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St George’s Day 2024: Hundreds of children take to streets in Gravesend and Dartford

19:41, 23 April 2024

updated: 11:37, 25 April 2024

Celebrations for the patron saint of England have been taking place across the county.

Hundreds of children took to the streets today in Gravesend and Dartford for St George’s Day.

Hundreds of pupils participated in St George's Day parades. Picture: Jason Arthur
Hundreds of pupils participated in St George's Day parades. Picture: Jason Arthur

Festivities organised by arts charity Cohesion Plus kicked off this morning and continued into the afternoon.

In Gravesend town centre, a life-like St George and his dragon were mingling with the crowds.

There was also entertainment with performances by North Indian Dhol acts, folk musicians and morris dancers.

School pupils brandishing themed shields, dragons and signs joined an annual march through the town.

St George with creative director of Cohesion Plus, Gurvinder Sandher. Picture: Jason Arthur
St George with creative director of Cohesion Plus, Gurvinder Sandher. Picture: Jason Arthur
A mechanical dragon breathing fire. Picture: Jason Arthur
A mechanical dragon breathing fire. Picture: Jason Arthur

The celebrations then continued in Dartford at noon where there was another pupil-led parade.

Across the two boroughs, more than 25 schools participated.

Both events ended with special flag-raising ceremonies.

They were held in partnership with the Dartford Borough Council, Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Arts Council England.

St George's Day celebrations in Gravesend. Picture: Jason Arthur
St George's Day celebrations in Gravesend. Picture: Jason Arthur

Further festivities are set to continue this weekend.

On Sunday (April 28), Scouts across Kent will be joining parades to mark our patron saint.

In Maidstone, the annual parade will set off at 1.30pm.

In Ramsgate, on the same day, there will be celebrations by St George’s Church in collaboration with the Great British Carnival.

Ahead of the event, a free costume workshop will be held in Church Hall, Broad Street on Saturday.

Celebrations for the patron saint are underway. Picture: Jason Arthur
Celebrations for the patron saint are underway. Picture: Jason Arthur

But children won’t be the only ones participating in the celebrations.

Many pubs will also be offering special drink and food deals to mark St George’s Day.

Shepherd’s Neame is giving out a free pint of Spitfire Lager at participating pubs from Monday to Friday.

For more detail click here.

Elsewhere, six people were arrested at a St George’s Day event in Whitehall today.

Videos posted on social media show disorder breaking out and people being detained by police.

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