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To view the latest events taking place around Kent, visit our Special Events page.
| Festivals and Special Events for the Summer |
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Summer is the season for festivals and special events. You won't be disappointed with the selection taking place at Kent's attractions this Summer: Hythe Festival Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, 2 - 7 July 2012 As part of this year’s Hythe Festival, Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway are laying on a series of events to celebrate all that the railway and surrounding area have to offer. On Monday 2 July, visitors can experience a fully guided wildlife excursion like no other and visit the unique features of the Marsh, with a whistle stop tour of the Romney Marsh Visitors Centre. Visitors can then enjoy a Big Breakfast at the Heywood Buffet to finish off the morning. The train departs from Hythe at 7.30am and there is open return on an all day ticket. Tickets cost £19 for an adult and £11 for children. On Thursday 5 July, there will be the opportunity to spend the evening backstage with the railways general manager, Danny Martin. Visitors can learn the history behind the smallest commercial railway in the world, take a peek at the fleet of steam and diesel locomotives, and enjoy a tour of the workshops, station sheds and museum. The steam train departs from Hythe at 6.30pm and arrives back at 8.30pm. Beverages will be available for purchase from the Heywood Buffet throughout the event. Tickets cost £19 for adults and £9.50 for children. On Saturday 7 July, there will be the chance for visitors to enjoy a ride on an evening dinner train. Guests will take their seats on one of the Heritage Carriages for a steam train journey across the Romney Marsh to Dungeness. On the menu will be the famous platter of fish and chips, served with a glass of wine or locally brewed beer. This will be followed by dessert and a hot beverage. The train departs from Hythe at 6.45pm, and there will be a scheduled stop at New Romney at 7.15pm. The return train departs from Dungeness at 9.45pm. Seats in the Heritage Carriage are booked on a first come, first served basis, and tickets cost £35 per adult. To book seats on any of the
events taking place call 01797 362353. For more details visit
www.rhdr.org.uk, email
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, or call 01797 362353. Dickens' Women Dickens' World, Saturday July 7th As part of this year’s celebrations for the bi-centenary of Charles
Dickens, Miriam Margolyes reprises her acclaimed Olivier Award-nominated
production, DICKENS’ WOMEN which plays The Britannia Theatre Dickens
World, as part of its year-long world tour that includes seasons at the
Sydney Opera House, Jaipur Literary Festival in India and at New York’s
legendary Morgan Library. Dickens’ Women is one of the greatest one-woman shows of all time. In
this revisited production especially created for the DICKENS 2012
celebrations, audiences have the unique opportunity to witness the
extraordinary passion and talent of Miriam Margolyes as she portrays
over 23 of Dickens’ best-loved characters, from doe-eyed young heroines
and brow-beating old harridans, to men and midgets. In a stunning
demonstration of versatility and acting performance, Miriam Margolyes,
together with her audience, sets out to discover the man himself,
revealing everything from the raucous humour of his characterisations to
the darker, more sinister, aspects of his life and work. Cherry Festival Brogdale Collections, 7th and 8th of July 2012 Bring
the family together, pack up a picnic and venture into the Kent
countryside to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the National Fruit
Collections here at Brogdale this summer. Brogdale’s Cherry Festival
will be embracing the decade of the 1950’s and bringing you a feast of
entertainment perfect for all the family. Come and enjoy the
weekend with your friends and family making sure you leave enough time
to taste some of our wonderful cherries, sip a drink at the summer bar,
ride on the tractor trailer and sit back to enjoy the live music. The
children won’t get bored either with a storyteller and traditional fair
games including splat the maggot; we will even have alpaca petting on
the Saturday. Tickets are £8 for an adult and £20 for a family. For full details visit www.brogdalecollections.co.uk and follow us on twitter @BrogdaleKent
Lullingstone Castle and the World Garden MG Car Rally: 8th July, 12 - 5pm
Hever Castle The programme of spectacular Jousting Tournaments continues over the summer holiday weekends, including some Fridays, on July 21st – 22nd and 27th – 29th, and August 10th – 12th; 17th – 19th and 24th – 25th. Each tournament kicks off when the King and Queen arrive at the Castle at 2pm to greet visitors and invite them to the jousting arena. The jousts begin at approximately 2.15pm and lasts around 1 hour. Support your chosen knights as the thrill of the joust takes place in an authentic arena complete with Royal Box for the King and Queen. Which knights will win the tournament spurred on by the cheers of the crowds: The brave knights of the Blue Order or their arch rivals from the Red Banner? Covered seating* is available alongside the royal party (*small additional charge). Breathtaking displays of Tudor Falconry are planned for August 4th – 5th and 26th – 27th, at 1.00pm and 3.00pm. Marvel as magnificent birds of prey soar overhead before returning to their costumed historic falconers. Visitors will have the chance to put their own skills to the test at ‘Have-a-go Archery’* which takes place on the Winter Garden Lawn between 12noon and 5pm throughout the school holidays (*chargeable). In addition to the Jousting Tournaments and Falconry, families can enjoy the many attractions Hever offers. Explore the historic Castle, best known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, then step into the Gardens at the height of their summer beauty. Children can let off steam in the Adventure Playground with more fun in store at the Water Maze. Hire a boat* from the Edwardian boathouse (*chargeable), and complete your day out with a meal in the Guthrie Pavilion Restaurant which overlooks the picturesque 38-acre lake. Gardens open at 10.30am; Castle opens at 12 noon. Last admission 5pm; final exit 6pm.
