Drummers, school children and a large scale dragon will be joining Saint George’s Day celebrations in two Kent towns.

The event in Gravesham and Dartford on Friday will be the first in person celebration since April 2019 because of the pandemic.

The annual celebrations are organised by Cohesion Plus in partnership Kent Equality Cohesion Council, supported by Gravesham Borough Council, Dartford Borough Council and Arts Council England.

The festivities start in Gravesend town centre at 9.45am and finish at 11.30am and then take place in Dartford between 12.45pm and 2.30pm.

Children from 18 schools across the two boroughs have been taking part in creative arts workshops delivered by Same Sky in the build up to the big day and what they have made in the sessions will be showcased during the parades.

Alongside the schools, there will be a programme of entertainment including traditional and contemporary brass bands, fusion dhol drummers, folk musicians, Saint George himself and a large scale dragon.

On Saturday there will be also programme of activities in Dartford town centre between 10.30am and 2.30pm including an opportunity to have a selfie with Saint George and the Dragon, as well as music and entertainment for children.

For updates, check the Facebook page www.facebook.com/CohesionPlusEvents

The ethos of the events is to celebrate diverse England in the context of 2022, bringing communities together as well as educating young people about Saint George the patron Saint of England. This will be the first in person celebration since April 2019.

Gurvinder Sandher the Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus commented “I am so pleased that we are able to produce in person Saint George’s Day celebrations again in Gravesham and Dartford. For the last 2 years we have been limited to online celebrations which are not the same. It is great to be working with the local schools and performing artists again who make the celebrations so special. I hope like previous years that the local community will come out and wave the flag of Saint George with pride. The celebrations are about celebrating the local community and what binds us together.”

On Sunday, April 24 there will be another event, when Dartford Scouts with Dartford Guides hold their parade at the bandstand in Central Park from 10.30am to 11.30am.