Things to do this bumper bank holiday weekend across Kent
10:26, 26 August 2020
updated: 09:07, 28 August 2020
Ready for a three-day weekend?
Whether you're planning to picnic, promenade or take your pick from some outdoor events, this bank holiday weekend across Kent has it all. Here's our round-up:
Proms, Hole Park Gardens
Open-air proms are set to return to the gardens in Rolvenden this weekend.
Tickets have been limited to 4,000 per event, with promenaders and picnickers able to sit in their own groups, with a 2m distance between them and other groups.
Staged by Bel Events Saturday, August 29 the proms evening will start with a Spitfire display accompanied by well-known wartime themes, followed by favourites such as the 1812 Overture, the Hornpipe, Land of Hope & Glory, Rule Britannia and Jerusalem, plus the voices of opera singer Nicky Spence and mezzo soprano Claire Presland. The evening will end with a spectacular firework display.
On Sunday, August 30, UK Queen will perform some of the band’s top hits, led by frontman Alexander Koronka as Freddie Mercury. Also returning by popular demand will be Sussex three piece cover band The Low Down, whose repertoire includes songs from the 60s through to the 2010s. The date was changed from Friday due to the weather.
For tickets at £40 and £30 for UK Queen go to belevents.co.uk
Last Night of the Hever Proms
The mini al fresco festival staging live music, opera and theatre, which runs until Sunday, August 30, has it all for you this weekend.
The Kent-based Night Owls Productions with The Dolly Parton Story will be on Friday, August 28 and the Simon and Garfunkel Story have created a new ’unplugged’ performance just for the festival on Saturday, August 29.
There will also be a Last Night of the Hever Proms to round things off on Sunday, August 30, which will be on a new stage on the main lawn with evening views of the castle behind.
Uncovered tickets are £20. Visitors can bring their own cushions, blankets, chairs and picnics. To book go to heverfestival.co.uk .
The castle is also holding its jousting tournaments through to Bank Holiday Monday with the Knights of Royal England entertaining crowds in an authentic arena.
This Is My Theatre, Mount Ephraim Gardens
The theatre company presents Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers on Bank Holiday Monday in the tranquil setting of the gardens near Faversham at 5pm. Expect plot twists, romance and, of course, epic fight scenes.
Ethan Taylor from the group said: "We are very excited to be one of the first theatre companies in the country to be dusting ourselves off and getting back on the road and we are sure that our our fun-filled show (packed with sword fights, puppetry and live music) will bring some much needed joy this summer."
For tickets click here.
Outdoor theatre at the EM Forster Theatre
Tonbridge group The Talentz had been due to perform at the theatre in April, but instead spent lockdown creating and rehearsing a socially-distanced version of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which they will perform in the Library Gardens from Thursday, August 27 to Saturday, August 29.
Environmentally sustainable outdoor theatre company The Handlebards also spent lockdown rehearsing as three of the company’s actors lived together. Their three-hander version of Romeo and Juliet, as well as their first children’s show, Gnora the Gnome’s Daytime Disco, will be staged outdoors on Bank Holiday Monday.
For tickets at £18 call 01732 304241 or visit emftheatre.com
Live on the Vine, Sevenoaks
There's a packed programme for the pay-what-you-can event this bank holiday weekend at Vine Gardens.
Friday, August 28 will see soul singer Angie Brown, who lent her vocals to Return of the Mack, perform plus magician Mandy Muden, with a Night at the Proms following on Saturday, August 29, conducted by Sam Hall and featuring classics including the William Tell Overture and Pomp and Circumstance.
Sunday, August 30 will be an afternoon of jazz with six-piece band Major to Minor, with vocals from Jamie Alexander Wilson. Find out more from the Facebook page.
Santus Circus, Whitstable
The performers at Santus Circus are back on the road and entertaining families in Kent.
They will be in Colewood Road showing their thrills and spills under Bank Holiday Monday, with a number of performances over the bank holiday weekend, and 50% off tickets for all NHS staff.
To learn more about catching a show and how to get tickets, go to santuscircus.com Read our review of the show here.
Social distancing festival, Mote Park, Maidstone
The town centre park will host three events over the bank holiday weekend. On Friday Rock the Mote presents Summertime Live will feature tribute acts giving ‘a nod’ to artists including Oasis, Paul Weller, Duran Duran and Go West. On Saturday the Revival presents Ibiza Symphonic will include a live orchestra and headliner Judge Jules streaming live, and on Sunday there will be The Social Distancing DJ sets headlined by Nic Fanciulli.
Tickets are available to buy in advance for groups to enter the event as a party on foot. Each group will be allocated a ‘pod’ which will be socially distanced from others but will allow enough room for them to enjoy the event. To book click here.
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, Hythe
Children visiting the 600-acre park will get an extra sweet treat when they visit this bank holiday weekend. Thanks to the award-winning Playin CHOC the first 300 children to enter the park on Saturday, Sunday and Monday will receive its innovative PLAYin CHOC ToyChoc box free.
Each recyclable card box contains 2 x 10g of organic chocolate wrapped in a 100% plant based home compostable film and a 3D animal puzzle toy to assemble and collect alongside a fun facts educational card. Book your tickets by clicking here.
Young visitors can also see the 900 animals, which include the largest herd of black rhinos in the UK, and Dinosaur Forest, where they can follow a trail through three acres of natural woodland and spot creatures from the prehistoric world.
Afternoon Tea at The Orangery
The Orangery at Turkey Mill, Maidstone is hosting an afternoon tea picnic with bubbly on Saturday and Sunday for £30 per person. On the menu will be homemade cakes, freshley made finger sandwiches and scones and clotted cream, plus a bottle of bubbly. To book click here.