Leeds Castle, 27 July - 12 August Visit Leeds Castle this summer for some real English games! Enjoy a variety of demonstrations and displays, including twice-daily Jousting Tournaments on 30 July and 2 August, and have a go at traditional sports from the Middle Ages. Activities subject to weather conditions and on selected dates only. 1960’s Event Kent & East Sussex Railway, 4 - 5 August Become immersed in the sounds, sights and fashions of one of the most iconic decades of the last century. Adult £15.00, OAP £14.00 Child £10, Family £42 Faversham Hop Fesitval Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre, Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September 2012 This
lively and popular event recalls the traditional celebration associated
with the hop harvest. With plenty to do and see, including live music,
arts, crafts and Morris Dancers – enjoy the merriment with a pint in
hand. The award winning Visitor Centre will be running guided brewery
tours and serving Hopper’s Lunches on both days – advance booking is
recommended. For more information, or to book please call the Visitor Centre on 01795 542285 or visit www.oldbrewerystore.co.uk Hoppers Weekend Kent & East Sussex Railway, 8 - 9 September 2012 On the 8 and 9 September, visitors to Bodiam station can enjoy a whole weekend of “opping nostalgia” as the Kent & East Sussex Railway hosts its annual Hop Pickers Weekend. Bodiam was an important area for hop picking and the weekend re-lives the days when Londoners came 'dahn 'opping' for a summer break. Each summer hop pickers used to arrive in specially timetabled trains from London and this year the railway is celebrating 54 years since the last Hop Pickers Special arrived at Bodiam station. Adult £15.00, OAP £14.00 Child £10, Family £42
The Historic Dockyard, 15th and 16th September 2012 Full of atmosphere, song and humour there is plenty of entertainment for the whole family at Salute to the ‘40s. Dress in your best vintage attire to enjoy this special event and enter into the ‘Vintage Fashion’ theme! See our special ‘Home Front Parade’ with people head to toe in their vintage splendour. Wartime re-enactors and vehicles provide a film set feel to the Dockyard. Enjoy music from some of the best 1940's performers, become an evacuee for the day, climb aboard our Second World War Destroyer and visit one of our air-raid shelters. All this and more ensures visitors will not want to go back home to the 21st Century! 01634 823826 or www.thedockyard.co.uk/salutetothe40s Country Fair Chiddingstone Castle, Sunday 16th September, 11am - 5pm Chiddingstone Castle in Kent will be hosting a Country Fair – a day celebrating the traditions of our countryside and the sports associated with it. There will be a number of exciting and entertaining activities and displays. There will be an Exemption Dog show with five classes – waggiest tail, fancy dress (with a jubilee theme), veterans (dogs aged 8 and over), pairs and best child handler (for children 8 and under) with rosettes being presented to the winners. Visitors can also watch displays by the Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent Hunt hounds and horses, the Newfoundland Dog Display Team, falconry, gundog training and fly fishing. The ever popular terrier racing will make its debut at the Castle – this always provides unique entertainment so please bring along your terriers!! The Castle’s llamas will also be present, for young and old to enjoy a leisurely trek with these friendly animals around the informal gardens. The beer tent will be selling Chiddingstone’s Larkin’s Ale and there will be a BBQ throughout the day. There will also be some fantastic shopping – 10 stalls selling local art, produce, antiques, vintage ware etc. Cookery demonstrations will take place; the RSPB, the Countryside Alliance and the Kent Wildlife Trust will all be attending too. It will be a day that will offer something for everyone and will end with family giant wool sack racing. There will be a
charge on the gates of £2.50 for adults and £1 for children aged between
5 and 13. The Castle will be open throughout the day and visitors can
enjoy the exquisite collections of Japanese, Ancient Egyptian, Buddhist,
Stuart and Egyptian artefacts acquired by the late antiquarian, Denys
Eyre Bower. The Castle and Tea Rooms will remain open throughout the
day and the legendary Chiddingstone Cream must be tried! For more information on the Country Fair please visit www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk Belmont Country Fair Belmont House and Gardens, Sunday 16th September 2012, 10am - 5pm Over
the years our Country Fair has proved to be a great family day out with
a special unique atmosphere and a wide variety of activities for
everyone interested in country life including falconry, steam engines,
“have a go” clay pigeon shooting and archery, petting zoo, pet dog show
and of course great shopping and food Adults £6.00, Children under 16 Free |
Car Rallies
Summer Jousting Tournaments
Medieval Games
Salute to the '40s