Each year sees a variety of different festivals in Kent taking place. Keep your eye on this page for all the big Kent festivals and events happening across the year.
Whether it’s sampling new food and drink at one of the many food festivals in Kent, enjoying one of the music festivals in Kent, there is a Kent event to suit everyone.
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Kent Festivals And Events In February
John Lawson’s Circus
Dates: 13th – 19th February 2023
John Lawson’s Circus will be at Ruxley Manor this half term once again for a spectacular show. There will be plenty of family entertainment to dance, scream and sing along to.
Broadstairs Blues Bash
Dates: 17th – 19th February 2023
This is a FREE event (apart from Saturday night) in Kent. Enjoy three days of blues music.
Kent Festivals And Events In March
Dover Film Festival
Dates: 5th – 10th March 2023
A unique film recording the events and lives of the people of Dover over the last 50 years
NGS Open Day at Godinton House & Gardens
Date: 19th March 2023
Supporting the work of the National Garden Scheme. The Wild Garden will be a mass of Daffodils and Fratillieries, and the tearoom will be open for you to enjoy a delicious cream tea or slice of homemade cake.
Medway Food And Drink Festival
Dates: 31st March – 2nd April 2023
Rochester Castle gardens are filled with food and drink, comedy and live performances. There’s something for all the family with children’s entertainment, crafts and entertainment. Day tickets and evening tickets available.
Kent Festivals And Events In April
Broadstairs Food Festival
Dates: 7th – 9th April 2023
With a feast of over 80 hand-picked exhibitors it’s all about showcasing, tasting and enjoying the superb food and drink made and supplied by independent producers from Kent and the neighbouring counties.
The English Festival
Dates: 15th April 2023
Riverside Country Park is the home of this fun-packed free day out for the whole family. With an entire day of festivities from 11am until 5pm.
From live music to Punch and Judy and the George and the Dragon shows, there’s something for everyone to enjoy while celebrating St. George’s Day and the most iconic English and modern traditions.
More information
Bluebell Festival and Craft Fair At Riverhill Gardens
Dates: 19th April – 1st May 2023
A great opportunity to see bluebells in Kent. As well as enjoying the wander through the bluebell woods, there is a special bluebell-inspired craft fair. The Garden Room will be transformed into an emporium of handmade artworks and wonderful treats.
Maidstone Brick Festival
Date: 22nd April 2023
This will be a great day for families, collectors, adult builders and every other kind of LEGO fan. With lots to see and do including speed building competitions, large scale displays, activities, traders selling loose bricks, new LEGO sets, retired LEGO sets, minifigures and accessories plus a dedicated building area.
Rochester Sweeps Festival
Dates: 29th April – 1st May 2023
Enjoy three days of music, dancing and entertainment with more than 60 Morris sides and entertainers.
Scotney Annual Flower Festival
Dates: 29th April – 5th May 2023
The flower festival at Scotney Castle sees the house filled with displays from local groups.
Kent Festivals And Events In May
Belmont House Spring Fair
Date: 1st May 2023
The Spring Fair at Belmont House offers the opportunity to purchase plants for your own garden. There are also stalls from local crafters offering artisan food, hand made gifts and local food and drink.
Regal Riverhill Treasure Hunt
Dates: 6th – 8th May 2023
Enjoy this May Bank holiday event in Kent coupled with celebrating the King’s Coronation in Kent. Take part in a royal-themed treasure hunt, suitable for all ages.
Kent & East Sussex Railway Best Of British Weekend
Dates: 6th – 8th May 2023
Get in the spirit with your best Royal themed fancy dress. Take your Union Jack flags and collect your Coronation themed activity sheet for onboard the train. Collect your ticket from the Booking Office and enjoy a nostalgic trip back in time on a journey by steam through the beautiful Rother Valley countryside to Bodiam in East Sussex .
National Trust Knole Coronation Picnic
Dates: 7th May 2023
Take part in The Big Lunch at Knole and take your own picnic whilst enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Green Court. Play with the giant games and put on the costumes to dress up as kings and queens. There will be free craft activities for all to enjoy, including decorate your own crown.
MDC+ Comic Con
Date: 21st May 2023
Get ready for a geek-tastic adventure at MDC+ 2023, the highly-anticipated sequel to last year’s Marvel & DC Comic-Con! The best of the geek world comes together for an unforgettable day of fun.
Reggae & Ska Festival
Dates: 27th May 2023
Kent’s ultimate reggae festival will return to Mote park in May to celebrate everything reggae and Ska.
