A summer festival will be painting Maidstone red this weekend – and a variety of other colours.

There’ll be baton-twirling, singing and even yarn bombing at Maidstone’s Summer Festival on Saturday, July 2, with entertainers in the streets including three samba bands, dance schools, singers and school groups. The only thing that can’t be guaranteed is the weather!

Much of the action will take place in Jubilee Square, with other dance and music displays in Brenchley Gardens, Fremlin Walk and St Faith’s Street.

There will be a street artist in Jubilee Square and face-painters in two locations, plus yarn bombing, balloon modelling, stilt walkers and magicians roaming the town in the afternoon.
It follows last summer’s Maidstone Parade and is organised by One Maidstone, the town’s new Community Interest Company.

Maidstone Baton Twirlers will be joined by Bloco Fogo, Old School Samba and the Maidstone Grammar School samba band Baterias Not Included, with seven local bands from Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs to Get Inuit and Larkspur taking part.

Other performers include the Big Sing, the Vocademy singing school, the Margaret Preedy Dance School, Mandy Ellen Performing Arts and Irish folk dancers from Frydays Academy.

The fun starts at noon and runs until 4pm.

Ken Scott from One Maidstone said: “Last year’s parade was a great success and this year’s festival promises to be even bigger and better, with a whole afternoon of entertainment, music and dance.

"It should bring business into the town and prove great fun, both for those watching and those taking part.”

For more details click here