bookie-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/margate-bookie-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/margate-bookie-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Margate Bookie is taking over the town with a packed programme of workshops, panels, children’s events, performances and big-name speakers. This year’s headliners include restaurant critic Jay Rayner sharing stories from 25 years in food, Costa Prize-winner David Whitehouse discussing <em>Saltwater Mansions</em>, award-winning poets Raymond Antrobus and Victoria Adukwei Bulley in conversation, and adventurer-author Adam Weymouth on his epic 1,000-mile wolf-tracking trek across the Alps. Alongside them, you’ll find everything from a high-energy Poetry Slam (yes, competitive poetry recital) and a Queer Women’s Voices panel to AI writing sessions, podcasting workshops, pub quizzes, seaside-inspired storytelling and drop-in family storytimes with some of the UK’s best children’s authors. Something for everyone &#8211; whether you’re a curious reader, aspiring writer or just after a buzzing cultural weekend by the sea.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maidstone-litfest-maidstone-sat-4-sat-11-oct"><a href="https://www.maidstonelitfest.org/">Maidstone LitFest</a>, Maidstone, Sat 4 &#8211; Sat 11 Oct</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/maidstone-lit-fest.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-117261" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/maidstone-lit-fest.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/maidstone-lit-fest-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/maidstone-lit-fest-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/maidstone-lit-fest-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/maidstone-lit-fest-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/maidstone-lit-fest-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/maidstone-lit-fest-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Headlining this year is Olivier Award-winner Celia Imrie, who joins co-author Fidelis Morgan at The Hazlitt Theatre to discuss their latest novel <em>Meet Me at Rainbow Corner</em>, while <em>Sunday Times </em>No.1 bestseller Claire Douglas brings her trademark suspense with the launch of <em>The New Neighbours</em>. The programme also features Freya North, Harriet Evans and Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, alongside children’s favourites Sue Hendra (<em>Supertato</em>), Chrissie Sains and Nathanael Lessore. With poetry open mics, memoir workshops, craft sessions, family days and a special dinner event with TM Logan and Tim Weaver, Maidstone LitFest 2025 promises an inclusive, inspiring celebration of the power of books in the heart of Kent.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-canterbury-festival-fri-17-oct-sat-1-nov"><a href="https://canterburyfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canterbury Festival</a>, Fri 17 Oct &#8211; Sat 1 Nov</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Canterbury-Festival.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-117669" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Canterbury-Festival.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Canterbury-Festival-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Canterbury-Festival-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Canterbury-Festival-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Canterbury-Festival-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Canterbury-Festival-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/Canterbury-Festival-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Canterbury Festival returns with two weeks of world-class music, theatre, circus, comedy and family activities in the heart of historic Canterbury. Highlights include the inventive circus-meets-juggling spectacle <em>Gandini Juggling: Smashed</em>, stand-up sensation Troy Hawke, and the kid-friendly <em>Family Takeover</em> featuring bestselling author and illustrator Rob Biddulph, Mischief and Mystery in Moomin Valley, Winnie the Pooh’s Songbook and magical experiments for young artists. Comedy fans can catch the Olivier Award-winning <em>Showstopper! The Improvised Musical</em>, Kiell Smith-Bynoe &amp; Friends’ <em>Kool Story Bro</em>, and Elf Lyons’ surreal horse-performed comedy <em>Horses</em>. While music lovers can round off the festival with a live performance from Newton Faulkner. From singalong, to the surreal this promises a touch of class in one of Kent’s most historic cities.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-folkestone-book-festival-thurs-13-sun-23-nov"><a href="https://www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/folkestone-book-festival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Folkestone Book Festival</a>, Thurs 13 – Sun 23 Nov</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/folkestone-book-festival.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-117263" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/folkestone-book-festival.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/folkestone-book-festival-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/folkestone-book-festival-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/folkestone-book-festival-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/folkestone-book-festival-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/folkestone-book-festival-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/folkestone-book-festival-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Could this be their boldest line-up yet? 11 days packed with more than 50 events, 70+ authors and a heady mix of big ideas, urgent debates and inspiring stories on the Kent coast. Headliners include Joanne Harris opening the festival, Lisa Jewell, Rupert Everett, Amanda Knox, Jung Chang, Caroline Lucas, Kate Mosse, Jonathan Freedland, Will Young, Mark Haddon, Dean Atta, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Irvine Welsh closing the celebrations. Phew! The festival blends global names with rising stars, transformative workshops, and local showcases. Rooted in community but reaching far beyond, Folkestone Book Festival continues to grow as one of the UK’s most distinctive literary gatherings, turning the town into a hub of creativity, conversation and connection. You can always count on Folkestone to bring the cool. </p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-want-more">WANT MORE?</h2>



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This season’s best Art & Literary Festivals in Kent

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