See Peppa Pig At Spa Valley Railway
Dates: 27th – 29th May 2023
Can’t visit Peppa Pig World in Hampshire? No worries you can see Peppa Pig in Kent this May Bank Holiday. Peppa Pig will be appearing at Groombridge station at intervals on each day.
Don’t forget the Spa Valley Railway is also home to the magical Polar Express train at Christmas time.
British Country Show Kent
Dates: 29th – 29th May 2023
There is so much happening at the British Country Show Kent. Including heavy horse displays, a motorbike stunt team and cookery demonstrations. There’s also appearances from We love Dogs and Festivals of Kids and plenty more.
Kent Festivals And Events In June
The Kent Food Fest
Dates: 3rd June 2023
Featuring gourmet street food and a live music festival in the heart of Sevenoaks. This is a family friendly and dog friendly festival in Kent.
Big 7 Scooter Rally
Dates: 9th – 11th June 2023
Arriving at The Hop Farm, the Big 7 Scooter Rally is a weekend of live bands, DJ’s, vintage scooters, hot food, custom show, market and more.
CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festival
Dates: 16th – 17th June 2023
Sit back enjoy a drink as you travel through the Beautiful Wealden Countryside. Departing from Tenderden Town Station on 17th. Friday 16th is a quiet session.
Black Deer Festival
Dates: 16th – 18th June 2023
Black Deer festival is an award winning festival in Kent celebrating Americana music and culture. There’s plenty for the small people too with tree climbing and zip wires, climbing wall and arts and crafts.
Broadstairs Dickens Festival
Dates: 16th – 18th June 2023
Celebrate the life of Charles Dickens at the Broadstairs Dickens Festival in June. There’s a grand parade, Victorian Summer Fayre, beach parties, plenty of Dickensian characters and plenty more.
Battle Of Britain Airshow
Dates: 30th June – 2nd July 2023
One of the popular air shows across the UK. Expect plenty of choreographed Battle-of-Britain era aircraft displays with family friendly attractions and re-enactments.
Kent Festivals And Events In July
Medway Gaming Festival
Dates: 1st – 2nd July 2023
Enjoy 80 acres of gaming, live stages and cosplay. With more content than you could fit in a weekend, there is sure to be enough to entertain visitors of any age from 2 to 102!!
Rochester Castle Concerts
Dates: 6th – 9th July 2023
This is a four day music festival in Kent.
Kent County Show
Dates: 7th – 9th July 2023
Showcasing farming, the countryside and food production in the Garden of England. There is educational fun for the whole family at the Kent County Show. Discover rural life as you make your way around each of the interactive areas, and learn about the importance of supporting local farming in the ‘Living Land Zone’.
Pub In The Park Tunbridge Wells
Dates: 7th – 9th July 2023
Pub in the Park is the UK’s largest tour of its kind and is a celebration of the very best music, drink, and food!
Leeds Castle Concert
Date: 8th July 2023
Situated in a timeless setting in the heart of the Garden of England, this beautiful Castle provides a dramatic backdrop to a spectacular and romantic summer’s evening concert.
Why not visit Leeds Castle through the year for the amazing maze and underground grotto
Revival 5th Birthday Weekender
Dates: 14th – 15th July 2023
The biggest 90’s and 00’s heritage festival, celebrating dance music genres, as well as Pop icons. Camping is available.
July Summer Jousting At Hever Castle
Dates: 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 30th July 2023
Visit Hever Castle this Summer for the annual Summer Jousting tournaments. The Knights of Royal England will be entertaining visitors with exhilarating displays of action, stunts, falls and fights in an authentic arena complete with a Royal Box.
Why not also see the Easter events happening at Hever Castle
Monsterslam 2023
Date: 23rd July 2023
After the car-crushing, caravan-smashing fun of summer 2022, Monsterslam is BACK at Quex Park with more metal-mashing fun on Sunday 23rd July 2023
Kent Festivals And Events In August
Pirates! At Dover Castle
Dates: 5th – 6th August 2023
Set sail for Dover Castle this summer and get ready for a spectacular adventure on the high seas. See some of history’s most famous pirates fight it out at close quarters, and listen to them tell their tales of booty, bounty and barnacles.
With shows, demonstrations and hands-on activities, there’ll be plenty of piratical fun for the whole family
Rock The Mote
Dates: 5th – 6th August 2023
The South East’s biggest tribute festival, paying tribute to the biggest names in Rock, Pop and Heavy Rock music across three stages!
