Remember carefree days making sandcastles on the beach?

Feel the stress running away as you re-live them by spending the day running sand through your fingers in a therapeutic workshop.

Working with Sand Trays is one of dozens of art, performance and wellbeing events aiming at leaving you feeling cleansed and inspired being held in Folkestone this weekend.

Now in its fourth year, Folkestone’s Open Quarter is a three-day celebration of Folkestone’s thriving creative community.

Running from Friday, June 17 to Sunday, June 19, more than 50 artists will be holding open studios and houses, workshops and exhibitions as well as live music and community events.

Visitors can explore the shop, cafes and businesses and see the Folkestone Artworks, 27 pieces by big names around the town and seafront.

Folkestone’s Creative Quarter has become home to a thriving collection of artists’ studios and creative businesses and offers aspiring artists, retailers and business people a chance to become a part of a lively and ever-growing community. This is a unique opportunity to develop artistic and enterprising ventures in the historic heart of Folkestone. For more events go here.

Here are some of the highlights:

PAINTBALL ART

Arm yourself with a paintball gun and get ready to fire at artworks. Lilford Gallery in the Old High Street will be giving visitors the chance to customise limited edition prints with a paintball gun – with the artists taking part being revealed nearer the time. It is on Saturday, June 18 between 10am and 5pm and on Sunday, June 19 between 11am and 4pm.

THE BIG LUNCH

Sunday lunch has never been so big. The Big Lunch, a national event from the Eden Project which aims to get people having lunch with their neighbours, will be on Sunday, June 19 at noon. Bring yourself, the family and a dish to share and enjoy lunch in Payers Park, with music from Latin American trio Los Musicos.

FAMILY WORKSHOP

Drop in for a free family workshop to collage, paint and screen print your own Open Quarter poster at Block 67 in Tontine Street on Saturday, June 18 and learn how to make your own stamps on Sunday, June 19, both between 11am and 3pm.

SAND PLAY

Working With Sand Trays will give visitors the chance to try out therapeutic sand play where you can voice feelings which might be hard to express. Head to Bedonwell Counselling at 65-69 Tontine Street on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 4pm both days.

WELL BEING

Dive into a voice art event where you can explore our relationship with wells with the Shepping Forecast’s Clare Reeves in Wellbeing at the El Cortador basement in the Old High Street, between 10am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

GILLIAN WHITE

Gillian White celebrates the 10th year since her farewell open house in Canterbury with her first open house event in Folkestone and also curates an exhibition of works by Folkestone artists in Davis Davis. Gillian White: Now and Then is open from 11am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

MEET THE ARTISTS

Drop in to the cellar of the True Briton pub at North Lane Studios in Harbour Street where you can meet and chat to the artists working on a new art installation, Buried Memory III, which opens on Friday, July 1. Pop in between noon and 5pm on Saturday or Sunday.