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
Broadstairs Blues Bash
Dates: 15th – 18th February 2024
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: 3rd – 8th March 2024
A unique film recording the events and lives of the people of Dover over the last 50 years
John Lawson’s Circus
Dates: 28th March – 1st April 2024
John Lawson’s Circus will be at Betteshanger Park in Deal for a spectacular show. There will be plenty of family entertainment to dance, scream and sing along to. 2024 is John Lawson’s Circus 50th anniversary year
Broadstairs Food Festival
Dates: 29th – 31st March 2024
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.
Kent Festivals And Events In April
John Lawson’s Circus
Dates: 4th – 7th April 2024
John Lawson’s Circus will be at the show ground in Faverhsam for a spectacular show. There will be plenty of family entertainment to dance, scream and sing along to. 2024 is John Lawson’s Circus 50th anniversary year
Rochester Sweeps Festival
Dates: 2024 TBC
Enjoy three days of music, dancing and entertainment with more than 60 Morris sides and entertainers.
Scotney Annual Flower Festival
Dates: 20th – 28th April 2024
The flower festival at Scotney Castle sees the house filled with displays from local groups.
Kent Festivals And Events In May
Day Out With Thomas At Spa Valley Railway
Dates: 27th, 28th April, 4th, 5th, 6th May 2024
Enjoy a magical day out with Thomas at the Spa Valley Railway. Take a real train ride with Thomas and make some amazing memories along the way.
Don’t forget the Spa Valley Railway is also home to the magical Polar Express train at Christmas time.
Bluebell Festival and Craft Fair At Riverhill Gardens
Dates: 1st – 6th May 2024
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.
Belmont House Spring Fair
Date: 6th May 2024
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.
Maidstone Brick Festival
Date: 11th May 2024
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.
British Country Show Kent
Dates: 26th – 27th May 2024
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.
Rock The Mote
Dates: 31st May – 2nd June 2024
The South East’s biggest tribute festival, paying tribute to the biggest names in Rock, Pop and Heavy Rock music across three stages!
Kent Festivals And Events In June
The Kent Food Fest
Dates: 15th – 16th June 2024
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.
Medway Food And Drink Festival
Dates: 7th – 9th June 2024
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.
CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festival
Dates: 14th – 15th June 2024
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: 14th – 16th June 2024
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.
Sausage And Cider Festival Tunbridge Wells
Date: 15th June 2024
You’ll find a great line up of tribute acts to go alongside plenty of street food vendors and over 30 different ciders. There’s also lots going on for the children including a silent disco and lots of entertainment.
Choose from over 20 different sausage flavours and also including the chilli eating competition if you’re brave enough. The festival will be held at Donorlan Park.
Broadstairs Dickens Festival
Dates: 14th – 16th June 2024
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.
Medway Gaming Festival
Dates: 15th – 16th June 2024
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!!
Kent Festivals And Events In July
Kent County Show
Dates: 5th – 7th July 2024
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’.
Leeds Castle Concert
Date: 13th July 2024
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. Not forgetting the amazing fireworks display at the end of the night.
Why not visit Leeds Castle through the year for the amazing maze and underground grotto
Revival 5th Birthday Weekender
Dates: 12th – 14th July 2024
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: 2024 below
July: 13th, 14th, 20th 21st, 27th, 28th
August: 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st
September: 1st
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
Sausage & Cider Festival
Location: Quex Park
Dates: 27th July 2024
This is the first time in 2024 that the Sausage & Cider festival will be in Thanet. As well as over 30 ciders and 20 flavours of sausage, there is plenty of live music and entertainment for all the family.
Broadstairs Summer Fireworks
Dates: 24th, 31st July / 21st, 28th August 2024
On selected dates in Broadstairs through the Summer, enjoy the fireworks and live music. These are free events in Kent through the Summer, (donations welcome).
The fireworks display takes place at 9.45pm, with music at 8pm. There’s also children’s fun fair rides and hot and cold food available to purchase.
Kent Festivals And Events In August
Pirates! At Dover Castle
Dates: 2024 TBC
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
Monsterslam 2024
Date: 11th August 2024
After the car-crushing, caravan-smashing fun of summer 2023, Monsterslam is BACK at Quex Park with more metal-mashing fun in 2024.
Ramsgate Week
Dates: 11th – 16th August 2024
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: 9th – 16th August 2024
There’s plenty going on by the sea in Broadstairs Kent this Summer. A week of music and dance, along with free family events.
August Summer Jousting At Hever Castle
Dates: August: 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st
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
Bidden Tractorfest
Dates: 17th – 18th August 2024
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.
Swanley Park Summer Fireworks
New Barn Road, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7PW
Dates: 2024 TBC
The Swanley Park 40th Fireworks event is a FREE event this Summer. There’s live music and bands with the fireworks finale at 9pm. Enjoy all the park facilities from 11am.
Brogdale Cider Festival
Dates: 24th – 25th August 2024
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.
Faversham Hop Festival
Dates: 31st August – 1st September 2024
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.
Kent Festivals And Events In September
Hops n’ Harvest Beer Festival
Dates: 2024 TBC
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: 2024 TBC
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: 2024 TBC
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.
The Oval Bandstand & Lawns is also home to some great outdoor cinema experiences through the year.
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: 27th – 29th September 2024
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.
Oktoberfest Kent
Dates: 28th September 2024
Kent’s biggest German beer festival takes place in Mote Park. There will be plenty of German bier, German food and drinking games.
Kent Festivals And Events In October
Tenterden Folk Festival
Dates: 2024 TBC
Enjoy four days of folk music, dancing, crafts and local traditions.
Real Ale And Cider Festival
Dates: 17th – 20th October 2024
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
Kent Life Fireworks Spectacular
Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3AU
Dates: 2nd – 3rd November 2024
The annual fireworks display at Kent Life takes place over two days in November. This is the start of the Winter festivities and there’s lots to do for the whole family.
During the evening enjoy the children’s fairground, glow sticks, licensed bar and food concessions. There are lots of different viewing points to be able to enjoy the fireworks from as well, and additional parking will be available at The Village Hotel nearby.
The fireworks display begins at 6pm, with last admission to the park at 5.30pm. Kent Life has great events through the year including Halloween and Christmas too.
Christmas Lights At Leeds Castle
Dates: 22nd November 2024 – 1st January 2025
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: 2024 TBC
Located in Rochester Castle gardens, the Christmas markets are held over three consecutive weekends.
Spa Valley Railway Polar Express
Dates: November, 9th, 10th, 15th – 17th, 22nd – 24th, 28th – 30th / December 1st, 5th – 8th, 11th – 15th, 18th – 23rd – 2024
Location: The Polar Express train ride in Kent departs from West Station in Tunbridge Wells on the Spa Valley Railway.
Parking: There are a choice of car parks near the railway. All are pay and display, with the recommended car park being Meadow Road Car Park – TN1 2EN. There are free shuttle buses between here and the railway.
Prices: Polar Express train tickets vary in price according to your travel dates.
Duration: The whole Polar Express experience lasts for between two and two and a half hours.
Kent Festivals And Events In December
Kent And East Sussex Railway Santa Train
Dates: 2024 TBC
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.
Cliftonville Christmas Festival
Dates: 2024 TBC
Imagine the bandstand decorated in twinkling Christmas lights and plenty of unique gifts and trinkets to admire and purchase. There will also be a visit from Santa Claus, music and plenty of food and drink.