Ramsgate Week
Dates: 7th – 11th August 2023
Admire the views from the Royal Temple Yacht Club at this family friendly regatta in Kent. There will also be music performances during the evenings.
Broadstairs Folk Week
Dates: 11th – 18th August 2023
There’s plenty going on by the sea in Broadstairs Ken this Summer. A week of music and dance, along with free family events.
August Summer Jousting At Hever Castle
Dates: 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 25th – 28th August 2023
Visit Hever Castle this Summer for the annual Summer Jousting tournaments. The Knights of Royal England will be entertaining visitors with exhilarating displays of action, stunts, falls and fights in an authentic arena complete with a Royal Box.
Why not also visit Hever Castle for some afternoon tea
Bus Rally At Tenterden Town Station
Dates: 13th August 2023
The rally will have more than a dozen vintage buses, with some offering free rides to a number of local destinations! This includes a service to connect with trains from both Headcorn and Ashford railway stations – Stallholders will also be present selling a selection of vintage memorabilia.
Kent Life Science Fair
Dates: 14th – 18th August 2023
Enjoy the five day celebration of all things science at Kent Life this Summer. See George the Jurassic Dinosaur, fossils, critters and so much more.
Bidden Tractorfest
Dates: 19th – 20th August 2023
A fun packed family weekend with tractors, cars, bikes, machinery, animals large and small. There are also arena events, rides, crafts, food and drink stalls and much more.
Brogdale Cider Festival
Dates: 26th – 27th August 2023
Sample over 40 locally produced ciders at the Brogdale Cider festival. There will also be entertainment including live music, food and crafts. Not forgetting the cider making demonstrations.
Kent Festivals And Events In September
Faversham Hop Festival
Dates: 2nd – 3rd September 2023
Entry to this festival in Kent is FREE. There is something for the whole family including well behaved dogs at Faversham Hop festival. Live music that is family friendly, and plenty of fun including parades.
Hops n’ Harvest Beer Festival
Dates: 9th – 10th September 2023
This is a family friendly festival in Kent. Visitors can join in with the traditional hand-picking of hops, as well as meeting historical characters from Kent’s past. You can also sample up to 50 varieties of locally brewed ales and ciders while absorbing the fantastic live music programme.
Grill N’ Chill
Dates: 15th – 17th September 2023
Grill n Chill is back with a fun-filled weekend featuring classic VW’s, held at The Hop Farm.
Bringing you all the best things you enjoy from a traditional car show but with a more chilled-out vibe, plenty of good food, good conversation and good rides.
Margate Harvest Festival
Dates: 23rd September 2023
The Cliftonville Bake Off will be returning at the Margate Harvest festival this year. Held at The Oval Bandstand & Lawns, there will be the chance to enter your own home grown produce as well.
With lots of live music, competitions and great food and drink, it’s the perfect excuse for a September day out in Kent.
Broadstairs Food Festival
Dates: 29th September – 1st October 2023
Broadstairs food festival is a popular food festival in Kent spanning three days. Enjoy the amazing food and drink on offer as well as the live music.
Kent Festivals And Events In October
Kent Comic Con
Dates: 1st October 2023
Held at the Kent Events Centre there will be plenty of exhibitors and props. Featuring UK based comic artist guests, some film and tv guests and cosplay guests.
Tenterden Folk Festival
Dates: 5th – 8th October 2023
Enjoy four days of folk music, dancing, crafts and local traditions.
12th Real Ale And Cider Festival
Dates: 19th -22nd October 2023
The South Easts original Railway Beer Festival is back in October with 150 Real Ales and 50 Ciders. Perfectly complimented by live entertainment at Tunbridge Wells West, a range of food stalls and of course the steam and heritage diesel trains!
Kent Festivals And Events In November
Christmas Lights At Leeds Castle
Dates: November 2023 – January 2024
One of the popular Christmas events in Kent are the Christmas lights at Leeds Castle. The magical trail is full of illuminations and Christmas music, all with a stunning backdrop of the castle.
Rochester Christmas Market
Dates: 25th November – 10th December
Located in Rochester Castle gardens, the Christmas markets are held over three consecutive weekends.
Kent Festivals And Events In December
Kent And East Sussex Railway Santa Train
Dates: December 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 22nd – 24th December 2023. November 26th is the quiet day date.
The Santa train experience in 2023 includes a 70 minute festive train journey with complimentary refreshments. There is a magician providing on-board entertainment and at Tenterden station. Children receive a gift on board the train from Santa as he travels up and down the train.
